Cimino moved up to directing on the feature '' Thunderbolt and Lightfoot '' ( 1974 ) . The film stars Clint Eastwood as a Korean War veteran named " Thunderbolt " who takes a young drifter named " Lightfoot " , played by Jeff Bridges , under his wing . When Thunderbolt 's old partners try to find him , he and Lightfoot make a pact with them to pull one last big heist . Eastwood was originally slated to direct it himself , but Cimino impressed Eastwood enough to change his mind . The film became a solid box office success at the time , making $ 25,000,000 at the box office with a budget of $ 4,000,000 and earned Bridges an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor
Academy Award
47th Academy Awards
Michael Cimino