They Drive by Night (1940)

Director:

Raoul Walsh

Writers:

Jerry Wald (screenplay) and
Richard Macaulay (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

3 August 1940 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Thriller

Tagline:

Thrills . . . from coast to coast . . . !

Plot:

Two brothers struggle as wildcat truck drivers; one comes to harm, the other is accused of his friend's murder.

Plot Keywords:

Truck | Murder | Trial | Truck Accident | Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

US TV Schedule:

Wed. Dec. 9

11:30 PM

TCM

Cast

George Raft	...	Joe Fabrini
Ann Sheridan	...	Cassie Hartley
Ida Lupino	...	Lana Carlsen
Humphrey Bogart	...	Paul Fabrini
Gale Page	...	Pearl Fabrini
Alan Hale	...	Ed Carlsen
Roscoe Karns	...	Irish McGurn
John Litel	...	Harry McNamara
George Tobias	...	George Rondolos

Also Known As:

The Road to Frisco (UK)

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Canada:PG (video rating) | Australia:PG | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #6278)

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

The wife of producer Mark Hellinger, Gladys Glad, a former showgirl for Broadway producer Florenz Ziegfeld Jr., was responsible for getting this film made. Hellinger had brought home a large stack of scripts that he was to read for filming consideration. Hellinger had leafed through the script and read the summary, but felt that "nobody would pay money to see a bunch of truck drivers". His wife read this script, liked it, and pressured Hellinger to read it. Reluctantly, he did, the film eventually got made and became the sleeper hit of the year for Warners. It was made for an estimated $400,000 and grossed more than $4,000,000. (Source: Book "The Mark Hellinger Story" by Jim Bishop, New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1952)

Goofs:

Continuity: When the Fabrini brothers sell the load of lemons to Rondolos, the back of the truck is emptied. Not long after, en route to get another load, the truck goes off the road, spilling a full load of crates in the process.

Quotes:

Lana Carlsen: The doors made me do it!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Who the #$&% Is Jackson Pollock? (2006)

Soundtrack:

When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano

Ida Lupino Steals the Show

They Drive by Night is a tough little 1940 Warners film that uses several stars to their best advantage. Ida Lupino plays a tough broad married to boorish Alan Hale but hankering for George Raft who couldn't care less. He's got his eye on Ann Sheridan, an out of work waitress. His brother, Humprey Bogart is married to Gale Page. The boys have a go as independent truckers but it's a tough life and they're on the road endlessly. But this nice domestic drama of truckers and their problems turns noirish when Lupino decides to takes matters into her own hands. Good supporting cast in support of top Warners stars. Raft is good in the "lead," and Bogart is fun as the dumb cluck brother. Sheridan plays another nice girl, and Lupino is terrific as the crazed Mrs. Carlson. Her mad scene in court is memorable. Also look for George Tobias, Samuel S. Hinds, Marie Blake, Vera Lewis, Charles Halton, Roscoe Karns, Bess Flowers, Dewey Robinson, John Hamilton, and John Litel. Lupino, Sheridan, and Raft were always underrated, and they're quite good here.