They Drive by Night (1940)

Director:

Raoul Walsh

Writers:

Jerry Wald (screen play) and
Richard Macaulay (screen play) ...
(more)

Release Date:

3 August 1940 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | 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 | Truck Driver | Waitress | Trial

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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Eddie Acuff	...	Driver in Cafe (uncredited)
Marie Blake	...	Waitress (uncredited)
Chet Brandenburg	...	Man Griping at Farnsworth (uncredited)
Eddy Chandler	...	Driver (uncredited)
Richard Clayton	...	Young Man (uncredited)
Joyce Compton	...	Sue Carter (uncredited)
Alan Davis	...	Driver (uncredited)
Joe Devlin	...	Fatso - Driver (uncredited)
Demetris Emanuel	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Frank Faylen	...	Driver in Cafe (uncredited)
Eddie Fetherston	...	Driver in Cafe (uncredited)
Pat Flaherty	...	Driver in Cafe (uncredited)
Bess Flowers	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Brenda Fowler	...	Prison Matron (uncredited)
Sol Gorss	...	Truck Driver Warning About Farnsworth (uncredited)
Jesse Graves	...	Charles Culpepper (uncredited)
Mack Gray	...	Mike - Driver (uncredited)
William Haade	...	Tough Driver (uncredited)
Charles Halton	...	Farnsworth (uncredited)
John Hamilton	...	Defense Attorney (uncredited)
Phyllis Hamilton	...	Stenographer (uncredited)
Carl Harbaugh	...	Mechanic (uncredited)
George Haywood	...	Policeman at Accident (uncredited)
Oscar 'Dutch' Hendrian	...	Driver (uncredited)
Howard C. Hickman	...	The Judge (uncredited)
Al Hill	...	Driver in Cafe (uncredited)
J. Anthony Hughes	...	Reporter #3 (uncredited)
Paul Hurst	...	Pete Haig (uncredited)
Claire James	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Michael Jeffers	...	Trucker (uncredited)
Dorothea Kent	...	Sue (uncredited)
Mike Lally	...	Man Griping at Farnsworth (uncredited)
Vera Lewis	...	Landlady (uncredited)
George Lloyd	...	Barney (uncredited)
Wilfred Lucas	...	Bailiff (uncredited)
Frank Mayo	...	Motorist at Accident Scene (uncredited)
Matt McHugh	...	Repairman (uncredited)
Edmund Mortimer	...	Extra in Courtroom (uncredited)
Jack Mower	...	Deputy with Farnsworth (uncredited)
Henry O'Neill	...	District Attorney (uncredited)
Pedro Regas	...	Harry's Partner (uncredited)
John Ridgely	...	Hank Dawson (uncredited)
Ralph Sanford	...	Driver in Cafe (uncredited)
Cliff Saum	...	Man Outside Barney's (uncredited)
Harry Semels	...	Leo - Cashier (uncredited)
Charles Sherlock	...	Driver in Cafe (uncredited)
Charles Sullivan	...	Driver in Cafe (uncredited)
Don Turner	...	Driver (uncredited)
Dorothy Vaughan	...	Courtroom Matron (uncredited)
Max Wagner	...	Sweeney - Driver (uncredited)
Billy Wayne	...	Repairman (uncredited)
Dick Wessel	...	Driver in Cafe (uncredited)
Frank Wilcox	...	Reporter #1 (uncredited)
Norman Willis	...	Neves - Mike's Assistant (uncredited)
Charles C. Wilson	...	Mike Williams (uncredited)
Tom Wilson	...	Man Outside Barney's (uncredited)
Jack Wise	...	Jake (uncredited)
Lillian Yarbo	...	Chloe - Lana's Maid (uncredited)

Directed by
Raoul Walsh

Writing credits
Jerry Wald		(screen play) and
Richard Macaulay		(screen play)
A.I. Bezzerides		(from a novel by)

Produced by
Mark Hellinger	....	associate producer
Hal B. Wallis	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Adolph Deutsch

Cinematography by
Arthur Edeson		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Thomas Richards		(film editor)

Art Direction by
John Hughes

Costume Design by
Milo Anderson		(gowns)

Makeup Department
Perc Westmore	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Jack L. Warner	....	in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Elmer Decker	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Oliver S. Garretson	....	sound

Special Effects by
Byron Haskin	....	special effects
Hans F. Koenekamp	....	special effects (as H.F. Koenekamp)

Stunts
Harvey Parry	....	stunts (uncredited)
Buster Wiles	....	stunt double: George Raft (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
George Hurrell Sr.	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Eugene Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Robert Burks	....	montage (uncredited)
Don Siegel	....	montage (uncredited)

Music Department
Leo F. Forbstein	....	musical director
Hugo Friedhofer	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Arthur Lange	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Jerome Moross	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Hugh MacMullan	....	dialogue director (as Hugh MacMullen)

Production Companies

• Warner Bros. (presents) (as Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.) (A Warner Bros.-First National Picture)

Distributors

• Warner Bros. (1940) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Films (1941) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1947) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1948) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1963) (Finland) (TV)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1988) (Finland) (TV)
• MGM/UA Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-release)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• Warner Bros. (2004) (Argentina) (all media) (re-release)
• Living Colour Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Key Video (198?) (USA) (VHS) (For CBS Fox Video)

Other Companies

• MGM / UA Home Video  VHS package design
• Turner Entertainment  DVD package design
• Turner Entertainment  VHS package design
• Warner Bros. Entertainment  DVD package design

Also Known As:

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

Stage 19, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros.

Trivia:

"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on June 2, 1941 with George Raft reprising his film role.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Joe Fabrini first sits at Carlsen's desk, Carlsen strikes a match and lights it. Upon cutting to a different angle, Carlsen doesn't have a match in his hand, although it was flaming brightly prior to the edit.

Quotes:

Paul Fabrini:Sure, I want to sleep. Everyone sleeps once in a while, remember? You'd think I wanted to do something peculiar.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Deadhead Miles (1973)

Soundtrack:

Devil May Care

One of George Raft's best

Let's get this out of the way first: Humphrey Bogart's legions of fans seem impelled to insult George Raft as often as possible, no matter how inappropriate or clearly wrong. Those not so blinded will thoroughly enjoy this odd, mixed bag of a picture. Raft and Bogey play brothers - very believably so - who are wildcat truck drivers trying to get ahead in a tough business during the Depression. The film is odd because it seems like two separate movies. It starts out as a seeming social commentary on the hard life of truckers with fine characterizations. But as soon as Ida Lupino appears it veers straight into film noir. I, personally, would have preferred a continuation of the tone of the first part of the film rather than be subjected to the "crazy b----" act that so many call "classic" and "stealing the picture." There either should have been more foreshadowing of this switch early in the film, or the screenwriters should have found something more consistent. At any rate, Raft and Bogart get to step away from gangster roles for a breather. They're still tough guys, but they're vulnerable to the whims of fate. Raft, in fact, is adorable here, uncharacteristically blue-collar and common, desperate to be in charge of his own life. He has instant chemistry with no-nonsense Ann Sheridan. Raft works so comfortably under Walsh's direction, it's rather refreshing. If rumors are true and Bogart and Raft were not getting along at this point, they were both professionals and hid it very well. Blame Lupino, but by the second half of the film, Bogart practically disappears just when we'd like to see more development of his very sympathetic character. For Bogart fans, this is not a "Bogey" film. He's simply prepping for legend-status just around the corner. It would have been nice to see more of Sheridan, as well. I don't recall Alan Hale ever being better than he is here - watch the small things he does with such a loud character. Lupino is definitely unforgettable, and her cult following will love this. Roscoe Karns is again a fun comic foil. The editing of the picture is sometimes a bit rough, and there is a telephone sequence that does not visually work. Arthur Edeson was a frustratingly inconsistent cinematographer, ranging from brilliant work like "Casa Blanca" to B level work. This is somewhere in the middle, but the road sequences are great.