IMDb > They Drive by Night (1940)
They Drive by Night
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany credits
Awards & Reviews
user reviewsexternal reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guidemessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsmemorable quotes
Did You Know?
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
box office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

They Drive by Night (1940) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (See all 16 | slideshow) Videos

Overview

User Rating:
7.3/10   5,455 votes »
Your Rating:
Saving vote...
Deleting vote...
/10   (delete | history)
Sorry, there was a problem
Popularity: ?
No change in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Raoul Walsh
Writers:
Jerry Wald (screen play) and
Richard Macaulay (screen play) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for They Drive by Night on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
3 August 1940 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Thriller See more »
Tagline:
Thrills . . . from coast to coast . . . ! See more »
Plot:
Two brothers struggle as wildcat truck drivers; one comes to harm, the other is accused of his friend's murder. Full summary » | Add synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
NewsDesk:
(8 articles)
Viennale 2015. Lions and tigers and bears. Oh my!
 (From MUBI. 8 November 2015, 5:01 AM, PST)
Thieves’ Highway
 (From Trailers from Hell. 2 November 2015, 5:08 PM, PST)
Lumière Festival Continues to Celebrate Female Filmmakers with Ida Lupino Tribute
 (From Variety - Film News. 14 October 2014, 12:43 AM, PDT)
User Reviews:
Fantastic film noir See more (62 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

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)

William Bendix ... Truck driver watching pinball game (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
Ed Brandenburg .... stunt driver (uncredited)
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)
 
Crew verified as complete


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

Additional Details

Also Known As:
See more »
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
95 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Certification:
Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Canada:PG (video rating) | Finland:K-16 | France:Tous publics | Germany:6 | Sweden:15 | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (2003) | USA:Approved (PCA #6278) | USA:TV-G (TV rating)
Filming Locations:
Stage 19, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USASee more »
Company:
Warner Bros.See more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
The $580 for the load of lemons would be the equivalent of $9,865 in 2016.See more »
Goofs:
Continuity: When Joe is sitting in Ed's office Lana sits with her arms folded. An instant later she is taking a puff from her cigarette. Is is the same scene when Ed lights his cigarette twice.See more »
Quotes:
Joe Fabrini:l ain't danced in a long time.
Cassie Hartley:Me neither, and l used to love it. lt's the most fun you can have without laughing.
See more »
Movie Connections:
Featured in Hollywood: The Great Stars (1963) (TV)See more »
Soundtrack:
Devil May CareSee more »

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.

User Reviews

   (Review this title)
9 out of 10 people found the following review useful.
Fantastic film noir, 18 November 2007
Author: The_Void from Beverley Hills, England

The film noir 'genre' has delivered a lot of great films, but few top this one; and that's really saying something considering just how many great noirs there are. The film is something of an odd one with regards to the way the plot moves; it's really a movie of three sections, and the way it jumps from the first section to the second section is wholly unexpected. I suppose the way that the film moves may be the reason why this isn't universally accepted as one of the best films of its type; but if you ask me the strange plot is one of the film's strongest points - nobody wants to sit through a predictable movie, and They Drive by Night is anything but predictable. The plot focuses on two brothers - Joe and Paul Fabrini. The pair drive a truck delivering things to the market and not making a lot of money. They finally get a break when Joe takes a risk and decides to buy his own consignment; but their luck takes a turn for the worse when Paul crashes the truck and becomes unable to work. Joe then takes a job working for his old friend Ed's company, which brings about problems of its own...

One of the trademarks of the noir style of film-making is a thick foreboding atmosphere; this film features that and then some. They Drive by Night takes it further than most, and the film almost has an affinity with the horror genre for its dark atmosphere, plot and characters. Once the film moves into the second stage, the horror elements are rampant. The acting in the film is excellent; George Raft and Humphrey Bogart are entirely convincing as the rag-tag pair of brothers, while excellent support is given from two ladies; Ann Sheridan and Ida Lupino. It's Ida Lupino that really makes this film what it is for me; her icy cold persona is breathtaking, and she holds the screen excellently. The murder scene in this film is extremely effective also; and while not as spectacular as some of the death scenes in the gory horror flicks that I often watch, its subtleness makes it memorable. The final third of the film is a courtroom drama and it's the worst part of it for me, but that isn't enough to ruin what is a brilliant film and I certainly would not hesitate to recommend They Drive by Night to noir fans and everyone else.

Was the above review useful to you?
See more (62 total) »

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for They Drive by Night (1940)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Ida Lupino is excellent!!! Romojo
Ed Carlson too naive? jeffreylincoln
Gale Page beats out Lupino and Sheridan rkolsen
Aren't genetics amazing? :) merman1983
they drive by night colorized waggsmom
Same plot as Bordertown (1935) berlin45
See more »

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Deadly Is the Female Spider-Man 3 Gone with the Wind The Lady from Shanghai Out of the Past
IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Crime section IMDb USA section

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Edit page' button will take you through a step-by-step process.