They Live by Night (1948)

Posted by Marie

Directed by Nicholas Ray (Noir Pedigree: On Dangerous Ground, In a Lonely Place, Johnny Guitar)
Starring Farley Granger, Cathy O'Donnell, Howard Da Silva, Jay C. Flippen
Adapted from the novel Thieves Like Usby Edward Anderson
Director of Photography: George E. Diskant

Farley Granger and Cathy O'Donnell have the roles of their careers in this uncommonly moving and tender yet gritty, maudit film about a fugitive couple on the run from the law.

**SPOILERS**
The amazing opening shot begins with a closeup of the two attractive lovers kissing, then abruptly shatters with the opening statement: "This boy and this girl were never properly introduced to the world we live in". Thereafter the film immediately segues into a tense scene of criminals escaping the scene of a crime.

Click to play scene from They Live By Night

Bowie is a naive 23 year old who escapes prison with two hardened convicts, Chicamaw (Howard Da Silva), and T-Dub (Jay C. Flippen). After robbing a bank, they hide out with Chicamaw's niece, Keechie. Inititially wary of each other, Bowie and Keechie begin to fall in love. However, the two cons won't let Bowie live a normal life, and they involve him in another bank heist, where a man gets killed. Bowie's name is plastered in all the papers as the leader of the gang, and the couple, married now, take to the road on the lam from the law.

Deeply in love, they can only snatch moments of happiness while being chased by the police. Bowie is about to leave a pregnant Keechie behind while he pursues a new life for them but is gunned down by the police in a betrayal by Chicamaw's sister-in-law. A devastated Keechie reads Bowie's final words to her in a note at the film's end, mouthing his final words "I love you" at the fade out.

There is never a cliched moment to this film, Nicholas Ray's directorial debut. The purity of the romance between Keechie and Bowie is handled with the lightest and sweetest of touches. All the more terrible when you feel that these two are ultimately doomed. This film is all about the power of love in a violent and hostile world...and perhaps it is more about the fleeting nature of love, and the fleeting nature of happiness. As we are carried along into the intimacies of their doomed relationship, the viewer is left as desolate as Keechie at the tragic denoument.

Cathy O'Donnell is luminous with warmth and gentleness in this film, whereas before I thought her simply a plain jane. Farley Granger plays the vulnerable youth with engaging credibility. I know there was a remake with Keith Carradine and Shelly Duvall (which I haven't seen) but I can't imagine they could be as appealing as this original pair. The film is brilliantly photographed by George Diskant, always framing his subjects in an interesting way, with closeups and even arial photography. A notable example is when the sister-in-law Mattie makes a deal with the police and turns in Bowie. Her stark face is blanketed by shadows, and we know she has his blood on her conscience forever. Nicholas Ray throws in so many detailed and assured touches one would never guess this was his first film.

I saw this for the first time a few days ago along with "On Dangerous Ground", also for the first time, and was awed by Nicholas Ray's artistry. The most satisfying afternoon, intellectually and emotionally, that I've spent at the movies for ages. I highly recommend "They Live By Night"to those that haven't seen it.