They Live by Night

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They Live by Night

Directed by	Nicholas Ray
Produced by	John Houseman
Written by	Edward Anderson novel Thieves Like Us Nicholas Ray (adaptation) Charles Schnee
Starring	Cathy O'Donnell Farley Granger Howard Da Silva
Music by	Leigh Harline
Cinematography	George E. Diskant
Distributed by	RKO Radio Pictures Inc.
Release date(s)	October 26, 1949 (U.S. release)
Running time	95 min.
Language	English
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

They Live by Night is a film noir released in 1949. The film was directed by Nicholas Ray (his first feature film) and starred Farley Granger as 'Bowie' Bowers and Cathy O'Donnell as 'Keechie' Mobley. The movie is the prototype for the 'couple on the run' genre, generally seen as the forerunner to the movie Bonnie and Clyde.

The movie was based on Edward Anderson's Depression-era novel Thieves Like Us. Another movie based on that book was released in 1974, Robert Altman's Thieves Like Us. Actor Byron Foulger appears uncredited as the owner of the cabin where the two try to hide out.

[edit] Plot

Bowie (Granger) escapes from prison with bank robers Chicamaw (DaSilva) and T-Dub (Flippen). Granger was unfairly convicted of murder. The three plan to rob a bank. Bowie needs the money to hire a lawyer to prove he's innocent.

Bowie, injured in an auto accident, finds refuge with the daughter of the owner of a gas station, Keechie (O'Donnell). They marry, and plan to live an honest life. But then Chicamaw and T-Dub return and demand that he come with them for one more job.

Bowie refuses, but finds that he is unable to escape from being hunted by the law. He meets a tragic end after he is betrayed. Keechie carries on, and is pregnant with his child.