They Drive By Night - Review

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They Drive By Night
Bogie and George Raft as Paul and Joe Fabrini	They Drive By Night is an unusual movie in that it straddles two genres, firstly it is a film about working class Americans in the depression era trying to get ahead against the odds, and secondly it is a film noir drama about murder and deceit. This unusual combination need not be a negative thing if the script is well written, but in the case of They Drive By Night it does feel like two different films have been somewhat awkwardly sown together. Having said that it is still quite an enjoyable film and was a huge success at the box office. Directed by the legendary Raoul Walsh, They Drive By Night focuses on four characters played by George Raft, Ann Sheridan, Ida Lupino and Bogie. A 'Raft' film, Bogie recieved fourth billing but grasped the opportunity to escape his previous typecasting as a gangster. It was Lupino's 'breakout' role.
The Story. Two brothers, Bogie as Paul Fabrini and George Raft as Joe Fabrini are owner operators of a small trucking business. Working long hours they are battling to pay off the loan on their first truck while battling dishonest contractors who would rather drive them into the ground than pay them monies owed. Paul is happily married and struggling to cope with the long absenses from his wife (played by Gale Page) while Joe, single and a bit of a romantic rogue, may have finally found his true love when he meets a beautiful and feisty waitress (Ann Sheridan as Cassie Hartley). When Joe strikes upon a fantastic business opportunity which will pay off their truck, things truly seem to be taking off for both brothers, but tragedy strikes - effectively wiping out their fledgeling business and leaving Paul temporarily unemployable. At around this point the movie jumps into it's film noir mode, as an out of work Joe hooks up with an old trucking buddy (Alan Hale as Ed Carlsen) who has successfully built a small trucking empire. Carlsen convinces Joe to come work for him, and with his new job Joe is able to financially support both himself and Paul. But all does not go smoothly as Carlsen's femme fatal wife (played by Ida Lupino) has eyes for Joe, and things soon spiral into a web of murder, deceit and betrayal. Strong performances from all players, particularly, in this reviewers opinion, the two female leads. Other performances of note are Charles C. Wilson as dishonest job contractor Mike Williams, Roscoe Karns as trucker Irish McGurn (in a comedic supporting role) and Charles Halton as the truck financier/repossession man. Shot in Black & White. The DVD presents the film in it's Original Aspect Ratio of 1.33 to 1. Extra Features include: Divided Highway: The story of They Drive By Night. - An excellent 10 minute making of feature which among other things explains that TDBN was in fact two separate stories reworked into one. Featuring comments from film historians Leonard Maltin and Robert Osborne. Swingtime in the Movies. - A 19 minute 1938 Technicolor musical/western short which features a very small cameo appearance by Bogie. The original theatrical trailer.