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They Drive by Night

They Drive by Night

No picture in 1940 will have bigger thrills!

19406.91h 35m

Overview

Joe and Paul Fabrini are Wildcat, or independent, truck drivers who have their own small one-truck business. The Fabrini boys constantly battle distributors, rivals and loan collectors, while trying to make a success of their transport company.

Directed by Raoul Walsh
Written by A.I. Bezzerides, Jerry Wald, Richard Macaulay
Box OfficeBudget: $539KRevenue: $1.6M

Top Cast

George Raft

George Raft

Joe Fabrini

Ann Sheridan

Ann Sheridan

Cassie Hartley

Ida Lupino

Ida Lupino

Lana Carlsen

Humphrey Bogart

Humphrey Bogart

Paul Fabrini

Gale Page

Gale Page

Pearl Fabrini

Alan Hale

Alan Hale

Ed Carlsen

Roscoe Karns

Roscoe Karns

Irish McGurn

Joyce Compton

Joyce Compton

Sue Carter (uncredited)

John Litel

John Litel

Harry McNamara

George Tobias

George Tobias

George Rondolos

Themes & Keywords

film noirhitchhikertruck driver

About They Drive by Night

They Drive by Night is a drama, crime, thriller film released in 1940 exploring themes of film noir, hitchhiker, truck driver. Directed by Raoul Walsh, it stars George Raft, Ann Sheridan, Ida Lupino. Joe and Paul Fabrini are Wildcat, or independent, truck drivers who have their own small one-truck business. The Fabrini boys constantly battle distributors, rivals and loan collectors, while trying to make a success of their transport company.

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Nick Garcos comes back from his tour of duty in World War II planning to settle down with his girlfriend, Polly Faber. He learns, however, that his father was recently beaten and burglarized by mob-connected trucker Mike Figlia, and Nick resolves to get even. He partners with prostitute Rica, and together they go after Mike, all the while getting pulled further into the local crime underworld.

The Hitch-Hiker
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Roy and Gilbert's fishing trip takes a terrifying turn when the hitchhiker they pick up turns out to be a sociopath on the run from the law. He's killed before, and he lets the two know that as soon as they're no longer useful, he'll kill again. The two friends plot an escape, but the hitchhiker's peculiar physical affliction, an eye that never closes even when he sleeps, makes it impossible for them to tell when they can make a break for it.

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Detour(1945)

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The life of Al Roberts, a pianist in a New York nightclub, turns into a nightmare when he decides to hitchhike to Los Angeles to visit his girlfriend.

Crime of Passion
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Recently paroled from prison, legendary burglar "Doc" Riedenschneider, with funding from Alonzo Emmerich, a crooked lawyer, gathers a small group of veteran criminals together in the Midwest for a big jewel heist.

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The peaceful life of a gas station owner is disrupted when a man from his past arrives in town and forces him to return to the dark world he had tried to escape.