They Live by Night

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They Live by Night

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1h 35m

Crime

Drama

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96%

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26 Reviews

80%

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1,000+ Ratings

Wrongly convicted for murder as a teen, "Bowie" Bowers (Farley Granger) breaks out of prison with two other criminals, Chickamaw (Howard da Silva) and T-Dub (Jay C. Flippen). While hiding out, Bowie meets Chickamaw's niece, Keechie (Cathy O'Donnell), and they bond. Wanting to clear his name, Bowie decides to participate in a robbery with the others, so he can afford a lawyer. As he gets drawn further into crime, Bowie contemplates running away with Keechie and starting over.

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Variety Staff

Variety

There's no attempt at sugarcoating a happy ending, and yarn moves towards its inevitable, tragic climax without compromise.

Oct 22, 2007

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Geoff Andrew

Time Out

Passionate, lyrical, and imaginative, it's a remarkably assured debut, from the astonishing opening helicopter shot that follows the escaped convicts' car to freedom, to the final, inexorably tragic climax.

Jun 24, 2006

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Nick Schager

Slant Magazine

Ray's plaintive artistry lends this weepy noir a melancholic beauty.

May 1, 2006

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Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

Lacks the expected film noir curlicues and chiaroscuro, but the amusing coded queer subtext -- that Granger is too nelly and O'Donnell too butch to make it as a nuclear family -- keeps it moving.

Rated: A

Nov 23, 2022

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

It’s a lovely, intimate film with a tragic story and one of the most poetic movies of the film noir genre.

Nov 13, 2022

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

More romantic than the typical film noir, but also just as fatalistic and hard-hitting.

Rated: 3.5/4

Nov 8, 2021

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Ted B

3.5 stars; A Bonnie and Clyde-style movie from the 1940s. Farley Granger played a young kid gone wrong who is blamed for a murder he didn't commit. He meets a young, innocent girl played by Cathy O'Donnell. Both gave performances that screamed "Movie Star." This story is very compelling, although it turns into a Greek tragedy in the end.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/26/24

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guiseppa p

Cathy O'Donnell from The Best Years Of Our Lives fame is the heart and soul of this film. Farley Granger delivers once again as the hapless love interest, trying hard to go straight after a wrongful conviction as a teen...both deliver emotional, believable, sympathetic performances. Excellent direction. Sad sad sad.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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paul d

Nicholas Ray's They Live by Night is a great film and a very fine example of tragic storytelling. It's a romantic melodrama that shines a light into the hard lives of young people on the edge of society. A youthful mistake from years ago has lead to a life of risk-taking and loyalty to a rough guys, criminals. Love creates hope for a better life, but the fates combine to ensure a different outcome. Great cinematography, a fine noir ambiance, two outstanding and believable performances by Farley Granger and Cathy O'Donnell, and a remarkable supporting cast makes this a winner.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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deke p

INTERESTING, couple on the run from the law. Saw on tv 2021

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

Director Nicholas Ray's debut film is steely in its depiction of the criminal elements in this story, yet sensitive in the telling of a tragic romance between a young couple, a rural, naive woman and an escaped convict. Cathy O'Donnell's performance as the helplessly in love woman is mesmerizing. Farley Granger is excellent as the complex fugitive desperately trying to find a way to provide safe haven.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

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Audience Member

The best thrilling romance movie ever made!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

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Nicholas Ray

Director

Cathy O'Donnell

Keechie

Farley Granger

Bowie Bowers

Howard Da Silva

Chickamaw

Jay C. Flippen

T-Dub

Helen Craig

Mattie

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50%

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Synopsis

Wrongly convicted for murder as a teen, "Bowie" Bowers (Farley Granger) breaks out of prison with two other criminals, Chickamaw (Howard da Silva) and T-Dub (Jay C. Flippen). While hiding out, Bowie meets Chickamaw's niece, Keechie (Cathy O'Donnell), and they bond. Wanting to clear his name, Bowie decides to participate in a robbery with the others, so he can afford a lawyer. As he gets drawn further into crime, Bowie contemplates running away with Keechie and starting over.

Director: Nicholas Ray
Producer: John Houseman
Screenwriter: Charles Schnee
Production Co: RKO Pictures
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): May 18, 2017
Runtime: 1h 35m