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Thieves Like Us

Play trailer Poster for Thieves Like Us R Released Feb 18, 1974 2h 3m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
81% Tomatometer 27 Reviews 72% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
In this Robert Altman period drama, Bowie (Keith Carradine) is an escaped convict who embarks on a crime spree with fellow former prisoners Chicamaw (John Schuck) and T-Dub (Bert Remsen). While in hiding between bank robberies, Bowie meets a young woman named Keechie (Shelley Duvall), and the two quickly fall in love. A life of crime doesn't sit well with Keechie, however, so she and Bowie try to settle down, but the law is determined to bring him to justice.

Critics Reviews

View All (27) Critics Reviews
Anton Bitel Little White Lies Altman, revisiting territories already familiar from his McCabe & Mrs Miller, here uses the past – this time the Great Depression – as a prism to America’s present, while finding warts-and-all sympathy for the nation’s marginalised outlaws. Jul 6, 2023 Full Review Judith Crist New York Magazine/Vulture It is, is, perhaps, the most demanding of his recent films -- but as always, the demands are justified and rewarding. Oct 2, 2019 Full Review Pauline Kael The New Yorker Robert Altman finds a sure, soft tone in this movie, from 1974, and he never loses it. Dec 8, 2014 Full Review Brian Orndorf Blu-ray.com "Thieves Like Us" remains in line with other Altman offerings, but it's hard to grasp the purpose of its glacial pace, which strains dramatic engagement as cinematic indulgence tends to dominate the viewing experience. Rated: B Mar 9, 2025 Full Review George Anderson Pittsburgh Post-Gazette This poor man's Bonne and Clyde deals with a boring handful of two-bit bank robbers in Depression Mississippi. It is suitably depressing. Sep 24, 2024 Full Review Joanne Laurier World Socialist Web Site The film was made at a time of upheaval and convulsion, even chaos, qualities that the master improviser Altman thrived on. The period’s rebelliousness undoubtedly played a role in making Thieves Like Us one of his most compelling films. May 30, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (89) audience reviews
dave s Probably one of Robert Altman's least Altman-like films, Thieves Like Us isn't up there with the best that he has to offer, but it's still a pretty decent offering. Set in Mississippi during the Great Depression, convicted murderer Bowie (Keith Carradine) escapes from prison with two other felons. The trio embark on a spree of bank robberies, but when Bowie falls for the strangely child-like Keechie (Shelley Duvall), he is forced to reexamine his values and priorities. While the film feels a bit dated stylistically (check out the handful of fast zooms, for example), it does a good job capturing the flavor of the times with great locations, costumes and period details. While it compares unfavorably to other crime films from around the same time (Bonnie and Clyde, Badlands), it remains respectable and memorable, thanks in large part to Duvall's strangely affecting performance. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member The best gangster romance movie ever made! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member Weird. But good! The Bowie character is especially enjoyable. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review Audience Member nice but only once. very 70-th in mood, colours and directing Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Pretty good. Not Altman's best though, and it's not as good as the book though (obviously). Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Audience Member Very disappointing movie. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Thieves Like Us

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Cast & Crew

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Robert Altman

Director

Keith Carradine

Bowie

Shelley Duvall

Keechie Mobley

John Schuck

Elmo (Chicamaw) Mobley

Bert Remsen

T-Dub Masefield

Louise Fletcher

Mattie

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Thieves Like Us

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Movie Info

Synopsis In this Robert Altman period drama, Bowie (Keith Carradine) is an escaped convict who embarks on a crime spree with fellow former prisoners Chicamaw (John Schuck) and T-Dub (Bert Remsen). While in hiding between bank robberies, Bowie meets a young woman named Keechie (Shelley Duvall), and the two quickly fall in love. A life of crime doesn't sit well with Keechie, however, so she and Bowie try to settle down, but the law is determined to bring him to justice.
Director
Robert Altman
Producer
Jerry Bick
Screenwriter
Robert Altman, Joan Tewkesbury, Calder Willingham
Distributor
United Artists
Production Co
United Artists, George Litto Pictures
Rating
R
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 18, 1974, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Apr 17, 2007
Runtime
2h 3m