Thieves Like Us (1974)

Set in 1936, a 23 year old convicted killer (Keith Carradine) escapes from prison along with two older buddies (John Schuck, Bert Remsen). When they hole up at a rural town, he falls in love with a young girl (Shelley Duvall). Based on the novel by Edward Anderson and directed by Robert Altman (GOSFORD PARK). Anderson's novel had previously been filmed in 1949 by Nicholas Ray under the title THEY LIVE BY NIGHT. At the core of Altman's film and what makes it work is the relationship between Carradine's baby faced killer (who has no remorse) and Duvall's naive country girl. They displayed a sweet appeal together in small roles three years earlier in Altman's MCCABE AND MRS. MILLER and it's in full view here. In supporting parts, Remsen and Schuck overplay their hand and their acting is jarring compared to the more subtle performances by the rest of the cast. As much as I like the film which follows Anderson's novel more closely, I think I prefer the doomed romanticism of the 1949 adaptation. Altman indicates the couple's grim fate when he has a radio play of ROMEO AND JULIET playing when the couple first make love. The stark and gritty cinematography is by Jean Boffety (CESAR AND ROSALIE). With Tom Skerritt and Louise Fletcher.