They Live By Night (1948)

Three men escape from a prison work farm and take refuge at a gas station owned by the brother (Will Wright) of one of the escaped men (Howard Da Silva). While Da Silva and the second prisoner (Jay C. Flippen) plan a robbery, the third escapee (Farley Granger) finds himself falling for the gas station owner's daughter (Cathy O'Donnell, BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES). Nicholas Ray made his impressive directorial film debut with this "lovers on the run from the law" noir which presages BONNIE AND CLYDE with which it shares similarities. The emphasis is more on the romantic relationship of the naive young kids rather than the crime elements of the story. Granger and O'Donnell bring a touching innocence to their doomed pair while the rest of the cast bring a suitable sense of cynicism and/or weariness to their characters. The cinematographer George E. Diskant's expressive B&W images and Leigh Harline's musical shadings contribute to the film's apprehensive ambience. Based on Edward Anderson's novel THIEVES LIKE US which was filmed again in 1974 by Robert Altman. With Helen Craig and Ian Wolfe.