Alan Hale, Ann Sheridan, Gale Page

Two hard-boiled truckers are committed to a life as wildcatters.

Flixster Users

61% liked it

1,580 ratings

Critics

94% liked it

16 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 35 min.

Directed by: Raoul Walsh

Release Date: January 1, 1940

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DVD Release Date: November 4, 2003

Stats: 71 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (71)


  • January 31, 2008
    A decent noir, a bit too mushy for my tastes. Even Walsh's camera seems a tiny bit bored by the subject.
  • November 10, 2007
    a neglected classic directed by raoul walsh (who also handled the ultimate james cagney gangster classic "white heat"), a star-studded flicks with good wisecrackers from its appealing cast. it's a story about a pair of trucker brothers(raft and bogart) who take the risk of havin...( read more)g everything expropriated by the scrivener just to strive for the chances to rise high...then with a twist, everyone seems to obtain what he/she desires at the first place except the dame (lupino) who has an intense crush on george raft's character, consequent with murder, un-requited love and heart-twenching insanity.

    the first issue with this movie is that it's departed into two gendres of storylines which have been re-blended into one piece: social drama and meldromatic noir. it could be deemed as one flick before humprey bogart's crippling accident. a quaint social drama which discusses the bloody grimness about the prole trucking business, the labour and sweat from the working men, also emblemished with the pleasant romance between raft and ann sheridan, particularly their witty flirtation about "red means stop"...and sheridan utters her quick wits as the dainty waitress whom the customers drool over. lack of his usual mystic aura, bogart still gives a nice performance of a tough trucker even it's not quite riveting, and raft is quite in the right niche of his ambitiously clever truck leader with charisma. the three of them all inspire audience's empathetic approval of their hardship and occupational dignity..a peacefully cozy scenarios with likable characters that shelter you in an easefully relaxed atmosphere....

    it all works harmoniously until the emergence of the sharp-tongued spunky ida lupino takes the spotlight from everyone who turns out to be lackluster compared to lupino's deliriously edgy performance as the love-struck rich wife who desperately craves for raft then disposes of her own husband to facilliate herself to court him, eventually ends up in a straitjacket. no one could ignore her running-amok scene in the court room that sets her overnight reputation. this twist transforms the whole flick into a semi-film-noir which is quite uneven. besides it's dealt with thick melodramaticity..(accordingly it was recycled from the plotline of bettie davis' "border town" with paul muni from warner bros.....) but the arrangement of lupino's doom is a bit too coincidental just to deliberately grant audience a crowd-pleasing happy ending.

    sketchily "they drive by night" is a well-acted movie which is a bit un-usual and deserves more credits and applauds toward today. and it has enough social topicality and flamy dramatization to keep your interests throughout the whole flick. it's worthy taking a view in holiday just to shift into a congenial mood.
  • October 27, 2006
    Ida Lupino makes the movie. I don't know why, but a one-armed Bogart is kind of funny.
  • September 19, 2009
    Fantastic movie with incredible acting!!! Very well done. Highly recommend this one!
  • October 20, 2007
    click for review
  • June 14, 2007
    And park by day?! o_O"
  • December 10, 2006
    Waste of TIME!! Very Weak movie, DO NOT WATCH, if you do end up watching it, side effects may include: Suicide, murder ramapages, road ramapage, any kinds of ways of harming yourself, and many others...

Critic Reviews


November 2, 2003
Nick Schager, Slant Magazine

There's no denying that this overlooked 1940 gem is essentially two films in one. full review

View more They Drive by Night reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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