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.
Comment
06/24/06
They Live by Night (1949)
100
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:14
Fresh:14
Rotten:0
Average Rating:7.6/10
Runtime: 1 hr 36 mins
Genre: Dramas
Synopsis: The original classic about crime, love, and rebellious youth, and the inspiration for countless films that followed in its footsteps. An escaped prisoner falls in love with a poor girl and,... [More]
Starring: Cathy O'Donnell, Farley Granger, Howard Da Silva, Jay C. Flippen
Director: Nicholas Ray
Reviews for They Live by Night
1 - 14 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Top CriticRay writes and directs with easy assurance, propelling the plot forward to its unbearably doomy, inevitable conclusion.
05/24/03
Top CriticNicholas Ray established himself as a major talent to watch with his feature debut, one of the best noirs of the 1940s as well as a lyrical variation on the theme of lovers on the run, splendidly played by Granger and O'Donnell.
03/31/09
There's no attempt at sugarcoating a happy ending, and yarn moves towards its inevitable, tragic climax without compromise.
10/22/07
Top CriticOne of the greatest debut features in movie history.
08/09/07
Ray's plaintive artistry lends this weepy noir a melancholic beauty.
05/01/06
No review available.
04/16/04
No review available.
04/02/04
Although it -- like others -- is misguided in its sympathies for a youthful crook, this crime-and-compassion melodrama has the virtues of vigor and restraint.
05/20/03
Top CriticNo review available.
07/31/02
Nicholas Ray's (Rebel Without A Cause) debut feature is a gem.
07/22/01
Beautifully acted, They Live by Night stands today as one of the most poignant and unforgettable noirs ever made.
01/01/00
Top CriticA key film noir of the 40s, this was Nicholas Ray's first film as a director (1949), and the freshness of his expressionist-documentary style is still apparent and gripping.
01/01/00
1 - 14 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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