They Live by Night
Seen it?1949 | 96 min | Crime, Romance, Drama
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (96% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a box office flop. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime-drama fans and romantics. If you loved The Wild One or Touch of Evil, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Dark and gritty, warm and romantic.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 36 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1949: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
An escaped convict, injured during a robbery, falls in love with the woman who nurses him back to health, but their relationship seems doomed from the beginning.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
96% on Rotten Tomatoes, 82 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
6.8 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerWeak
$445K worldwide
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 42K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Touch of Evil
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Cast & crew
Directed by Nicholas Ray
- Cathy O'DonnellCatherine "Keechie" Mobley
- Farley GrangerArthur "Bowie" Bowers
- Howard Da SilvaChicamaw One-Eye Mobley
- Jay C. FlippenHenry "T-Dub" Mansfield
- Helen CraigMattie
- Will WrightMobley
- William PhippsYoung Farmer
- Ian WolfeHawkins
- Harry HarveyHagenheimer
- Marie BryantSinger