Press Release Warner Archive Collection Press Release: They Drive By Night (1940) (Blu-ray) (1 Viewer)

[Ronald Epstein]

Coming from the Warner Archive Collection on Blu-ray this March 26th!
New 2024 HD master from a new 4K Scan of the Original Nitrate Camera Negative
THEY DRIVE BY NIGHT (1940)
BD50
Running Time-95 Minutes
Aspect Ratio 16x9 1.37:1 with side mattes
Audio Format: DTS HD MA 2.0
Subtitles: English SDH
SPECIAL FEATURES: Featurette: DIVIDED HIGHWAY-THE STORY OF ‘THEY DRIVE BY NIGHT’, Classic WB Short ‘SWINGTIME IN THE MOVIES. LUX RADIO THEATER BROADCAST (6/2/1941) with George Raft and Lana Turner, Original Theatrical Trailer

Cast: George Raft, Humphrey Bogart, Ann Sheridan, Ida Lupino

George Raft and Humphrey Bogart share a driving ambition in legendary director Raoul Walsh’s classic They Drive by Night, a feisty tale of brothers trying to make it as independent truckers. Ann Sheridan plays a truck-stop waitress dishing both the daily special and the patter, and Ida Lupino is a headstrong executive mixing business and romance with murder. With Bogart again riding shotgun en-route to leading-man stardom (which he would achieve the following year) and Raft at the wheel in one of his finest performances, this sterling example of Warner Bros. social-conscience filmmaking proved a study vehicle for both. It proved even more fortuitous for Miss Lupino: her courtroom breakdown scene made her an “overnight” sensation that landed her a contract with the studio.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Thank you for supporting HTF when you preorder using the link below. As an Amazon Associate HTF earns from qualifying purchases. If you are using an adblocker you will not see link.

https://www.amazon.com/Drive-Night-...93529011&rnid=2693522011&s=movies-tv&sr=1-266

 

[Robert Crawford]

An underrated movie with Ida Lupino giving a great performance.

 

[timk1041]

An underrated movie with Ida Lupino giving a great performance.

Ann Sheridan sure looks good too.

 

[ahollis]

More Bogart is always appreciated.

 

[Rodney]

A favorite of mine! So glad to see this announcement.

 

[timk1041]

Forgot to mention Ann Sheridan was born on this date February 21, in 1915.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Ann Sheridan sure looks good too.

True but Lupino’s performance is on a level by itself.

 

[Neil S. Bulk]

Joe Fabrini: It's a classy chassis!
Cassie Hartley: You couldn't even afford the headlights.

That one got past the censors.

 

[bujaki]

Keep in mind that the latter part of the film is a reworking of Bordertown (1935), with Bette Davis in the Lupino role. Same trial scene setup.
Anyway, more Walsh is always welcome, particularly when working off the nitrate negative.

 

[Colin Jacobson]

My initial thought; "hey, didn't Criterion already do this movie?"

Realization: that was "They Live By Night"!

 

[Trancas]

True but Lupino’s performance is on a level by itself.

What level exactly?
I googled a scene from the movie with her in it....

Ida Lupino Mad Scene

I haven't seen this movie since I was a kid. I remembered liking Ann Sheridan in it, but Ida Lupino? I didn't remember her at all.

Keep in mind that the latter part of the film is a reworking of Bordertown (1935), with Bette Davis in the Lupino role. Same trial scene setup.

Bette's mad scene is at about 1:19:42
Bordertown (1935)

The movie takes a minute to load...

 

[Robert Crawford]

What level exactly?
I googled a scene from the movie with her in it....

Ida Lupino Mad Scene

I haven't seen this movie since I was a kid. I remembered liking Ann Sheridan in it, but Ida Lupino? I didn't remember her at all.

I've watched They Drive by Night a number of times in my childhood and as an adult with my last viewing this past year or so. To me, Ida Lupino's performance in this movie is unforgettable.

 

[Trancas]

Bette was 27 when she filmed Bordertown. Ida was 22 when she made They Drive by Night. Poor Ida is stuck with a terribly written "mad" sequence and she isn't able to do anything with it. I think she was too young to completely understand it or fight to have it rewritten. Watching this sequence is like watching a juvenile actress in an old episode of Twilight Zone. I imagine she was much better in other parts of the movie where she could more effectively relate to her character's situation. Bette is more grounded in her similar but shorter scene.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Bette was 27 when she filmed Bordertown. Ida was 22 when she made They Drive by Night. Poor Ida is stuck with a terribly written "mad" sequence and she isn't able to do anything with it. I think she was too young to completely understand it or fight to have it rewritten. Watching this sequence is like watching a juvenile actress in an old episode of Twilight Zone. I imagine she was much better in other parts of the movie where she could relate to her character's situation better. Bette is more grounded in her similar but shorter scene.

We all have opinions and I respectfully disagree with yours about Ida's performance in this movie.

 

[Richard M S]

My initial thought; "hey, didn't Criterion already do this movie?"

Realization: that was "They Live By Night"!

I thought this was a Criterion title as well, and when I could not find it I googled "Criterion" and "Bogart" which made me realize I got it confused with High Sierra.

 

[Keith Cobby]

Great cover, Raft first with Bogie fourth. Two years later Bogie would be top billed. George was careless with his opportunities and the rest is history.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Great cover, Raft first with Bogie fourth. Two years later Bogie would be top billed. George was careless with his opportunities and the rest is history.

Frankly, I don’t think Raft cared about acting.

 

[Robert Crawford]

I've watched They Drive by Night a number of times in my childhood and as an adult with my last viewing this past year or so. To me, Ida Lupino's performance in this movie is unforgettable.

My posted thoughts after my last viewing of "They Drive by Night".

 

[Garysb]

How great that the original nitrate negative is available to use for this release.