They Drive by Night (1940)

My Review

Ida Lupino became a big star by her appearance in “They Drive by Night,” where she played the scheming wife of a businessman. Her performance became increasingly frantic as the film progressed, culminating in a courtroom scene where she became completely unhinged. She stunned audiences and critics alike with her raw talent, and Lupino stole the show from her big-name co-stars like Humphrey Bogart, George Raft, and Ann Sheridan.

Director Raoul Walsh (“The Strawberry Blonde” 1941) put his usual energy into this film with great production values, memorable performances, and a marvelous script by Jerry Wald and Richard Macaulay, adapted from the 1938 novel “Long Haul” by A. I. Bezzerides. Co-stars include Alan Hale, Gale Page, Roscoe Karns, John Litel, and George Tobias as George. “They Drive by Night” was a big hit at the box office for Warner Bros. Pictures. It was mostly filmed at the Warner Bros. sound stages in Burbank, with some outdoor scenes shot in the Owens Valley.