Tuesday, November 26, 2019

They Live By Night

They Live By Night is a 1948 film noir directed by Nicholas Ray in his first feature film. Farley Granger stars.



Here's the young couple at the coffee shop:


as he looks over his shoulder at the neon "Weddings Performed" sign. I'll have a cuppa, too,


to join the T Stands for Tuesday blogger gathering.

This will even count as a Christmas movie as you look for something different for the holiday season:


The leader of this little gang insists the kid join them in another bank robbery as he pokes at the ornaments the kid has just put on his and his new bride's Christmas tree.

Here's another screenshot of the tree and one of the tinsel decorating the mantle:


Depending on how non-traditional you like your Christmas movies, this one might do.

The New York Times review from the time of the film's release praises it saying,
A commonplace little story about a young escaped convict "on the lam" and his romance with a nice girl whom he picks up and marries is told with pictorial sincerity and uncommon emotional thrust ... this crime-and-compassion melodrama has the virtues of vigor and restraint.
Slant Magazine concludes, "Simultaneously tough-minded and delicate, the film is an exquisite stage-setter for Nicholas Ray’s career". Time Out closes with this: "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."

Variety says, "Underneath They Live By Night is a moving, somber story of hopeless young love. There’s no attempt at sugarcoating a happy ending, and yarn moves towards its inevitable, tragic climax without compromise." Senses of Cinema says, "They Live By Night is regularly cited as the most significant progenitor of the ‘outlaw lovers on the run’ narrative. Succeeded by films as diverse as Bonnie and Clyde (Arthur Penn, 1967) and Natural Born Killers (Oliver Stone, 1994), Ray’s film remains the standard bearer for the genre."

100% of Rotten Tomatoes critics like it.

27 comments:

  1. Farley Granger. There's a name I recognize from the past. I like your mug, very seasonal.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Good morning, sounds like an interesting movie, I have not heard of this one before.
    I Love your coffee cup this morning-pottery dishes always give me a good feeling using them
    Happy T wishes Hugs Kathy

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sounds very intriguing, and something different. Enjoy your coffee, that always looks great. Happy T Day, Valerie

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a beautiful mug - I love it! The film sounds interesting, nice to have something different for the holiday season 😁. Wishing you a Happy T Tuesday and a wonderful Thanksgiving! Hugs, Jo x

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh I have watched this movie- and as usual, more than once;) LOVE these old classics! Happy T day and happy Thanksgiving too!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm not sure I've heard of this movie. Is it as good as Die Hard for a Christmas movie? 😺Your mug looks like the the right size to wrap your hands around for warmth. Happy T Day

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They're both movies that incidentally take place during the holiday season. The sweet fare is sometimes just too sweet lol

      Delete
  7. I love those old black and white movies. Need to watch more of them. :) Happy T day my friend x

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love an old classic, but I haven't heard of this one. Nice mug!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love old films but I’ve never heard of this one.
    Lovely coffee mug.
    Happy T Day, Jan x

    ReplyDelete
  10. The film sounds interesting, I never seem to have time to watch films these days.
    Your coffee mug looks beautiful.
    Happy T day wishes.
    Yvonne xx

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love the traditional Christmas movies and look forward to them every year: "A Christmas Story," "Christmas on 42nd Street," "A Wonderful Life," "A Christmas Carol." Yup, traditional all the way.

    Happy Thanksgiving and Happy T-day! Eileen xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do like the traditional Christmas movies, but I admit to having gotten tired of some of them year after year... I'm enjoying finding some less Christmas-y movies to mix in :)

      Delete
  12. ...I was a little guy when this one came out!

    ReplyDelete
  13. One of my favorite holiday movies is Holiday Affair, 1949 with Robert Mitchum, Janet Leigh, and Wendell Corey. You are probably too young to even know the stars! But, you do seem to like old classics. :)
    Happy Thanksgiving & T Day.
    Elizabeth wanted me to let everyone know she is having computer problems & doesn't know when she will be up and running again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Robert Mitchum is one of my favorites!

      Delete
  14. I love film noir movies. I like your coffee mug. Happy T-Day!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Your cup is beautiful! Black and Whites are something I loved when I was younger.
    Happy Tea Day,
    Kate

    ReplyDelete
  16. Well not your traditional Christmas movie (col). Why do the movie makers like young love & crime together, it's always a sour drink mix.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Noir doesn't often include sweet young love as I recall, but it was sweet how they really _wanted_ to live regular lives. Sad :(

      Delete
  17. What a lovely mug!
    The film sounds interesting. I've not heard of this one before. 100% on rotten tomatoes is a good rating.
    Happy T-Day (belated),
    Hugs,
    Lisca

    ReplyDelete
  18. Love you mug. I bet coffee even tastes better out of it. I hope it was a fabulous T day. I'm a little late getting around this week. Hugs-Erika

    ReplyDelete
  19. What can I say, other than I realize I’m very late visiting. This was quite an interesting read. I am not sure how much I want to think about Christmas movies, even one this unconventional, until after tomorrow. However, you find the most unique and unusual films to watch and review.

    I love that seasonal mug. It fits perfectly with the season and colors. Thanks for sharing your non-traditional Christmas film fare and your coffee and French press with us for T on Tuesday, only now it is Wednesday.

    ReplyDelete
  20. The old days when crime didn't pay...no matter what or why. :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. My Mum used to love Farley Granger! We have just watched Die Hard - just enough Christmas! Belated Happy T Day! Chrisx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Die Hard is fun as a Christmas movie. It's always good to find another one with a Christmas connection :)

      Delete