They Live by Night (1948)

Pop culture can be measured by tracing the trends in the film industry. The 2020s are populated with superhero blockbusters, the 2010s are known for zombie flicks and dystopian pics, and the 2000s are marked by fantasy franchises. Back in the 1990s, erotic thrillers were the rage just as the 1980s are synonymous with young adult comedies. During the 1970s and ’60s, the studio system shakeup resulted in a wide range of genres from low-budget personal pics, Spaghetti Westerns and exploitation flicks to critically-acclaimed crime dramas. The 1950s had its fair share of dark melodramas and technicolor musicals, while the 1930s saw a surge of rom-coms and epics. Of course, the 1940s were dominated by film noir flicks such as The Maltese Falcon (1941), Casablanca (1942), Shadow Of A Doubt (1943), Double Indemnity (1944), Laura (1944), Mildred Pierce (1945), The Big Sleep (1946), Gilda (1946), The Killers (1946), The Lady from Shanghai (1947), Notorious (1947), Out of the Past (1947), Key Largo (1948), and They Live by Night (1948). Based on Edward Anderson’s novel “Thieves Like Us” (1937), the latter flick follows an escaped convict (Farley Granger) who is injured during a failed robbery. While hiding out at a service station, he meets and falls for a sweet dame (Cathy O’Donnell) who nurses his wounds. As you can guess, the odds of a happy ending are slim for these characters. Yet you may enjoy shots of Farley’s bare back and chiseled chest. No wonder this Nicholas Ray pic is a bone-ifed classic!