They Drive By Night (1940 Raoul Walsh)

Based on an I.A. Bezzerides novel 'Long Haul' (1938) which shares the same truckers' world of his 'Thieves' Market' and even some of the same plot - this is a world he clearly knew well.

This time brothers George Raft (sensitive) and Bogie (secondary) are the ragged truck drivers (they spend the first third of the film filthy), Ann Sheridan (always great) as a red head they pick up. The plot thickens when Raft starts working for former driver Alan Hale (exuberant) and his predatory wife Ida Lupino (pretty good). Roscoe Karns makes an impression as a fellow driver, rather keen on booze. You get a lot of plot for your money.

It's a class act, written by Jerry Wald and Richard Macaulay with good spunky dialogue, shot silkily by Arthur Edeson, scored by Adolph Deutsch, directed with aplomb by silent veteran Walsh. Terrific.

Raft falls asleep on her bed so she takes the chair...sweet. What would the landlady say?