They Live by Night, Bound for Destruction

This is a hard one to watch.  Our hunk and sultry babe appear destined for ruination.  Yep, the proverbial oncoming train seems like it will be the great arbiter in this one.  The beautiful Cathy O'Donnell, who always appears to be so good and pure, seems destined to be absolutely destroyed in our film today. This one may also be the magnum opus of Farley Granger, a square-jawed hunk who means well, even though people he meets die violently. Our film today is 1948's "They Live by Night," directed by Nicholas Ray.

A trio of lifers are on the lam.  Having just escaped from prison, they commandeer a farmer and his car, kick the snot out of the farmer, and escape to Chickamaw's (Howard Da Silva) family house. With him is the aforementioned hunk Bowie (Granger), and the leader T-Dub (Jay C. Flippen). Bowie is wounded and the collection of family members in the house seem as hostile as the pursuing cops. Still, the sheltered and cynical sister of Chickamaw, Keechie (O'Donnell) seems to lust for Bowie. Yep, they fall in love.  Do they know what they're doing? Ha!  Bank robbers are bank robbers and when Bowie's all healed up, they rob banks. Bowie also brings Keechie back a beautiful watch and now Keechie is hooked. The trio seem to hit banks at will, but will their luck run out? Yep.

More bank robberies, and the trio take in massive amounts of cash. Uh oh, during a getaway, Chickamaw shoots a cop...now the stakes are upped for the police. Keechie and Bowie try to run off, away from the cops and from T-Dub and Chickamaw.  Poor choice after poor choice make their plight more difficult, but the influx of stolen cash masks that all.  As Keechie buys whatever her heart desires, Bowie soon finds out that you just can't leave a life of crime behind. Now his gang wants him back, as Keechie springs a surprise on him...though you won't be surprised.  What happens next appears to be the aforementioned oncoming train, but you'll see.

Do Bowie and Keechie have any path to living happily ever after?  Should Bowie fear his buddies more than the cops?  Do Keechie and Bowie have it in them to make any good decisions?  Love is all we need right?  Ha!  Just watch this one.  For a gritty Film Noir film in which we pull for a great looking couple who probably do not deserve our affection, see "They Live by Night."