They Drive by Night (1938 film): Difference between revisions
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==Production== |
==Production== |
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James Curtis adapted his own novel, ''They Drive by Night'' to provide the screenplay for the film. The female victims of the book were prostitutes and to prevent censorship this aspect was watered down. Additionally, the book featured scenes of police brutality that were excised altogether. |
James Curtis adapted his own novel, ''[[They Drive by Night (novel)|They Drive by Night'']] to provide the screenplay for the film. The female victims of the book were prostitutes and to prevent censorship this aspect was watered down. Additionally, the book featured scenes of police brutality that were excised altogether. |
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<ref>[http://www.london-books.co.uk/BOOKS/drivenight.html They Drive by Night BFI programme, John Oliver]</ref> |
<ref>[http://www.london-books.co.uk/BOOKS/drivenight.html They Drive by Night BFI programme, John Oliver]</ref> |
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The film was made by [[Warner Bros.|Warner Brothers]] at the recently purchased [[Teddington Studios]] as a quota film under the “[[Cinematograph Films Act 1927]]”.<ref>[http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/502445/index.html They Drive by Night, Paul Moody]</ref> |
The film was made by [[Warner Bros.|Warner Brothers]] at the recently purchased [[Teddington Studios]] as a quota film under the “[[Cinematograph Films Act 1927]]”.<ref>[http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/502445/index.html They Drive by Night, Paul Moody]</ref> |
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Revision as of 22:12, 26 June 2010
| They Drive by Night | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Arthur Woods |
| Written by | Novel & Screenplay: James Curtis |
| Produced by | Jerome Jackson |
| Starring | Emlyn Williams Ernest Thesiger |
| Cinematography | Basil Emmott |
| Edited by | Leslie Norman |
| Music by | Ernest Irving |
Release date | 1938 |
Running time | 84 minutes |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
They Drive by Night is a 1938 British black-and-white film based on the novel of the same name by James Curtis. It is sometimes confused with the American film, They Drive by Night based on the novel The Long Haul by A. I. Bezzerides.
Plot summary
“Shorty” Matthews (Emlyn Williams) having recently been released from prison visits his girlfriend in London only to discover her murdered. Fearing he will be wrongly accused of being the culprit he disappears amongst the long-distance lorry driving community. Meanwhile, the real killer, unassuming ex-schoolteacher Walter Hoover, continues to pray on London woman. As Shorty had feared he has become the main suspect. He returns to London with old flame Molly to prove his innocence.
Cast
- Emlyn Williams as Shorty Matthews
- Ernest Thesiger as Walter Hoover
- Anna Konstam as Molly O'Neill
- William Hartnell as Bus Conductor
Production
James Curtis adapted his own novel, They Drive by Night to provide the screenplay for the film. The female victims of the book were prostitutes and to prevent censorship this aspect was watered down. Additionally, the book featured scenes of police brutality that were excised altogether. [1] The film was made by Warner Brothers at the recently purchased Teddington Studios as a quota film under the “Cinematograph Films Act 1927”.[2]
William Hartnell has a small role as the Bus Conductor and is credited as “Billy Hartnell”. He would later go on to be the first Doctor Who in 1963. [3]
Release and reception
On release in the UK it was well received critically with author Graham Greene being a notable fan. Of the film he cited how close it came to French cinema with its realism and lack of romanticism. [4] While it gained a certificate to be released in the US the studio cited an inability to get a negative out of the UK. As such it did not receive a US theatrical release. [5]
It is often confused with the American Humphrey Bogart movie, They Drive by Night based on the novel The Long Haul by A. I. Bezzerides. Since both were Warner Brothers films it is possible the identical titles contributed to the British versions obscurity. [6]
Leslie Halliwell's 1977 edition of The Filmgoer's Companion cites the film as the director Arthur Woods most notable film and also a film of note for Ernest Thesiger.[7]
The film is currently unavailable on DVD. However, the novel was reissued by London Books with an introduction by Jonathan Meades in 2008. [8]
References
- ^ They Drive by Night BFI programme, John Oliver
- ^ They Drive by Night, Paul Moody
- ^ William Hartnel, IMDB
- ^ They Drive by Night BFI programme, John Oliver
- ^ They Drive by Night, Paul Moody
- ^ Review, Wonders in the Dark
- ^ Halliwell's The Filmgoer's Companion (1977), Leslie Halliwell (Hill & Wang)
- ^ They Drive By Night, John King
External links
- They Drive by Night at IMDb
- They Drive by Night at BFI Screenonline
- They Drive by Night Film Programme at London Books
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