Independent Films, Film Profiles

They Drive by Night
by Raoul_Walsh

They Drive by Night is a 1940 B&W film noir starring George Raft, Ann Sheridan, Ida Lupino, and Humphrey Bogart.Joe (George Raft) and Paul Fabrini (Humphrey Bogart) are Wildcat or, independent truck drivers who have their own small one truck business. The Fabrini boys constantly battle distributors, rivals and loan collectors, while trying to make a success of their transport company. Overworked Paul falls asleep at the wheel causing an accident that costs him his right arm. Meanwhile Joe is romancing a local waitress Cassie (Ann Sheridan), but is being seduced by Lana Carlsen (Ida Lupino), the wife of trucking executive Ed Carlsen (Alan Hale). Lana, now in love with Joe, murders her husband and makes it look like an accident. She then offers Joe one half interest as a partner in Carlsen's organization. Initially bitter, Paul eventually gets over his self pity and returns to work after Joe is made partner of the company, now as a dispatcher for the Fabrinis' company. Joe accepts but turns away from Lana's sexual advances and says he plans to marry Cassie. This enrages Lana who then accuses Joe of plotting Carlsen's murder. However, eventually, the tide turns when Lana becomes hysterical on the witness stand and breaks down and confesses everything. The case is dismissed because the only witness (Lana) is insane and Joe reunites with Cassie. Many of the plot elements were reworked by Warner from an earlier movie, Bordertown