They Drive by Night

1938 ""

They Drive by Night

7 | 1h24m | en | Thriller

“Shorty” Matthews 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 prey on London women. As Shorty had feared he has become the main suspect. He returns to London with old flame Molly to prove his innocence.

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7 | 1h24m | en | Thriller , Crime | More Info

Released: December. 01,1938 | Released Producted By: First National Film Distributors , Country: Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website:

Synopsis

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Cast

Emlyn Williams , Ernest Thesiger , Anna Konstam

Director

Michael Relph

Producted By

First National Film Distributors ,

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Trailers & Images

Cast

Emlyn Williams

as Shorty Matthews

The Walking Stick The Epic That Never Was The Great War The Wreck of the Mary Deare The Deep Blue Sea Another Man's Poison Ivanhoe The Scarf Three Husbands

Ernest Thesiger

as Walter Hoover

Famous Monster: Forrest J Ackerman Sons and Lovers The Battle of the Sexes Who Done It? Meet Mr. Lucifer Laughter in Paradise The Man in the White Suit A Place of One's Own Brass Monkey

Anna Konstam

as Molly O'Neill

Saloon Bar They Drive by Night

Reviews

mlink-36-9815 What i like about THEY DRIVE BY NIGHT is the authentic british dialogue.it wasnt rewritten to make it comprehensible to american audiences. thats its charm.

MartinHafer This 1938 film was released in the US by Warner Brothers and I assume it was made by their British division originally (due to British laws, several of the big US studios had British divisions making films as well). Regardless, it has nothing much to do with the more famous 1940 film by Warner.The film finds Shorty Matthews (Emlyn Williams) getting out of prison at the same time an inmate is being executed. This is significant because Short is rather ambivalent towards the man's plight--and soon he'll be in a similar position. This occurs when Shorty goes to visit an old girlfriend and he finds her dead. Instead of handling it like a guy with a brain, he runs--and ends up making everyone think he's the killer. Instead of going to the police, this guy spends the rest of the movie avoiding the police dragnet and trying to figure out who is the real killer. The film has a few minor flaws. I guess I could accept that Shorty was stupid but perhaps not too unusual for avoiding the police. However, the ending, while really cool to watch, really didn't make a lot of sense. But, the film has a lot of tension and some nice performances. Overall, the good far outweighs the bad and the film is worth your time.

zebulonguy They Drive By Night is an amazing British classic. It has to be one of the most sombre British films of the thirties.It is also extremely interesting as as a timepieceThe truck drivers and their local pit stops are all captured well in this slice of early British cinema. Shorty , played by Emlyn Williams in a superb performance is released from prison and sets off to see his girlfriend, he discovers her dead body in an amazingly powerful sequence. Terrified he will get the blame he goes on the run hitching a ride from a sympathetic truck driver.On the way he encounters an assortment of various characters , all diverse and entertaining. This film is wonderfully acted by all the cast. If you don't blink you will see William Hartnell who played TV's very first Dr. Who as a bus conductor.Much later as the tone of the film completely changes from gripping thriller to downright terror he meets Ernest Thesiger who in a remarkable performance completely dominates the last 25 minutes of the film as a very eccentric chap indeed.It is a tragedy that the director Arthur B. Woods died so young, he displayed a unique talent. If you can search this film out you will be highly rewarded with a film that you will never forget.

VidBoy Nice crime thriller that almost seems like a lost Hitchcock film. Moody lighting contributes to the noirish atmoshpere. Ernest Thesiger turns in one of his creepiest performances.