Harrison's Reports (1949)

176 HARRISON'S REPORTS October 29, 1949 cline. On the rare occasion that it does come up with a good picture, a sense of responsibility to the indus' try in general, and the public in particular, should admonish Columbia not to drive too hard a bargain so that the exhibitor will be able to show it to the public without charging a premium. As Bill Ainsworth, National Allied's president, has already pointed out, Columbia, by offering the pic' ture to exhibitors at terms that will enable them to show it to the greatest number of people at prices all can afford, can do much to, not only increase its own profits and win the exhibitors' good will, but also to renew the publics faith in motion picture entertainment. Unless Abe Montague sees the light, he will be guilty of fumbling one of the greatest oppor' tunities his company ever had. THE ALLIED CONVENTION IN MINNEAPOLIS The day on which this issue goes to press, I will be attending the National Allied Convention at the Nicollet Hotel in Minneapolis. The important decisions made at the convention will be discussed fully in next week's issue. "They Live by Night" with Cathy O'Donnell, Farley Granger and Howard Da Silva (RKO, no release date set; time, 95 min.) (Editor's Note: The following review was originally published in the June 26, 1948 issue, under the title, "The Twisted Road." Release of the picture was delayed by RKO, which is now offering it to the exhibitors under the title, "They Live by J^ight." The review is being reprinted because of the many requests received for information about the picture.) This screen adaptation of Edward Anderson's novel, "Thieves Like Us," has been turned into a pk' ture of considerable substance. It is a fine drama, at once tender and touching in its depiction of the mutual sympathy that draws an escaped young convict and a forlorn girl into marriage, and ruthless in its depiction of how the young man is compelled to continue a life of crime by two "lifers" who had helped him to escape. It is a film of power and artistry, directed with feeling, and its dramatic impact is in no small measure due to the moving performances of Cathy O'Donnell and Farley Granger, as the hap' less young couple, very much in love, who strive against an inevitable fate. There is nothing glamorous about the picture, and there is no comedy to relieve the tragic tone that prevails throughout, but it is an impressive film, fascinating in its unfoldment and emotionally stirring in its appeal. Howard Da Silva and Jay C. Flippen, as the escaped "lifers," give vigorous portrayals. While it is a picture that will be appreciated by class patrons, it should go over also with the rank and file, for the story has elements that are understood by the great mass of people : — Having made their escape from a prison farm, Granger, Da Silva and Flippen, hide out in a ramshackle gas station operated by Da Silva 's worthless brother, Will Wright, and by the latter 's neglected daughter, Cathy. Granger, barely out on his 'teens, had been sentenced to life for an accidental killing. While the older pair lay plans for a series of bank robberies, Granger and Cathy become interested in one another. Flippen, whose brother was still in jail, promises the latter 's wife, Helen Craig, that the first money stolen by the trio would be used to free her husband. The trio stage a successful robbery, but in a subsequent auto accident Granger is injured, and Da Silva, to help him get away, kills a policeman. With the law at their heels, the three separate for a while. Cathy and Granger decide to get married and start a new life elsewhere. They go to live at an out' of-the-way tourist camp until the "heat" dies down. Da Silva, however, finds them and, together with Flippen, compels Granger to join them on another robbery, despite his protests. The plan, however, goes wrong; Flippen is killed, and Da Silva, after a quarrel with Granger, is shot down robbing a liquor store. With the police hot on his trail, and with Cathy expeering a baby, Granger flees with her to New Orleans, where he seeks refuge with Helen, planning to leave Cathy with her so that he might hide out by himself and rejoin her later. But Helen, embittered over Flippen 's failure to effect her husband's release, makes a deal with the authorities to free him if she will lead them to Granger. That night, as Granger steals into the house to bid Cathy farewell, he notices the police ambush and reaches for his gun; a fussilade of bullets puts him to death. John Houseman produced it and Nicholas Ray directed it from a screen play by Charles Schnee. Adult entertainment. FROM SOME OF OUR READERS CLAUGHTON THEATRES Miami, Fla. . . Regarding the value of your reports to an exhibitor, Harrison's Reports has been my Bible since becoming an exhibitor in 1941." Very truly yours, Lillian C. Claughton RIVOLI THEATRE Danville, 111. "Contrary to some popular ideas, I think that there is some life in the old Gal — Show Business, and so I have taken over this theatre on my own. Someday I hope to add to it. "At any rate, I doubt if I could run without Pete Harrison's Reports, and so want to enter my subscription at once. ..." Yours truly, L. Frank Stewart THE PHILLIPS EXETER ACADEMY Exeter, New Hampshire "Your weekly reports on movies have been such an invaluable help to me in my chore of getting Saturday pictures for our school, that I have recommended that Edward Eames, principal of Governor Dummer Academy, South Byfield, Mass., subscribe to them to help him choose the weekly show for his school. "... I suspect that for sheer usefulness they are more of a help to us than to the great run of theatre owners. . . ." Yours very truly, Henry Darcy Curwen