They Live by Night (1948) [Criterion] + Extras

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Chickamaw, T-Dub, and Bowie have just escaped from prison. While Chickamaw and T-Dub are hardened criminals–bank robbers–23-year-old Bowie, who has been in prison since he was 16, was wrongly convicted of murder. As he felt he was rotting behind bars, Bowie, when given this opportunity by his two older colleagues, believed his best path forward was to help Chickamaw and T-Dub in their upcoming heists, in a case of knowing there was a payback in they choosing him, to make enough money to hire a lawyer to clear his name of the murder conviction. The plan is to hide out with Chickamaw's alcoholic brother Mobley until they have enough money to make other arrangements. Also with them is Mobley's daughter Keechie, who doesn't much like life with her father or uncle. In their time together, Bowie and Keechie form a bond, both emotional and romantic, and start to dream of a life together in which Bowie would not always need to look behind his back to see the authorities ready to haul him away. Escaping from the obligations to Chickamaw and T-Dub might not be easy for Bowie, but being forever attached to them might mean not having a future with Keechie.

– Featurettes –
• Outside of Time - A new video interview with film critic Imogen Sara Smith (23.2 MB)
• The Twisted Road - A short piece with various critics, filmmakers and writers (32.4 MB)
• Illustrated audio interview excerpts from 1956 with producer John Houseman (113.2 MB)

– Commentary featuring film historian Eddie Muller and actor Farley Granger.