They Live by Night (1949): cast, story & where to watch
1949 · Film · ★ 6.8
Released in 1949, They Live by Night is a drama, crime and romance film directed by Nicholas Ray, running about 96 minutes. “Cops or no cops I'm going through!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. An escaped convict, injured during a robbery, falls in love with the woman who nurses him back to health, but their relationship seems doomed from the beginning.
Who’s in it. They Live by Night stars Cathy O'Donnell as Catherine "Keechie" Mobley, Farley Granger as Arthur "Bowie" Bowers, Howard Da Silva as Chicamaw One-Eye Mobley and Jay C. Flippen as Henry "T-Dub" Mansfield, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.8/10, They Live by Night has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on TCM. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch They Live by Night page.
If you liked it. Fans of They Live by Night tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch They Live by Night (1949)?
- In US, They Live by Night is available to stream on TCM. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is They Live by Night worth watching?
- They Live by Night holds an audience score of 6.8 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama, crime and romance. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in They Live by Night?
- They Live by Night stars Cathy O'Donnell, Farley Granger, Howard Da Silva, Jay C. Flippen and Helen Craig.
- When was They Live by Night released?
- They Live by Night was released in 1949, with a runtime of about 96 minutes.