They Drive by Night (1940)

In a very Bogie mood today. Watched They Drive by Night on TCM's Watch app. It's the story of the Fabrini brothers' quest to work on their own driving trucks for delivering goods. However, the life of a truck driver is filled with complications: sleep deprivation, no work, and leaving the wife at home for long periods of time. The brothers do get a break, but it all falls to pieces when Paul (Bogart) falls asleep at the wheel of the truck, totals the truck, and loses his right arm in the accident. Joe (George Raft) makes it his mission to provide for Paul, Pearl (Paul's wife), and himself. After reconnecting with an old friend, Joe finds himself becoming a successful office man and a job for Paul.

Then the dames come in. See, Joe's been seeing this girl named Cassie (definition of gumption). Turns out Joe's boss' wife has got a thing for him. It's the same old story: married dame wants husbands employee, so she kills husband to get husband out of the way and appoints employee to partner of the business. Once said employee finds out about the deception, dame tries to blame the murder on employee-turned-partner.

Then she goes nuts. Cassie (Ann Sheridan) stays gold. She knows Joe would never kill anyone because she loves him. Thankfully, while on trial, dame loses it and confesses to the murder. Joe decides to quit the business he's been running since he doesn't feel like he deserves the success, but Cassie, Paul, and the wonderful employees convince him he's wrong in a very moving scene.

This movie made me sad at first. It defined all the struggling actresses, writers, truck drivers, innovators, and anyone else who's ever tried to make it big on their own. The worst thing about being told you can't do something is when things turn worse for you after you've shunned everyone's opinion.

LOOK AT HIS PRECIOUS SMILING FACE! Oh the rarity.

But Joe certainly found out what he was made of. He packed down his pride for Paul's sake and went to work for another man rather than himself. Maybe that was the most painful part of the movie: seeing the perseverance of one's determination come to a screeching halt because of forces unseen.

Only it didn't. Joe rolled with punches. It may seemed like he wouldn't get all he wanted out of life, but he turned it into a successful opportunity to be a better man for Cassie, Paul, Pearl, and himself. He refused the advances of his employer's wife when a lesser man would have succumbed to them. I admired both Joe and Paul's characters throughout the entire film. May watch some of Bogart's more villainous films later on, though it was so good to see him smile and show some of his less cynical side.