Ida Lupino: What to do with all that lovely insurance money? Image: View and Review
In 1940, Warner Bros. released They Drive By Night, a commentary on the American trucking industry. It starred George Raft, who was one of the studio’s biggest stars, and a young British actress who would steal the entire film. Her name was Ida Lupino.
Lupino plays the perfectly-coiffed but disaffected wife of a trucking company entrepreneur (Alan Hale, Sr). Not only is Lupino’s character dissatisfied with Hale – and his money – she is obsessed with Raft.
Now, George Raft has an acting style that doesn’t appeal to everyone, so it may be difficult, at first, to see why Lupino’s character is attracted to him. However, she does provide a clue in an early scene.
“What do I see in you, anyway?” she purrs, as she stands too close to Raft. “You’re crude, you’re uneducated, you’ve never had a pair of pants with a crease in them. And yet I can never say ‘No’ to you.”
With this simple bit of dialogue, Lupino explains everything without really explaining anything at all.
As for Raft, he rebuffs Lupino at every opportunity. Above all, Raft’s character is a loyal fellow, and because Hale the Boss has always treated him fairly, he’s going to do the same in return.
They Drive By Night has a terrific cast, including Humphrey Bogart and Ann Sheridan, but no one brings the intense energy to the screen the way Lupino does.
Her scenes with Hale are some of the best in the film. Hale’s character is someone who wasn’t born the Executive Type: he chums around with his employees; he makes corny jokes; he drinks too much at a party; his laugh is a loud guffaw. But there’s no malice in Hale; he’s generous to a fault.
Lupino has nothing but disdain for her husband. She’s always at him to not drink so much, to stop with the jokes, to put on his jacket. “When we got married, you promised to act like a gentleman,” she says, tipping her hand. She didn’t marry Hale for love, she married him for revenue.
Hale, of course, doesn’t see this. He adores Lupino and, tragically, his admiration for her prevents him from seeing who she really is.
Alan Hale can’t get enough of Lupino’s scorn. Image: YouTube
In one scene, Lupino walks Raft to his car during a party she and Hale are hosting. Raft is pleasant but distant; he carefully addresses her as Mrs Carlsen.
As Raft drives away, the camera is close on Lupino’s face; she stands alone in her driveway while Hale’s drunken laughter crashes through the night from inside the house.
“Mrs,” she hisses aloud. “MRS.”
Then, as she turns slightly towards the house, we realize what she’s thinking.
When she decides to put an end to Hale, it’s because the opportunity has suddenly presented itself. In this scene, she drives passed-out Hale to their home and pulls into the garage. She sits for a moment before deciding not to turn off the car. She looks at Hale almost curiously, before sliding out from under his heavy, drunk head. She softly closes the car door and hurries out of the garage. Her expression says she can’t quite believe what she’s about to do – but she’s not turning back. No way.
This scene is one of several that features Lupino’s mesmerizing performance. (We’re not divulging any more for fear of giving away the ending.)
They Drive By Night is an intriguing look at the trucking industry during the Depression. This itself is an interesting subject, but it’s Lupino’s superb performance that makes the film memorable.
For more information on Ida Lupino’s career, read this biography by Lindsey at The Motion Pictures.
They Drive by Night: starring George Raft, Ann Sheridan, Ida Lupino. Directed by Raoul Walsh. Written by Jerry Wald and Richard Macaulay. Warner Bros. Pictures Inc., 1940, B&W, 93 mins.
Silver Screenings 
What an actress. You describe her character in THEY DRIVE BY NIGHT so well. Ida surely grabbed this role and proved her credentials.
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Yup, she sure did. This film was the first time I’d ever seen her, and when it was over I thought, “How is it I’ve never even HEARD of this person before?”
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Now, George Raft has an acting style that doesn’t appeal to everyone, so it may be difficult, at first, to see why Lupino’s character is attracted to him.
You never said a truer word. You could have trebled Raft’s IQ and still not come close to Lupino’s.
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George Raft’s career puzzles me, and he doesn’t seem to have much chemistry with either female interest in this film. However, the smarty-pants Lupino makes up for it.
However, I do like his scenes with Alan Hale. His standoff-ishness seems to work well with Hale’s over-the-top boisterousness.
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George Raft’s career puzzles me
It’s always completely baffled me. I mean, much of Bogart’s early career consists of him playing roles where the moviemakers reluctantly settl3ed for second best, Raft having turned down their offer. Wikipedia has a useful list of roles that he rejected, and reading it one shudders. The George Raft Maltese Falcon? The George Raft Double Indemnity? Ye gods!
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My dad (who taught me to love classic movies) was one who always liked George Raft, and he opined that Raft would have made a better Rhett Butler in GWTW than Clark Gable.
Dad and I didn’t always see eye-to-eye 🙂
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Your dad sounds awesome! I never, in a million years, would have considered George Raft as Rhett Butler. But your father sees something in Raft, and maybe I should have a mini George Raft marathon to gain a greater appreciation.
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I love this film. Definitely a noir that threw me for more than a few loops.
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Agreed. It’s kind of a shocking film, in a way – first with the greed & corruption of the trucking bosses, then Ida Lupino’s shenanigans. It never gets old.
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Reblogged this on Rogues & Vagabonds.
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Thanks for linking my post! Ida’s performance in They Drive By Night is probably my favorite thing about the film.
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My pleasure. It’s a good bio.:)
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Ruth, dear pal, I love THEY DRIVE B They Drive By Night is one of Team Bartilucci’s favorites, and Ida is the best of her films, as well as her great films in her great carrer as actress a and diretor! I can say not more! 😀
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It’s one of my fave Ida L. movies, too! I first saw this film a few years ago, and I was amazed I’d never heard of her before.
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Also, George Raft, was a wooden actror. But Ida and Ann Sheriden were great, too, including Bogart in his big break! Hooray!
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Ann Sheridan is good in this, too. She has a great way of delivering those zingers in the truck stop scene. As for Bogart, well, he’s always fab in my opinion!
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Not related to this post, I wanted you to know I’m hosting my first blogathon on Winter Sports in films @http://cinephiliaque.blogspot.ca/2015/09/announcing-winter-sports-blogathon.html
Join if you feel it! Thank you!
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Reblogged this on the last drive in and commented:
Silver Screenings talks Ida Lupino- in a noir film that’s got high octane
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Peacles, I agree totally! Ida is alwas TOP!!
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She was one of THE coolest… I’m just touting Ruth’s wonderful piece over at Silver Screenings!!! Cheers cookie
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Peaches, I totally agree! Ida was brilliant in every way, from actress to director.
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Fine actress and later director…Ida Lupino was truly one-of-a-kind.
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Yup, she really was one of a kind. My next goal is to learn more about her films as director.
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I haven’t seen this one and I wouldn’t usually gravitate toward movies about the trucking industry, but you’ve really made this one sound appealing!
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This movie really zips along at a fast pace. It is worth seeing for Ida Lupino’s performance alone.
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This sounds really good, Ruth! I am not familiar with Ida Lapino except hearing of her. I would love too see her in this. I always wonder why some characters or people in real life feel like they have to murder their husband or wife, instead of getting a divorce. (Not that I am advocating divorce). It just seems way easier and a better choice than killing someone! Makes for an exciting movie, though. Thanks for your recommendation!
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Yes, the murder here makes for quite a dramatic movie, especially what happens afterwards. I agree divorce would be the more civilized way to be rid of someone…
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