They Drive by Night (1940)

In the rugged landscape of California's trucking industry, wildcat brothers Joe and Paul Fabrini contend with the unyielding pressures of relentless creditors and ruthless competition. Driving fruit shipments from verdant farms to bustling Los Angeles markets, they are ensnared in a relentless battle for survival, their livelihood demanding grueling hours on the road and a dangerous deprivation of sleep. The anxiety of this precarious existence plagues Paul's wife, her fears for her husband's safety growing with every passing day. Their lives take a grim turn when they pick up a tough-as-nails waitress, Cassie Hartley, who's just parted ways with her truck stop job. Together, they bear witness to the chilling reality of their profession when a fellow trucker, pushed beyond his limits, falls asleep at the wheel resulting in a horrifying accident that leaves no survivors. This tragic event ignites in the brothers a fierce resolve to make their business profitable and escape the hazardous road life. Their journey leads Joe to Ed Carlsen, a successful trucking tycoon and old acquaintance. Despite his wealth, Ed clings to his working-class roots, much to the chagrin of his wife Lana. Striving for a higher social status, Lana finds herself irresistibly drawn to Joe, who rebuffs her advances, sparking a dangerous obsession that spirals into a dark abyss of deception and murder. "They Drive by Night" is a riveting tale of struggle, ambition, and the perilous cost of the American dream, where the open road is both a promise of freedom and a highway to despair.

They Drive by Night is a crime movie featuring George Raft.

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