Review of Thieves Like Us (1974) by Brandon S — 25 Mar 2009

After the successes of M*A*S*H (1970), McCabe and Mrs. Miller (1971) and The Long Goodbye (1973), director Robert Altman took on an adaptation of Edward Anderson's 1937 crime novel of the same name, which was previously adapted as They Live by Night (1948).

Whilst there were some who unfairly compared it to Bonnie and Clyde (1967), it is a very stylish and thoughtful period crime drama. Set in Mississippi in the 1930's, the film follows 3 escaped convicts, Bowie (Keith Carradine), Chicamaw (John Schuck) and T-Dub (Bert Remsen), and embark on a spree of robbing banks in the area.

Bowie, the youngest of the 3 crooks, falls for Keechie (Shelley Duvall), who lives at one of the gangs hide-outs. However, after one bank robbery goes horribly wrong, it puts all of their lives in danger, especially the lives of our two young lovers.

It's an underrated film from Altman, but his stamp of improvised but detailed direction is placed all over this film, it captures the era well, using the radio throughout to give the film a sense of date and time.

Carradine and Duvall are wonderful as Bowie and Keechie, and it is a powerful but quirky film, well worth a look.