Ida Lupino is excellent!!! - They Drive by Night (1940) Discussion

[–] klasekfilmfan 18 years ago

I would have to completely agree with you! What a performance by Lupino. THE DOORS MADE ME DO IT! scene was just simply chilling!! And acted by Lupino in such convincing fashion. Truly great overall film as well.

www.geocities.com/hollywoodoftheforties

reply

[–] ekim049 18 years ago

Saw it tonight on TCM for the first time in about 10 years. Those outfits! Those furs! Those cars! Ida was SMOKIN' HOT in this!! And the Doors made her do it!! Light MY Fire!!

reply

[–] ecjones1951 18 years ago

She's a. . . (bum bah) 20th century fox!

reply

[–] carolyn_davis2 18 years ago

Good one!

reply

[–] mockdog1 17 years ago

THE DOORS MADE ME DO IT! scene was just simply chilling!!

I have to tell a (true) story about that scene-it impressed me so much that I HAD to see it on a 'real' screen. We have a revival house here (Lexington KY), a theater from 1926 with a proper screen.
I've been a regular there for decades. I took the DVD of this movie down and played that scene for the manager (the scene where Ida's walking down the driveway and the doors close behind her). He agreed with me and rented a print three weeks later...and the scene is spectacular on the big screen!

"And remember: future events such as these will affect you in the future"

reply

[–] Steffi_P 14 years ago

THE DOORS MADE ME DO IT!

It's strange, because Jim Morrison wasn't even born yet in 1940.

reply

[–] lesg2 8 years ago

Love The Oldies Like the Beatles in The Wild One

reply

[–] T-aerial 18 years ago

But watch IDA LUPINO in "ON DANGEROUS GROUND". Very, very moving!

Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043879/

reply

[–] Romojo 18 years ago

Thanks for the tip! I'll check it out.

reply

[–] misspaddylee 17 years ago

"On Dangerous Ground" and "They Drive By Night" are both written by A.I. Bezzerides and give Ida a chance to show us, again, how great she was.

"The sun is not kind. God should use a rose-amber spot."

reply

[–] Steamboy 17 years ago

She steals the show, no doubt about it. I was very impressed as well. It's like she gradually takes possession of the film, getting more and more screen time, more and more shots, even the close-ups seem to get closer and tighter. The film in itself was a bit of a letdown, the ending could have been much better, it felt rushed: in the few last minutes we get the reversal of fortune for Joe and the happy ending.

Oh, and Alan Hale is worth mentioning too. His character was hilarious I think, and his performance seamless !

reply

[–] SevenMMBsg 17 years ago

. . . simply must check out Ida Lupino in "The Bigamist", from 1952, which she also directed(!) and co-starring the amazing Edmund O'brien as said "bigamist". the title might sound like it would be silly melodramatic trite, but it's actually none of those descriptors; it's a very intelligent and emotionally complex little film with no easy answers and a, at best, wonderfully ambiguous ending, with VERY smooth and assured direction from Ida Lupino herself who ended up directing more films after this. IDA, just as beautiful and talented in 1952 as she was in 12 years earlier in "TDBN". It is on DVD from very Public Domain companies and the print - at least the one from "MILL CREEK" - is uniformally excellent in picture and sound. HIGHLY RECOMENED!

~PEACE,
se7en

reply

[–] bgh48 17 years ago

He was laughing, he was always laughing...
Kissed me when he was drunk...
Yes, he kissed me when he was drunk...
So I bought a new car! And some new clothes,
Yes, they were pretty...
He used to tell terrible jokes...
I heard the motor running,
And I saw the doors...
I heard the motor running...
And I saw the doors...
The doors made me do it! AH HA HA HA HA HA!
THE DOORS MADE ME DO IT!
AH HA HA HA HA HA!
THEY MADE ME DO IT!
THE DOORS MADE ME DO IT! AH HA HA HA HA HA!

reply

[–] jeffreylincoln 17 years ago

The only part of her performance that I did like was the maniacal laughter as she said "The doors made me do it." The laughter seemed unbelievable and overdone. But the rest of the scenes, she steals. The walk down the driveway was captivating.

reply

[–] BlondeVixen 17 years ago

She was a great actress, no doubt about it. Her mental meltdown in the courtroom, great stuff.

reply

[–] eurochic86 17 years ago

I absolutely agree! I just finished the film a few minutes ago & I was completely transformed by her acting in the film. She simply blew me away at how she acted like a total psycho. The obsession, the yelling, the breakdown, the laughing in the courtroom etc all felt very real. I felt the connection & all her raw emotions. She sank into her role so well, like it was a part of who it really was. I didn't feel like I was watching Ida on my tv. No, I felt like I was a real life character instead of the actress & that's a compliment. It felt so real. It’s just mind boggling how she didn’t win an Oscar, let alone get a nomination for her role in the film. I just found her to be spectacular & I cannot say enough of how excellent her portrayal was. Nobody could pull of Lana the way she did. Bravo Ida!

reply

[–] csu16387 17 years ago

Ida's always great, but she's very chilling in this film. My jaw hit the floor the first time I saw "The doors made me do it" sequence in the courtroom.

"Dry your eyes baby, it's out of character."

reply

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] T-aerial 16 years ago

But watch IDA LUPINO in ROAD HOUSE and MOONTIDE!
Excellent moving performances, who show, that Bette Davis is a poor man's Ida Lupino!

Road House: http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDReviews40/road_house.htm.

Moontide: http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDReviews40/moontide.htm.

reply