Thieves Like Us

1974
R
2h 3m

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

5.3K

YOUR RATING

When two men break out of prison, they join up with another and restart their criminal ways, robbing banks across the South.

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Crime Drama Romance

When two men break out of prison, they join up with another and restart their criminal ways, robbing banks across the South.When two men break out of prison, they join up with another and restart their criminal ways, robbing banks across the South.When two men break out of prison, they join up with another and restart their criminal ways, robbing banks across the South.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

5.3K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win

Trivia
When Robert Altman decided to adapt Edward Anderson's book, Altman was not at all aware that Nicholas Ray had previously adapted the book as the cult classic They Live by Night (1948).

Goofs
In one of the old radio clips early in the film, the announcer talks about Seabiscuit winning the $25,000 Butler Handicap at Empire City Race Track. The actual date of Seabiscuit winning that race is July 10, 1937, which would place it after the end of the movie which concludes in the Spring of 1937. (Also, later in the film, we hear a radio broadcast of Franklin D. Roosevelt's second inaugural address, which occurred on January 20, 1937. Although the Seabiscuit race took place six months *after* Roosevelt's second inauguration, the film places the race broadcast *before* the inauguration speech.)

Quotes
T-Dub: Yeah, I made my mistake when I was a kid. But kids don't see things. I should've been a doctor or a lawyer or run for office. I shoulda robbed people with my brain instead of a gun.

Connections
Featured in Robert Altman: Giggle and Give In (1996)

Soundtracks
Organ Grinder's Swing
(uncredited)
Written by Will Hudson, Irving Mills and Mitchell Parish

User reviews48

Review

Featured review

A fine film from Altman's early period

You can look at Altman's films from 1969 into the mid-70's as being dominated by his own revision of American history. This is one of that group, and one of his better films. (MASH, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Buffalo Bill are some of the others, and all fascinating.)

While this story, on the surface, is about a group of outlaws in the 1930's, the underlying theme is unexpected. It's about people's images of themselves, and how they differ from the way others see them. Check out all the mirrors in this film. We see people through mirrors a lot, and see them clearly, but whenever a character looks at him/herself in a mirror, it's a distorting mirror.

There is a lot of layering of ideas in this film, and the performances are superb.