They Drive by Night (1938): Cast & Where to Watch
They Drive by Night is a 1938 crime thriller directed by Arthur B. Woods, starring Emlyn Williams as Shorty Matthews, Ernest Thesiger and Philip Ray. It runs 1 hour 24 minutes. Stream it on Plex.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 24m (84 min)
- Director
- Arthur B. Woods
- Original language
-
English - After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is They Drive by Night About?
The premise of They Drive by Night without spoilers.
After prison, Shorty Matthews goes to London and discovers his girlfriend murdered. Fearing a false accusation, he disappears into the long‑distance lorry‑driving community. The real murderer, former teacher Walter Hoover, continues preying on women. Now the prime suspect, Shorty teams up with his old flame Molly and returns to London to prove his innocence.
They Drive by Night Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- lorry
- murder
- ex convict
- man tries to strangle a woman
- release from prison
- lorry crashes off the road
- abandoned house
- saving a woman from being strangled
- london england
- knocked unconscious by car crash
- loss of girlfriend
- hauling business
+38 more Show fewer
- saving a woman from a sexual assault
- attemped murder by strangling
- dancefloor
- roadside cafe
- newspaper clipping collection
- strangler
- male pervert
- rainy night
- asserting innocence
- discovering a dead body
- wet cloth
- night foot chase
- truck driver
- based on novel
- british noir
- truck
- false accusation
- hitchking
- lie
- coincidence
- news headlines
- fear
- passenger grabbing the steering wheel
- male driver assaults female hitchhiker
- being followed
- fistfight
- kitten
- pentonville prison london
- snack bar
- landlady
- comradeship
- scammell motor vehicle
- execution in prison
- reference to sheffield yorkshire
- escaping out a window
- stealing a police car
- running from police
- breaking open a door
Where to Watch They Drive by Night
Stream it on Plex. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
Stream 2
Plex 
Plex Channel Streaming availability in the US, powered by 
They Drive by Night Cast & Characters
Emlyn Williams leads the cast as Shorty Matthews, with Ernest Thesiger as Walter Hoover and Philip Ray as Lorry Driver Attacking Molly (Uncredited). Directed by Arthur B. Woods; 30 actors are credited in all.
- Director Arthur B. Woods
- Emlyn Williams as Shorty Matthews
- Ernest Thesiger as Walter Hoover
- Philip Ray as Lorry Driver Attacking Molly (Uncredited)
- Anna Konstam as Molly O'Neill
Also Starring in They Drive by Night
· 26 more- William Hartnell Bus Conductor
- Bernard Miles Detective at Billiard Halls (Uncredited)
- George Merritt Detective (Uncredited)
- Frederick Piper Bartender (Uncredited)
- Allan Jeayes Wally Mason
- Joe Cunningham Detective Pryor
- Ronald Shiner Charlie
- Harry Terry Released Convict (Uncredited)
- Vi Kaley Flower Seller (Uncredited)
- Leonard Sharp Card Player at Billiard Halls (Uncredited)
- Anthony Holles Murray
- Charles Rolfe Card Player at Billiard Halls (Uncredited)
- Jack Vyvyan Jock McKenzie (Uncredited)
- Hyma Beckley Newspaper Seller (Uncredited)
- Robert Brooks Turner Police Constable Outside Prison (Uncredited)
- Leslie Weston Jack (Uncredited)
Show all 30 cast members Show fewer cast members
- George Street Detective at Billiard Halls (Uncredited)
- Simon Lack Roy Allen, Brother of Man to be Executed (Uncredited)
- Iris Vandeleur Flower Seller (Uncredited)
- Edgar Driver Customer at Charlie's (Uncredited)
- Yolande Terrell Marge
- Basil McGrail Lorry Driver at Crash Scene (Uncredited)
- Jennie Hartley Landlady
- Julie Barrie Pauline
- Kitty de Legh Mrs. Mason
- William John Davies Youth (Uncredited)
They Drive by Night Also Known As
Also known as “夜间行车”.
- Also known as
-
- 夜间行车
Seen They Drive by Night?
Movies Like They Drive by Night
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Night Drive, They Live by Night and Nightfall.
They Drive by Night FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch and post-credit scenes of They Drive by Night, each answered in a sentence.
How long is They Drive by Night?
They Drive by Night runs 1 hour 24 minutes (84 minutes).
When was They Drive by Night released?
They Drive by Night was released on December 1, 1938.
Who directed They Drive by Night?
They Drive by Night was directed by Arthur B. Woods.
More films by Arthur B. Woods Who is in the cast of They Drive by Night?
They Drive by Night stars Emlyn Williams as Shorty Matthews, Ernest Thesiger as Walter Hoover and Philip Ray as Lorry Driver Attacking Molly (Uncredited), among 30 credited actors.
Where can I watch They Drive by Night?
In the US, They Drive by Night is streaming on Plex (availability from JustWatch).
Does They Drive by Night have a post-credit scene?
No. They Drive by Night has no extra scene during or after the credits.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
