Thieves Like Us (novel)

First edition

Thieves Like Us is the second and last published novel written by Edward Anderson (1905–1969).[1] It was published in 1937 by Frederick A. Stokes.

Reviews

In a 1974 review of a paperback reissue, The New York Times wrote that "nothing in the book has been diminished by time, including the sentiment of a bank robber named T-Dub Masefeld that bankers are 'thieves just like us.'"[2] See: Crime Novels: American Noir of the 1930s and 40s by Robert Polito (editor), The Library of America (1997).

TV and theater adaptations

Anderson sold the movie rights for $500. The first film version, a black-and-white production by RKO Radio Pictures, was called They Live by Night. It had a delayed premiere in 1950. Directed by Nicholas Ray (his first major directorial effort) and starring Farley Granger and Cathy O'Donnell, it is a classic noir crime film.

A second film version was later made by Robert Altman in 1974 and released by United Artists studios under the same title as the book, Thieves Like Us.[3]

In September 2010, The House Theatre of Chicago produced an original live theater adaptation of the script. The production, at Chopin Theatre, ran for four weeks.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ "Two timeless, Depression-era novels from Edward Anderson". Los Angeles Times. June 22, 2008.
  2. ^ Alwyn, Martin (February 10, 1974). "Thieves Like Us By Edward Anderson. 215 pp. New York: Avon Books. $1.25". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
  3. ^ Singer, Matt (2024-01-09). "50 Movies Turning 50 in 2024". ScreenCrush. Retrieved 2024-07-08.


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