Diebe wie wir

This film may have been a box office disappointment when it was first released, but that's no reason why it should be so completely forgotten today.

"Thieves Like Us" was Altman's second major period piece (after "McCabe and Mrs. Miller"), and he gets the details just right. From the cars to the clothing to the ubiquitous Coca-Cola bottles, everything adds to the feeling that these events could have taken place. It, of course, also helps that he has actors who look like they fit the time period. Keith Carradine, Shelley Duvall, John Schuck and Bert Remsen were born to play these roles, and they get able support from Tom Skerritt and Louise Fletcher.

Instead of a typical soundtrack, Altman uses vintage radio programs to underscore the action (crime dramas during robberies, "Romeo and Juliet" during a love scene). It's a brilliant gamble that pays off and takes the film to a whole new level.

In short, this is one of Altman's most fully realized films. For it to remain unseen is a crime.

I am not an Altman fan, but this film is superb. For those who say he ripped off Bonnie and Clyde, check out They Live By Night and see almost the same story, but here the relationship between Carradine and Duvall forces us to root for them and hope that somehow they can change their life. Was there ever a bath more haunting than Duvall's?

The robberies are shot so matter of fact. There's no pounding score in the background, no elaborate plans are set and we don't see men looking at their watches, timing things. The radio plays, people swizzle Cokes and dogs bark, while the three men pull almost casually stroll in and rob the bank.

I am struck by the similarity between the last scene here and in From Here to Eternity: the lover of the dead man traveling to another place, while painting an idealized picture of their beau. Watch it and pay attention; it's a fine work of art.

It's 1936. Bowie (Keith Carradine) and Chicamaw (John Schuck) escape from prison and join up with T-Dub (Bert Remsen). They hide out in a rural community. Bowie is taken with Keechie (Shelley Duvall). They stay with Mattie (Louise Fletcher) and her family.

This is a crime gang movie done in the Robert Altman way. The story is pretty standard for a criminal gang on the run. The action is sometimes off screen or at least de-stylized. The focus is more with the in-between time and their naturalistic conversations.

Back to the 30's, folks. I was there, I know. It wasn't that you saw Coke everywhere, it was the only soft drink you saw. There were no machines with a choice. There was a big red Coke cooler sitting at the service station, another outside the grocery. Some of them were serviced by the local ice company, that is; no motor, just ice. A lot of times they had a padlock on them, in other places you just lifted the lid, helped yourself and left your nickel. Later they graduated to some with slots where you could put your nickel. No point in showing people in this movie drinking anything else, except maybe iced tea. No one else had the coolers, and so all you saw was Coke. Add to that the amount of fountain coke we drank. And it took Robert Altman to make us all think about it.

I think this is one of Altman's best movies. I enjoyed his use of authentic time radio shows. The movie was beautiful to look at in it's simplicity and grittyness. The characters played by Carradine and Duval were youthfully sweet. I appreciate Altman's director's eye in filming this movie. Make more like this!(all of you)