They Live By Night (1948)

Farley Granger escapes from prison with Howard Da Silva and Jay C. Flippen. They take refuge at the home of Da Silva’s brother where Farley bonds and falls in love with his niece, Cathy O’Donnell. The inexperienced couple would love to start their lives over with each other, but in the Hays Code world that was never going to be possible and that feeling of dread is a shadow over the young lovers from the moment they meet. A heart-breaking noir, it’s really hard not to wish things were different and root for the baby-faced couple which makes the end harder to take.