I Stole a Million

I Stole a Million

Year: 1939

Runtime: 80 mins

Language: English

Director: Frank Tuttle

DramaCrime

The Story Of A Man Who REALLY Stole A Million! A cabbie and petty thief dreams of the big heist that will end his thieving ways.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – I Stole a Million (1939)

Explore the full timeline and setting of I Stole a Million (1939). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1930s

Set during the Great Depression era, the film captures hard economic times, bank robberies, and a desperate scramble for cash. Characters drift between penny-pinching jobs and high-stakes crime as society struggles to recover. The period mood underpins Joe's volatile choices and the longing for a secure future.

Location

San Diego, Sacramento, Amesville

The story moves across several California locales: San Diego, where Joe first links up with Patian; Sacramento, home to the boarding house and a flower shop where a stolen moment of temptation changes Joe's life; and Amesville, where a garage becomes Joe's new home after he tries to go straight. The cityscapes provide a backdrop of economic struggle and noirish, sunlit streets. The film uses these places to mark Joe's drift from crime to a precarious pursuit of a lawful life.

🏙️ City settings 🗺️ Multiple locations 🚗 Transportation hubs

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:31

Main Characters – I Stole a Million (1939)

Meet the key characters of I Stole a Million (1939), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Joe Lourik (George Raft)

A debt-ridden taxi driver who turns to crime after feeling cheated by a finance company. He is quick-witted and impulsive, torn between a comfortable criminal life and a sincere wish to protect his future with Laura. His evolution from petty theft to the 'Million Dollar Bandit' title drives the plot, though his core loyalty remains to his new family.

🚖 Taxi Driver 💰 Criminal ❤️ Love Interest

Laura Benson (Claire Trevor)

A flower shop clerk who becomes Joe's love interest and moral compass. Her earnest pleas for Joe to surrender show a desire for a lawful life, even as she faces personal risk and jail. She embodies devotion and resilience, helping to shape Joe’s ultimate choice.

🏪 Clerk 💞 Love Interest ⚖️ Legal Trouble

Patian (Victor Jory)

A cunning thief and fence who orchestrates Joe's ventures into crime. He is calculating and unscrupulous, using Joe to pull off robberies while skimming the rewards for himself. His manipulations propel the plot toward escalating danger and moral compromise.

🗝️ Fence 🧠 Mastermind 💼 Crime Boss

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:31

Major Themes – I Stole a Million (1939)

Explore the central themes of I Stole a Million (1939), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕊️ Redemption

Joe's arc moves from a desperate cab driver involved in theft to someone who longs for an honest life. His relationship with Laura ignites a desire to abandon crime and seek forgiveness. The plot threads through his decision to surrender rather than keep running, highlighting redemption as a fragile, costly pursuit.

⚖️ Crime & Consequences

Patian's manipulation drags Joe deeper into crime, showing how coercion and bad choices snowball into bigger risks. The law closes in as Joe struggles to balance loyalty and self-preservation. The story repeatedly tests whether criminal gains can ever justify the costs to family and future.

💞 Love & Loyalty

Laura becomes the emotional center that tests Joe's commitment to change. Her pleas for him to surrender reveal how love can motivate a criminal toward accountability. Their bond is the counterweight to greed, shaping decisions even as fear and legal jeopardy mount.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:31

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about crime for love like I Stole a Million

Desperate characters who break bad for the sake of a doomed romance.Explore movies like 'I Stole a Million' where characters turn to crime out of a desperate love. These stories blend tragic romance with gritty criminal escalation, perfect for viewers seeking similar dramas about love versus duty and sacrifice.

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Narrative Summary

These narratives typically follow a straightforward, linear path of escalation, beginning with a protagonist at a moral crossroads. Driven by love or familial duty, they commit increasingly serious crimes, creating an irreconcilable rift between their romantic goal and their criminal means, culminating in a sad or bleak conclusion.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread are grouped by their shared focus on the 'why' behind the crime. They share a dark, desperate mood, a mix of romantic and criminal plotlines, and a central theme exploring how noble intentions can lead to a tragic downfall.

Gritty crime spiral movies like I Stole a Million

Atmospheric stories of irreversible moral collapse under pressure.If you liked the fatalistic descent in 'I Stole a Million', discover more movies about doomed protagonists caught in a criminal spiral. These films share a dark tone, variable pacing, and a focus on the grim inevitability of a life of crime.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern is a straightforward but impactful descent. A character, often starting from a low point, makes choices that lock them into a worsening situation. Each attempt to escape or score bigger only deepens their entrapment, leading to a conclusion where surrender or tragedy is the only release from the pressure.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their core vibe: a palpable sense of doom and entrapment. They share a dark, gritty tone, a building anxious energy, and a plot structure that emphasizes the inescapable consequences of a life of crime, making the protagonist's fate feel inevitable.

Unlock the Full Story of I Stole a Million

Don't stop at just watching — explore I Stole a Million in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what I Stole a Million is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

I Stole a Million Summary

Read a complete plot summary of I Stole a Million, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

I Stole a Million Summary

I Stole a Million Timeline

Track the full timeline of I Stole a Million with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

I Stole a Million Timeline

I Stole a Million Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of I Stole a Million that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

I Stole a Million Spoiler-Free Summary

More About I Stole a Million

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about I Stole a Million: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About I Stole a Million

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