Let Us Live (1939) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Brick and Mary had a church alibi proving they were together when the robbery occurred, but the prosecution pushed for a quick conviction and the jury believed the eyewitness who falsely identified Brick and Joe as the killers. The DA was eager for a conviction and used the witness testimony to overcome the alibi, leading to their guilty verdict despite reasonable doubt.

Foreshadowing: Early in the film, the city's mood favors swift punishment against all taxi drivers, setting the stage for a rushed trial.

• brick tenant
• conviction
• alibi
• eyewitness
• wrongful conviction
• trial

Mary and Lt. Everett eventually discover and locate the actual criminals responsible for the theater robbery and murder. Their investigation reveals that the wrong men were imprisoned while the true killers remained free. The real culprits are identified just before execution, allowing Mary and Everett to halt the execution with new evidence.

• real killers
• culprits
• robbery
• murder
• true criminals

Mary discovers a bullet from another robbery that could only have come from the same murder weapon used in the theater killing. This crucial evidence proves the real criminals were still at large and couldn't have beenBrick or Joe. She brings this findings to Lt. Everett, convincing him to reexamine the case and help pursue the actual culprits.

• mary roberts
• evidence
• bullet
• investigation
• proof innocence

The bullet Mary discovers comes from another robbery and matches the exact weapon used in the theater murder. This proves the murder weapon was used in multiple crimes, meaning the real killers were still active after the theater robbery and couldn't have beenBrick and Joe who were already in custody. This physical evidence becomes the key to overturning the conviction.

• bullet evidence
• murder weapon
• forensic evidence
• criminal investigation

The witness claims Brick and Joe were the killers during the investigation, but their testimony is unreliable. The witness likely made a mistaken identification under pressure or was influenced by the police bringing in all 121 taxi drivers for questioning. The DA pushes hard for conviction based on this shaky testimony rather than investigating further.

Foreshadowing: The police bring in all 121 taxi drivers, creating a lineup situation where misidentification becomes likely.

• witness
• mistaken identity
• false testimony
• eyewitness error

Lt. Everett initially upholds the conviction but begins to doubt its validity after Mary brings him the bullet evidence. He teams up with Mary to investigate, reviewing records and questioning witnesses. Together they identify the real culprits and piece together how the crime was actually committed, ultimately stopping the execution just in time.

• lt everett
• police
• reinvestigation
• justice
• support Mary

The governor pardons Brick just before execution, sparing his life. However, the film ends on a somber note because Brick's faith in the justice system has been permanently shattered. While he is physically saved, the experience of facing wrongful execution has left him deeply disillusioned and unable to fully trust the institutions meant to protect him.

• governor
• pardon
• execution
• aftermath
• faith destroyed

Although Brick is pardoned and survives, the ending emphasizes that the emotional damage cannot be undone. Brick went from a hopeful, capable young man about to be married to someone whose trust in the justice system is permanently destroyed. The film reminds viewers that even when life is saved, the scars of a wrongful conviction and rushed verdict can endure long after the legal case is closed.

Foreshadowing: Throughout the film, Brick's faith in the system erodes as he contemplates his fate awaiting execution.

• ending
• justice system
• faith
• disillusionment
• emotional damage

The district attorney pushes for urgent conviction to satisfy the city's demand for swift punishment after the theater robbery and murder. With 121 taxi drivers tied to the crime, the pressure for a quick resolution leads the prosecution to rely on the questionable witness testimony rather than thoroughly investigating. The alibi is dismissed and the case moves rapidly to a guilty verdict and death sentence.

Foreshadowing: The timeline shows the city mood shifts to swift punishment, with the DA eager for a conviction.

• death sentence
• rushed trial
• district attorney
• urgency
• weak evidence

Joe Linden was convicted alongside Brick as an accomplice. While the timeline focuses on Brick's story and pardon, the implication is that Joe would also be exonerated once the real culprits are found and the wrongful conviction is exposed. Mary and Everett's investigation vindicates both men, though the film primarily follows Brick's emotional journey.

• joe linden
• accomplice
• exoneration
• fate