Filming completed in October 1947. Despite an excellent preview, the studio didn't know how to market the film and Howard Hughes's takeover of RKO exacerbated the situation. Hughes shelved the film for two years, before releasing it to a single theater in the UK to enthusiastic reviews (one such rave review came from Gavin Lambert, who eventually became a screenwriter for Ray) and it was finally released in the US in November 1949 under the title "They Live by Night," after being changed from "Thieves Like Us" (the source novel's name), "The Twisted Road", "I'm a Stranger Here Myself" and "Your Red Wagon." The title, chosen from an audience poll, was favored by Hughes.