For You I Die(1947)

 Johnnie Coulter is a model prisoner and prison trustee with only a year left on his sentence.  He is forced at gunpoint to participate in an escape with violent criminal Matt Gruber.  After successfully escaping, Johnnie has nowhere to go.  Matt sends him ahead to stay with his old girlfriend, Hope.  Hope is working in a rundown hotel, run by an old lady named Maggie.  They take a liking to Johnnie and he begins to work there.   Hope was a naive 18 year old when she fell for Matt.  She has wised up and realized Matt is a lowlife.  There is an attempted robbery, which Johnnie thwarts, leading the local police to respect him.

Matt shows up a few weeks later.  Hope and Johnnie have fallen for each other. Matt tries to force Hope to run off with him.  Johnnie defends her, and Matt and Johnnie fight.  Johnnie takes off in a car with the injured Matt.

The next morning the local police return with Johnnie.  Johnnie took Matt to the police station and turned Matt in.  The governor has been involved, and guaranteed that Johnnie will not have to serve beyond the one year left on his sentence.  Hope tells him she will wait for him to get out.  Maggie promises to fix up a permanent place for Johnnie to live and work.

Note:
The title comes from the conversation between Hope and Johnnie when they discuss how to deal with the murderous Matt.  Each offers to risk his life to free the other from Matt’s demands.