He Walked By Night (1948) - Video On Demand

He Walked By Night - Movie Review

When a police officer is gunned down by a man whom he had stopped to question, a city-wide dragnet fails to catch the shooter, leaving the police with only minor clues to go on. Later they discover that the same man has been selling stolen equipment through an electronics dealer, and they set a trap for him. But he shoots his way out of the trap and escapes. The police must piece together a description of the man's appearance and habits from witnesses and a few small clues.

The "He" of the title is Richard Basehart, a clever but psychopathic burglar. Basehart stays one step ahead of the law by listening in to the police band on his radio. To avoid detection, he changes his M.O. on each crime, making it seem that the string of burglaries is the work of several thieves. But Basehart trips himself up when he kills a cop. His own personal Waterloo occurs in the Los Angeles sewer system, a stylish predecessor to the similar (and more widely praised) climax in Sir Carol Reed's The Third Man. Though the direction is credited to Hollywood old-timer Alfred Werker, most of He Walked By Night is the handiwork of an uncredited Anthony Mann. The movie is a bridge from film noir to 1950s pulp crime TV series.

The staff at Variety magazine gave the film a positive review and wrote, "He Walked by Night is a high-tension crime meller, supercharged with violence but sprung with finesse. Top credits for this film's wallop is shared equally by the several scripters, director Alfred Werker and a small, but superb cast headed by Richard Basehart...Starting in high gear, the film increases in momentum until the cumulative tension explodes in a powerful crime-doesn't pay climax. Striking effects are achieved through counterpoint of the slayer's ingenuity in eluding the cops and the police efficiency in bringing him to book. High-spot of the film is the final sequence which takes place in LA's storm drainage tunnel system where the killer tries to make his getaway. With this role, Basehart establishes himself as one of Hollywood's most talented finds in recent years. He heavily overshadows the rest of the cast, although Scott Brady, Roy Roberts and Jim Cardwell, as the detectives, deliver with high competence. Film is also marked by realistic camera work and a solid score."

The film, shot in semidocumentary tone and was based on the real-life actions of Erwin "Machine-Gun" Walker. He Walked By Night is also a landmark in Hollywood’s discovery of forensic science, which obviously was experiencing explosive growth in the late 40s/early 50s. The movie was released by Eagle-Lion Films and is notable for the camera work by renowned noir cinematographer John Alton.

He Walked By Night - Cast & Crew

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