He Walked by Night

Released Feb 6, 1949

1h 19m

Crime

Drama

List

82%

11 Reviews

Tomatometer

62%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

Roy Morgan (Richard Basehart) is a burglar who listens in to radio police calls, allowing him to stay one step ahead of the cops. After Morgan kills a police officer, Sergeants Brennan (Scott Brady) and Jones (James Cardwell) have little success in putting the clues of the case together. But when Jones is wounded in a shoot-out with Morgan, Brennan employs all facets of detective work, including forensics and informants, to find the elusive and clever criminal.

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Nick Schager

Slant Magazine

The credits indicate Alfred L. Werker only, but this thriller is of a piece with the noir circle of T-Men and Raw Deal, courtesy of an uncredited Anthony Mann.

May 1, 2006

Full Review

Sarah Boslaugh

TheArtsStl

He Walked by Night is an effective film that is still enjoyable to watch today. It’s also historically important because it helped establish many conventions for police procedurals ...

Rated: 8/10

Feb 4, 2024

Full Review

Pat Padua

Washington City Paper

The iconic locations are shot with a gritty beauty by cinematographer John Alton, whose chiaroscuro lighting defines the subgenre. Watch for a young Jack Webb as a tireless investigator...

Oct 18, 2023

Full Review

Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

The film finds a particularly vivid median between the emerging docudrama tenor and Alton’s gloriously Expressionistic imagery.

Feb 1, 2023

Full Review

Nell Dodson Russell

Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

One character in the audience yawned audibly at intervals throughout the film. He finally put the guy on my right to sleep. Or could it have been the picture?

Jan 14, 2022

Full Review

Josephine O'Neill

Daily Telegraph (Australia)

Producer Bryan Foy, using the crisp documentary way of telling a true story, gives his characters an easy treatment, and leavens his action with economic touch of humor.

Apr 4, 2019

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Ken R

It's good to see this film now getting the attention it has always deserved. For those who understand filmmaking as an art and appreciate the care some would take to create early mini-masterpieces, this is a must-see. As it was made by a smaller production company (Eagle Lion) that specialized in high-quality entertainment produced on lower budgets, the stars, while fully competent, were not of the well known caliber of the major studios – still, with the creativity and passion of talented film makers they produced several critically acclaimed minor classics. But those weaned on glossy consumer movies may not completely appreciate the full professional impact they achieved. Great visuals, direction, and performances combine to make this one ‘special' of its genre. While not as well known as he should be, Richard Basehart's chilling portrayal of an unknown ‘strangely mannered' con-man/come ruthless killer is as professional as it gets. He is supported by a cast of professional performers of the day --who bring to life a group of pioneering CSI investigators-- giving this the style of a factual police file examination (based on a real-life crime). Character actor Whit Bissell truly exudes nervous fear when dealing with this eerie con man. All the intensity and planed attempts to identify and capture this ‘phantom' criminal are strikingly captured by director Alfred L. Werker (Lost Boundaries '49), working with first-class director of photography John Alton (Elmer Gantry '60) and beautifully utilizing classic moody noir lighting. The chase through the sewer makes for compelling filmmaking (and may even have inspired Carol Read a year later for "The Third Man"...?) This comes highly recommended for serious movie connoisseurs.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/06/24

Full Review

paul d

This is a very good film noir police drama. The cinematography is gorgeous. There is a great cast of character actors chasing the very effective, inventive criminal. He is played as an introverted pretty-boy by Richard Basehart, who is outstanding. The film is economical, not wasting any time to establish the criminal's motives, but the protagonist's character and style come through loud and clear, and they are frightening. It slows down a bit during its "CSI" style moments, but is mesmerizing whenever Basehart is on screen. This was made in 1948, one year before Carol Reed's magnificent The Third Man. Any chance that the sewer scenes in that film were inspired by those in He Walked By Night? Any film historians out there know the answer?

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

deke p

Starring Richard Basehart! 1948! Very interesting thriller. & JACK WEBB!,,

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The movie plays like an infomercial on early police forensics and detective tactics. There is a narrator that explains what is going on, and there is not much character development. I imagine this movie could have been shown to smaller police forces to show them how the Los Angeles Police Department was using the newest technology and forensic tools in crime fighting.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

Frances H

Interesting early film starring a young Richard Basehart and a young Jack Webb, who would use it as the form for his later TV series Dragnet, a term used in the early part of the film about 10 times. The chase scene is the storm drains is pretty cool.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/08/20

Full Review

Audience Member

nothing to push it into 5-star territory, but well done minute-to-minute. i like the documentary aspect, and liked whit bissel. otoh, a lack of intensity throughout. but the criminal has a doggie. NB the word "dragnet" is spoken within a minute of Webb's appearance. and what's with that bracelet on his right wrist?

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

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Alfred L. Werker

Director

Richard Basehart

Roy Martin

Scott Brady

Sgt. Marty Brennan

Roy Roberts

Capt. Breen

Whit Bissell

Paul Reeves

Jack Webb

Lee

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Synopsis

Roy Morgan (Richard Basehart) is a burglar who listens in to radio police calls, allowing him to stay one step ahead of the cops. After Morgan kills a police officer, Sergeants Brennan (Scott Brady) and Jones (James Cardwell) have little success in putting the clues of the case together. But when Jones is wounded in a shoot-out with Morgan, Brennan employs all facets of detective work, including forensics and informants, to find the elusive and clever criminal.

Director: Alfred L. Werker
Distributor: MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: Eagle-Lion Films Inc.
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 6, 1949, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 11, 2016
Runtime: 1h 19m

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