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He Walked by Night (1948)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
9 August 1949 (Sweden) moreTagline:
Savage! ... Searing! ... True! morePlot:
This film-noir piece, told in semi-documentary style, follows police on the hunt for a resourceful criminal who shoots and kills a cop. full summary | add synopsisAwards:
1 win moreNewsDesk:
Thomas Jane Channels Pulp Horror For Directorial Debut 'Dark Country'(From MTV Movies Blog. 6 October 2009, 1:00 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Alton's Camera, Basehart's Acting Highlight This Noir more (51 total)Cast
(Complete credited cast)| Richard Basehart | ... | Roy Martin / Roy Morgan | |
| Scott Brady | ... | Sgt. Marty Brennan | |
| Roy Roberts | ... | Capt. Breen | |
| Whit Bissell | ... | Paul Reeves | |
| James Cardwell | ... | Sgt. Chuck Jones (as Jimmy Cardwell) | |
| Jack Webb | ... | Lee |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
The L.A. Investigator (USA) (working title)Twenty-Nine Clues (USA) (working title)
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Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
79 minCountry:
USAColor:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 moreSound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)Fun Stuff
Trivia:
This film served as something of a template for "Dragnet," which debuted on radio the following year, right down to the "this is the city" style opening narration, and the fact that a disclaimer appears at the beginning informing the audience that the names have been changed to protect the innocent. moreGoofs:
Continuity: After examining the bullet casings, Lee tells Capt. Breen that the same gun was used to shoot Officer Rawlins and Detective Jones. But Roy actually used a revolver to kill Rawlins and a .45 automatic to shoot Jones. moreQuotes:
Narrator: And so the tedious quest went on. Sergeant Brennan wore out his shoes and his patience going from police station to police station, checking photos until his eyes were blurry, for policework is not all glamor and excitement and glory. There are days and days of routine... moreFAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (51 total)
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Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for He Walked by Night (1948)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
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| Does anyone know what the story is with the film's title? | gerardx |
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Not as good as hyped, this film noir, however, is still interesting and suspenseful. It's full of good film noir photography with lots of nighttime shots with many shadows, not only outdoors but indoors and even in the Los Angeles sewer system! I recommended getting the Anthony Mann DVD pack so you get the best picture quality. With all that darkness, you need to see this on a good transfer.
Mann is an uncredited director for this film, or at least a co-director. John Alton, the cinematographer who worked with him on a couple of other film noirs, did the camera-work and he was one of the best.
Richard Basehart plays a convincing no-conscience killer. He as very interesting to watch all the way through. It also was entertaining to see a young Jack Webb play a forensics-type cop. This was his pre-Dragnet television show period but this was a good vehicle for his cop work. In fact, this movie even had a Dragnet feel to it with some kooky minor characters, such as the lady talking to the milkman/cop.
This movie dragged a big in the middle but overall was entertaining enough to recommend, especially to film noir fans. Just make sure you see this with a good print.