IMDb >
He Walked by Night (1948)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at Blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsHe Walked by Night (1948) More at IMDbPro »
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
9 August 1949 (Sweden)
more
Tagline:
Savage! ... Searing! ... True! more
Plot:
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 synopsis
Awards:
1 win
more
NewsDesk:
Thomas Jane Channels Pulp Horror For Directorial Debut 'Dark Country'
(From MTV Movies Blog. 6 October 2009, 1:00 PM, PDT)
(From MTV Movies Blog. 6 October 2009, 1:00 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Here's a version of the real story
more (52 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:
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
79 min
Country:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Certification:
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Technical advisor for the film was Sgt. Marty Wynn of the Los Angeles Police Dept. During the course of shooting he fell into conversation with Jack Webb, then the star of radio's "Jeff Regan, Private Investigator", who had a small part in the film. Wynn suggested that Webb do a radio series based on actual police files. Thus was born the idea for "Dragnet," which debuted on NBC radio about four months after this film was released.
more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: When running through the sewers, electric cords powering the the flashlights are visible
more
Quotes:
Narrator:
[Referring to the composite sketch] They showed that picture to the inmates of jails and prisons, to men with a wide acquaintance among the cat burglars and the violence boys, informers, con men, and sharpshooters - those on the fringe of crime and those deep in the rackets. Many wanted to help - nobody could! No one in the Underworld recognized that mysterious face. He was as unknown as if he had lived in the 16th Century.
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003)
more
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (52 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for He Walked by Night (1948)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
|---|---|
| Does anyone know what the story is with the film's title? | gerardx |
| Watch this online | AgiaFotia |
Recommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| The Spider Returns | The Tattooed Stranger | Government Agents vs Phantom Legion | Motor Patrol | The Invisible Monster |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Crime section | IMDb USA section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |

I've seen this film two or three times, and I keep wondering Why did "Roy" do any of the things he did? What was his motivation? Strangely, we aren't even offered a guess by anyone in the film.
Intrigued by the statement that the film is "based on a true story," I did some research. Apparently the real-life Roy was named Erwin Walker -- aka "Machine Gun" Walker. Honest.
Walker was indeed a World War II vet, a former Glendale PD radio dispatcher, and a brilliant student at Cal Tech. The true story is even better than the film: Walker wasn't killed by police, and managed to evade the death penalty with a plea of insanity. Better yet, he was subsequently released, and has lived, somewhere, among us.
You can read a first-person account of Walker here (as long as the link remains good): http://www.epinions.com/content_3817054340 .