Review of He Walked by Night (1949) by Johannes J — 17 May 2011

If I had a dime for every time a robber or detective got into a room with a pick I'd be a millionaire. So this story of ruthless crime begins. But holy crap, this one starts off in the first 5 minutes with INCREDIBLE point blank bloodshed (for 1948 especially). Documentary drama style film, narrated, it inspired a bit actor now famous Jack Webb to create television's "Dragnet", a hugely popular 50's television show.

Stars a very young Richard Basehart as the cop killer and to a lesser extent, Jack Webb of TV's Dragnet fame. As a matter of fact, the term "dragnet" was spoken here by the detective on the scene. Of course, it means the suspects brought into police headquarters from all around, a "net" if you would, like fish, some not worth detaining.

Basehart has his act very much "together" (careful and expert killer). He disguises himself with a mustache. He even has a police radio to know whats going on. He has a garage with lots of licence plates for his car. He's also good at electronics and his boss encourages him to go into advanced experimental electronics. What he claims he wants is a shop of his own.

Cast.

Richard Basehart as Roy Martin/Roy Morgan.

Scott Brady as Sgt. Marty Brennan.

Roy Roberts as Captain Breen.

Whit Bissell as Paul Reeves an electronics dealer.

James Cardwell as Sgt. Chuck Jones.

Jack Webb as Lee.

Directed by Alfred L. Werker.

Anthony Mann.

Produced by Bryan Foy.

Robert Kane.

Screenplay by John C. Higgins.

Crane Wilbur.

Story by Crane Wilber.

Music by Leonid Raab.

Cinematography John Alton.

Editing by Alfred DeGaetano.

Distributed by Eagle-Lion Films.

Release date(s) November 24, 1948 (1948-11-24) (United States).

Running time 79 minutes.

NOTES about the film:

1 The film was a basis for the popular TV Dragnet series of the 50's/60's. It even has a young Jack Webb in a minor role as a technician in the crime lab. He comes off sort of creepy too, smiling at the wrong times.

2 The film, shot in semi-documentary tone, was loosely based on newspaper accounts of the real-life actions of Erwin "Machine-Gun" Walker, a former Glendale police department employee and World War II veteran who unleashed a crime spree of burglaries, robberies, and shootouts in the Los Angeles area during 1945 and 1946.

3 During production, one of the actors, Jack Webb, struck up a friendship with the police technical advisor, Detective Sergeant Marty Wynn, and was inspired by a conversation with Wynn to create the radio and later television program Dragnet.

4 notable for the camera work by renowned noir cinematographer John Alton. Today the film is in public domain.

5 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.".

6 Awards/Wins.

Locarno International Film Festival: Special Prize, Best Police Film, Alfred L. Werker; 1949.