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He Walked by Night (1948)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 7.6/10
Reviews Counted: 6
Fresh: 5 | Rotten: 1

No consensus yet.

No Reviews Yet...

Release Date: Nov 24, 1948 Wide

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Average Rating: 3.5/5
User Ratings: 372

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Movie Info

The "He" of the title is Richard Basehart, a clever but psychopathic burglar (based on real-life criminal Erwin Walker) 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

Unrated, 1 hr. 20 min.

Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Classics

Directed By: Alfred L. Werker , Anthony Mann

Written By: Crane Wilbur, John C. Higgins

In Theaters: Nov 24, 1948 Wide

On DVD: Dec 2, 2003

Cast

Richard Basehart
Davis Morgan
Scott Brady
Sgt. Marty Brennan
Roy Roberts
Capt. Breen
Whit Bissell
Reeves
James B. Cardwell
Chuck Jones
Dorothy Adams
Housewife
Jane Adams (II)
Nurse Scanlon
Jack Bailey
Pajama Top
Frank Cady
Suspect
George Chan
Chinese Suspect
John Dehner
Asst. Chief
Ann Doran
Woman Dispatcher
Rex Downing
Young Man
Paul Fierro
Mexican Detective
Byron Foulger
Avery
George Goodman
Fighter Suspect
Tim Graham
Uniformed Sergeant
Reed Hadley
Narrator
Harry Harvey
Detective Prouty
Virginia Hunter
Miss Smith
Anthony Jochim
Thompson
Stan Johnson
Artist
Donald Kerr
Mailman
Lyle Latell
Sergeant
Rory Mallinson
Detective
Billy Mauch
Young Man
John McGuire
Rawlins
Charles Meredith
Desk Sergeant
Carlotta Monti
Woman
Bert Moorhouse
Detective
Jim Nolan
Detective
John Parrish
Vitale
Gaylord "Steve" Pendleton
Detective
John Perri
Young Man
Ruth Robinson
Mrs. Rapport
Paul Scardon
Father
Bernard Suss
Business Suspect
Kenneth Tobey
Detective
Wally Vernon
Postman
Harlan Warde
C.B. Officer
Mary Ware
Delores
Robert B. Williams
Detective
Michael Dugan
Patrolman
Tommy Kelly
Jack Webb
Lee
Felice Ingersoll
Record Clerk
Alma Beltran
Miss Montalvo
Garrett Craig
Patrolman
Kay Garrett
Doctor
Tom Browne Henry
Dunning
Louise Kane
Mrs. Rawlins
Earl Spainard
Kelly
Florence Stephens
Receptionist
Charles Lang
Policeman

Critic Reviews for He Walked by Night

All Critics (9) | Top Critics (1) | Fresh (5) | Rotten (1) | DVD (3)

This is one of my favorite films noir, made on the cheap at Eagle-Lion Films.

June 5, 2009 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid

| Comment

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

One of the most nasty-minded, brutal dramas in a genre noted for - practically defined by - its overwhelming nihilism.

February 8, 2009 Full Review Source: Antagony & Ecstasy

| Comment

Tim Brayton

Antagony & Ecstasy

A visual high point of film noir.

August 9, 2007 Full Review Source: Classic Film and Television

| Comment

Michael E. Grost

Classic Film and Television

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 Source: Slant Magazine

| Comment

Nick Schager

Slant Magazine

Stylishly presented.

April 30, 2004 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

| Comment

Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

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Audience Reviews for He Walked by Night

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Sort of an interesting story, but the movie feels very average, and the cast has no real stars.

October 24, 2010

AJ Verser

Super Reviewer

decent documentary style noir with annoying voiceover narration. ends with a cool chase through the sewers of l.a. pre-dragnet jack webb looks goofy.

August 9, 2008

Stella Dallas

Super Reviewer

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