He Walked by Night
He Walked by Night

He Walked by Night

1949Movie79 minEnglish

Roy Martin aka Roy Morgan is a burglar and former war-time Radio & Electronics Engineer who listens in to radio police calls, allowing him to stay one step ahead of the cops.

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Insights

IMDb7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes91%
Director: Alfred L. WerkerGenres: Film Noir, Crime, Thriller

Plot Summary

A discharged Army sergeant, Roy Morgan, is suspected of murdering a police officer during a robbery. Morgan goes on the run, evading capture as Detective Lt. Marty Waters leads the manhunt. The film chronicles the intense pursuit through the streets and sewers of Los Angeles, highlighting the cat-and-mouse game between the fugitive and the law.

Critical Reception

He Walked by Night was critically acclaimed for its gritty realism and suspenseful direction, often cited as a prime example of the film noir genre. Its procedural elements and atmospheric portrayal of Los Angeles were particularly praised.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its authentic, documentary-like feel.
  • Lauded for its suspenseful chase sequences and atmospheric cinematography.
  • Considered a classic example of post-war film noir.

Google audience: N/A

Fun Fact

The film is notable for featuring an early screen appearance by Jack Webb, who would later become famous for his role as Sergeant Joe Friday in Dragnet, and it is believed that Webb's involvement in the film's authentic portrayal of police work influenced his later creation of Dragnet.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

This is actually quite a decent little murder mystery featuring the usually pretty uncharismatic Richard Basehart as a petty thief who kills a cop. The police chief allocates two detectives - Scott Brady and James Cardwell - with the seemin...
John Chard

John Chard

Lone bandit evades police clutches. This is a true story... It's known to the Police Department of one of our largest cities as the most difficult homicide case in its experience. Principally because of the diabolical cleverness, inte...