He Walked By Night (1948)

This above average, documentary style crime drama features Richard Basehart in the title role. He plays a cop killer with electronics skills who's successful at eluding the Los Angeles police department by changing his appearance & modus operandi, and even using the city's extensive sewer system to move around. The opening credits and narrator's (Reed Hadley, uncredited) dialogue indicate that the film's story, by Crane Wilbur who wrote the screenplay with John Higgins, is true. Alfred Werker directed it with (uncredited) assistance from Anthony Mann.

Scott Brady plays Sgt. Marty Brennan, whose partner Chuck Jones (James Cardwell) is the second L.A. police officer that's shot by the assailant named Roy (Basehart). Roy Roberts plays the Sergeants’ wise Captain Breen, who (along with Jones) directs Brennan to find Roy. Whit Bissell plays Paul Reeves, the businessman who helps identify Roy to the authorities, along with several (uncredited) liquor store robbery victims who help to compile a composite sketch of the perpetrator. Jack Webb, years before he would play Sgt. Joe Friday on TV's Dragnet, plays a crime scene investigator who ties the cop killer's bullet to one used during a liquor store robbery. Byron Foulger, also uncredited, plays a key Bureau of Records and Identification employee named Freddie.

Purchase this DVD now at

Find your movie or DVD now @:

Most Recent Additions: