A very intriguing thriller built on the best possible foundation of a true story. Richard Baseheart is always an interesting actor specializing in odd roles, such as The Fool in Fellini's "La strada", and he adds an extra whiff of interest by deeply sympathetic originality to his roles, and this is one of his best - a total outsider who stalks his own life in darkness without scruples, turning into a very cold-blooded and technically advanced murderer, giving the police a hard time to even get him defined.In addition the film is carefully built up with architectural finesse, as the tension never relaxes but constantly is augmented, leading to a towering finale of suspense in the tunnels. Yes, this points forward to "The Third Man", and the question is if Carol Reed saw this film first. If he did, "The Third Man" makes it even better.It is very dark, a truly noir film at its best, I had no expectations seeing it but was deeply impressed, especially by Richard Baseheart's extremely unpleasant but at the same time very tragic role amounting to greatness.

This is more than just a formula crime drama, but clearly the blue print for the long running TV Police Drama "Dragnet". Focusing on the enormous law enforcement system in the most populated city in the USA, audiences get a peak into the (then) innovative techniques of solving violent crime. The villain here is a loner with an affinity for electronics, a field still in its early stage. A large TV set (in 1948) is still somewhat of a novelty that wasn't necessarily manufactured, but rather "built" by an expert. To create a phantom drawing of the criminal, an overlay slide projector is used to replace the sketch artist. For a post WWII audience, all of these methods border on science fiction. - With the cooperation of many victims, clues are collected to identify and catch the bad guy. - As this film was produced in the middle of the "Hayes Code Era", no one needed to worry about the outcome. In those days it was understood that crime doesn't pay, and anyone who repeatedly murdered in cold blood, will be brought to justice, one way or another...usually the most obvious way. - An above average entry in the 1940s Film Noire Genre, but certainly unique in the innovative story telling a la Jack Webb.

Film-Noir can take Varied Forms and Still be a True Film-Noir. This is One of those that Veered into the Police Procedural Genre. That by No Means makes this any Less of a Mean Film-Noir. John Alton's Famous Noir Photography with its Night Shoots, Diagonals, and Relentless Looming Shadows Dominate the Mundane, and now Frankly Dated but at the Time Cutting Edge Police Tech Inclusions.Richard Basehart's Cold Demeanor and Sweaty Presentation is also a Standout Noir Killer. The Scenes in His Lair are Outstandingly Sharp and Disturbing. A Self Surgical Procedure will have You Wincing. The Movie is Claustrophobic with its Crowded Police Station, Dingy Apartment, and the Climax in the L.A. Sewer System was so Effective it has been Imitated ever since.Brutal, Influential, and a Searing Criminal Crime Spree as Suspenseful here as Any in the Post War Fascination with Filming such Things Grabbed from the Headlines. A Fine Supporting Cast Including Jack Webb, using this Movie as On the Job Training, Whit Bissell, and Scott Brady.Overall, this is a DO NOT MISS Movie. But Beware of Vastly Inferior Public Domain Copies.

"He Walked By Night" is a low budget crime drama which tells the true story of an exceptionally resourceful cop killer and the way in which he was pursued by the LAPD. The methods used by the police and the killer couldn't be more different, as the LAPD place a high value on adhering to standard procedures whereas their quarry uses his considerable ingenuity and expert knowledge of electronics to outwit his pursuers. This all makes for a fascinating cat and mouse game which is compelling to watch and becomes increasingly intense as it moves towards its exciting and visually impressive climax.In the early hours of a summer morning, Roy Martin (Richard Basehart) is trying to break into an electronics store when he sees a police patrol car approaching and casually walks away. The police car follows him and when he's asked to produce some identification, Martin pulls out a gun and shoots the police officer at point blank range. Detective Sergeants Marty Brennan (Scott Brady) and Chuck Jones (James Cardwell) are assigned to the case by Police Captain Breen (Roy Roberts) but their initial efforts to identify the killer draw a blank because there are no leads to follow.Martin regularly sells electronic equipment to a dealer called Paul Reeves (Whit Bissell) who becomes suspicious after one of his customers recognises a television projector (which Martin had supplied) as one that had been stolen from him. After Reeves reports the matter to the police, Brennan and Jones wait in the dealer's office with the intention of arresting Martin but his eventual arrival culminates in a shootout which ends with both Martin and Detective Jones having been shot. Jones is seriously injured and Martin goes home and successfully operates on himself to remove the bullet.The LAPD are determined to hunt down Martin but he continues to keep one step ahead of them by regularly changing his appearance and listening in to their radio communications until Detective Jones has a hunch which enables the police to positively confirm the identity of the killer. This piece of knowledge together with information that they subsequently find about Martin's previous employment, soon enables them to continue their manhunt with greater speed and success than had previously been possible.Roy Martin's story is told in typical docu-noir style complete with the obligatory solemn narration (by Reed Hadley) and some acting which, by today's standards, is rather stiff and formal. Richard Basehart, however, is exceptionally good in his role as the psychopathic loner and World War 11 veteran who's cold, calculating and extremely ruthless. He's a particularly interesting character as he's both intelligent and highly skilled in some areas but also paranoid and a man of few words.It's widely acknowledged that Jack Webb (who appears in this movie as a laboratory technician) was inspired by the experience to create his own very popular radio and TV show "Dragnet" which also emphasised the value of methodical police work."He Walked By Night" looks very realistic and is often suspenseful but its most impressive feature is John Alton's incredible cinematography which enhances the look of the whole movie considerably and contributes to the claustrophobic feel of certain passages. His use of low key lighting, deep focus photography and interesting camera angles is inspired, effective and dramatic and at times, bathes the screen in compositions which create a rather disconcerting atmosphere.