HE WALKED BY NIGHT (1948) B/W 79m dir: Anthony Mann (but credited to Alfred Werker)

w/Richard Basehart, Scott Brady, Roy Roberts, Whit Bissell, James Cardwell, Jack Webb, Robert Bice, Reed Hadley, Chief Bradley, John McGuire

This semi-documentary chase drama shows how the police stalk a killer. It's an exciting, tense, and absorbing film. Basehart is superb as the killer.

HE WALKED BY NIGHT is one of the noir films directed by Anthony Mann with John Alton, one of the great masters of shadow and light, as his cinematographer. Other films they made together include the classics T-MEN and RAW DEAL.

From The Movie Guide: "[Basehart's] role is based on the career of thief and cop-killer Erwin Walker, a WWII hero turned burglar who terrorized LA in 1946. This film marked the first time the huge drainage system canals in Los Angeles were employed in a film; they would later be put to heavy use in THEM!, GREASE, and a number of other productions. Jack Webb drew the inspiration for his long-running documentary-style television series 'Dragnet' from this film, in which he played a featured role."