He Walked By Night – DVD

Based on one of the most notorious, unsolved cases in Los Angeles' police history, He Walked by Night stars Richard Basehart as the intelligent and cunning criminal who kills a cop, steals electronic equipment and robs liquor stores without leaving a clue. The Police Department persists in their search for him, systematically using the latest scientific methods of detection. The culprit is finally identified, leading to a frenetic pursuit through the massive drainage system beneath the streets of L.A. The documentary-like style and no-nonsense tone of He Walked by Night would serve as a blueprint for actor/director Jack Webb's "Dragnet." Webb, who portrays a crime lab investigator, bonded offscreen with Sgt. Marty Wynn, a technical advisor on the film and was subsequently invited to review L.A.P.D. case files. In 1949, "Dragnet" would debut on radio and would soon be followed by the successful and popular TV series.

• mystery
• thriller