Pre-Order He Walked By Night (1948) (Blu-ray) Available for Preorder (1 Viewer)

[Robert Crawford]

Oh yeah! It played on TCM's Noir Alley with Eddie Muller a while back and it definitely needed some work. This recent restoration should help improve those issues from that TCM showing.

CLASSICFLIX: He Walked by Night - Special Edition Coming Next Month
about 1 hour by David Kawas
He Walked by Night (1948) starring Richard Basehart and lensed by cinematographer John Alton is coming to Blu-ray and DVD this October 31st from ClassicFlix.

Having undergone a major restoration, this Special Edition will also be loaded with bonus features, including a 24-page booklet (info below).

Retail price will be $39.99 for the Blu and $34.99 for the DVD.

SYNOPSIS:

When a Los Angeles police officer is savagely gunned down, a city-wide manhunt ensues for his cunning and ruthless killer.

But finding the murderer, chillingly played by Richard Basehart in only his third film, proves difficult for Detective Marty Brennan (Scott Brady) and his colleagues as Basehart’s Roy Morgan is always one step ahead of the law. Will modern police methods and sheer determination be enough to find the elusive cop-killer before he strikes again?

Visually stunning, cinematographer John Alton’s brilliant use of light and shadows shine in this groundbreaking police procedural that paved the way for the TV series Dragnet; which itself spawned an entire sub-genre of television crime-dramas that are still popular to this day.

Based on true events, He Walked by Night was directed by Alfred L. Werker, along with an uncredited Anthony Mann (who is believed to be responsible for the film’s most iconic scenes). Co-written by John C. Higgins (Raw Deal) and Crane Wilbur (The Phenix City Story), it also features Jack Webb who went on to create and star in the aforementioned Dragnet.

The mono soundtrack has been restored is uncompressed (Blu-ray only) on this release.

BONUS FEATURES:

• Audio Commentary by biographer and producer Alan K. Rode & writer and film historian Julie Kirgo
• Below the Surface: He Walked by Night - Featurette with cinematographer Richard Crudo, film critic & author Todd McCarthy, writer and film historian Julie Kirgo, film historian & director Courtney Joyner and biographer & producer Alan K. Rode
• Image gallery with rare stills and posters
• PLUS: A 24 page booklet with an essay by author Max Alvarez (The Crime Films of Anthony Mann) featuring stills, posters and other production material

https://www.classicflix.com/blog/20...by-night-special-edition-is-coming-next-month

 

[haineshisway]

I always chuckle with the major restoration stuff when nothing is stated about WHAT it was restored FROM.

 

[Eastmancolor]

The film is public domain, though MGM has a nice master from good preprint. Hopefully Classicflix will have access to it.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

The link below will take you directly to the product on Amazon. If you are using an adblocker you will not see link.

 

[Robin9]

I didn't know this film was in the public domain. I've always liked it.

One day, when I have the time, I'm going to research exactly when this film was shot: just before or just after The Third Man. (People who know both films will understand why that's an interesting question)

 

[Robert Crawford]

I didn't know this film was in the public domain. I've always liked it.

One day, when I have the time, I'm going to research exactly when this film was shot: just before or just after The Third Man. (People who know both films will understand why that's an interesting question)

He Walked by Night was filmed April to May, 1948. It had its LA opening in November 24, 1948 and its New York opening in February 5, 1949. The Third Man started filming November, 1948. It didn't have its first public showing until August, 1949 in London and opened wide in early 1950.

 

[Robin9]

He Walked by Night was filmed April to May, 1948. It had its LA opening in November 24, 1948 and its New York opening in February 5, 1949. The Third Man started filming November, 1948. It didn't have its first public showing until August, 1949 in London and opened wide in early 1950.

Thank you. Unless Graham Greene was in LA in November 1948, we have an amazing coincidence on our hands.

 

[Cranston37+]

Well hello, Roy...

 

[ClassicFlix]

I always chuckle with the major restoration stuff when nothing is stated about WHAT it was restored FROM.

We licensed the best known material for HE WALKED BY NIGHT and that is MGM's 35mm fine grain for this restoration.

- David

 

[haineshisway]

Excellent. I should think you'd want everyone to know that

 

[Randy_M]

Pre-ordered from the HTF link

 

[revgen]

David, is there a possibility that Classicflix will publish MGM's HD master of Kansas City Confidential on Blu-Ray?

I saw it on Vudu a few years ago and it was spectacular.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Pre-ordered from the HTF link

Thanks Randy and everyone else for supporting the forum with link purchase.

 

[ClassicFlix]

David, is there a possibility that Classicflix will publish MGM's HD master of Kansas City Confidential on Blu-Ray?

I saw it on Vudu a few years ago and it was spectacular.

Thanks for the suggestion. We'll keep it in mind.

- David

 

[Rodney]

We licensed the best known material for HE WALKED BY NIGHT and that is MGM's 35mm fine grain for this restoration.

- David

Thanks David, I cannot wait to get it!

As I stated in another thread, this one is a particularly favorite film of mine. You can tell Mann's presence even if his name isn't in the credits, and Richard Basehart plays Roy Morgan perfectly!
This will replace my MGM DVD, but I will keep my Pendragon DVD for the excellent commentary by Alain Silver and James Ursini.

 

[ClassicFlix]

Here's a trailer we cut for our restored special edition of He Walked by Night (1948). It streets on November 7th.

​

 

[Matt Hough]

It looks stunning!

 

[Rodney]

Congratulations and a big thank you to ClassicFlix for this wonderful release. It has exceeded my expectations. My only concern now is that I may build this movie up too much for those that haven't seen it. Please temper your expectations and I apologize in advance.

I received my copy yesterday, and I just finished three viewings, twice last night and the third this morning (I did state in an earlier post that this is one of my favorite films, didn't I?):

I started with the featurette and then began the movie and just enjoyed how well it looked.
The second viewing I watched while listening to the Alain Silver/James Ursini commentary (from the 2013 Pendragon DVD)
The third viewing today while listening to the Alan Rode/Julie Kirgo commentary.

The character players in this film are outstanding. So many radio actors are used. So many shots of Los Angeles, and of course the famous underground sewer scene. All shot by the great John Alton.

* My only wish would be that the wonderful Silver/Ursini commentary could have also been included, only so I wouldn't have to keep a separate release of this film.

 

[ClassicFlix]

Congratulations and a big thank you to ClassicFlix for this wonderful release. It has exceeded my expectations. My only concern now is that I may build this movie up too much for those that haven't seen it. Please temper your expectations and I apologize in advance.

I received my copy yesterday, and I just finished three viewings, twice last night and the third this morning (I did state in an earlier post that this is one of my favorite films, didn't I?):

I started with the featurette and then began the movie and just enjoyed how well it looked.
The second viewing I watched while listening to the Alain Silver/James Ursini commentary (from the 2013 Pendragon DVD)
The third viewing today while listening to the Alan Rode/Julie Kirgo commentary.

The character players in this film are outstanding. So many radio actors are used. So many shots of Los Angeles, and of course the famous underground sewer scene. All shot by the great John Alton.

* My only wish would be that the wonderful Silver/Ursini commentary could have also been included, only so I wouldn't have to keep a separate release of this film.

Thanks Rodney. Glad it exceeded your expectations. Yes, the Silver/Ursini commentary would have been nice to include.

Your and other classic film fan support of our label means we can restore significant films like HWBN and even give them special edition treatment when warranted.

David

 

[Robert Crawford]

Congratulations and a big thank you to ClassicFlix for this wonderful release. It has exceeded my expectations. My only concern now is that I may build this movie up too much for those that haven't seen it. Please temper your expectations and I apologize in advance.

I received my copy yesterday, and I just finished three viewings, twice last night and the third this morning (I did state in an earlier post that this is one of my favorite films, didn't I?):

I started with the featurette and then began the movie and just enjoyed how well it looked.
The second viewing I watched while listening to the Alain Silver/James Ursini commentary (from the 2013 Pendragon DVD)
The third viewing today while listening to the Alan Rode/Julie Kirgo commentary.

The character players in this film are outstanding. So many radio actors are used. So many shots of Los Angeles, and of course the famous underground sewer scene. All shot by the great John Alton.

* My only wish would be that the wonderful Silver/Ursini commentary could have also been included, only so I wouldn't have to keep a separate release of this film.

I have a hard time thinking that Silver/Ursini commentary is better than Rode/Kirgo as their take on the LA locales was excellent. A great disc!