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DVD The Night Stalker/The Night Strangler (Double Feature)
The Night Stalker Wisecracking Carl Kolchak (Darren McGavin) is a rumpled news hound plucked from the fast-talking newspaper flicks of the 1940s and dropped into the swinging '70s. What makes the eccentric Kolchak even more unique, however, is his nose for the supernatural, a trait that leaves his editor (Simon Oakland) exasperated and the police less than amused. When he insists that a late-night Las Vegas serial killer (who leaves his victims drained of blood and sporting twin holes in the neck) is a modern-day vampire, he's practically run out of town by the local authorities. Naturally, he stalks the vampire himself, an unlikely Van Helsing armed with a silver cross, a wooden stake, and his ever-present tape recorder and flashbulb camera. Carol Lynley is his understanding girlfriend, and Ralph Meeker, Claude Akins, Kent Smith, and Charles McGraw costar as the Vegas cops and politicians Kolchak systematically alienates with his abrasive charm and smart mouth. Directed by Dan Curtis from a witty script by Richard Matheson, the quirky mix of horror and humor turned The Night Stalker into a ratings sensation that inspired a sequel (The Night Strangler) and a short-lived TV series (Kolchak: The Night Stalker). The X-Files creator Chris Carter acknowledges the show as a major inspiration, and has cast McGavin in a recurring role as a retired X-Files veteran with an acerbic personality and a familiar rumpled wardrobe. Kolchak lives! --Sean Axmaker
The Night Strangler The Night Strangler finds down-on-his-luck investigator Carl Kolchak in Seattle, hot on the trail of a serial killer hiding in the underground city beneath the streets, a gas-lit fantasy world frozen in time (L.A.'s famous Bradbury Building--which has also appeared in Blade Runner and DOA--becomes the spooky city's architectural centerpiece). Exotic dancer and medical student Jo Ann Pflug tags along as partner and bait, and the exasperated Simon Oakland returns as Kolchak's harried editor. Genre fans will enjoy the appearances of popular character actors John Carradine, Margaret Hamilton, Wally Cox, and Al Lewis. Noted horror and science fiction author Richard Matheson scripted this meandering, low-key thriller with plenty of humor, which McGavin delivers with deadpan delight. --Sean Axmaker
Review(s): DVD The Night Stalker/The Night Strangler (Double Feature)
The Best of the 70's TV.
Before the short lived series "Kolchak: The Night Stalker", two made for TV movies were produced. This DVD collects both of those excellent, scary movies in one place.
First there was "The Night Stalker" about a vampire loose in Las Vegas. An excellent supporting cast including Claude Akins, Carol Lynley, and Larry Linville (Just being recognized as Dr. Frank Burns from MASH as what else but a doctor in the coroner's office.) make this worth watching even if the excellent writing, acting, and story don't grab you.
The follow-up TV movie "The Night Strangler" moves Carl Kolchak, out of work again, to Seattle where his old boss from Las Vegas played by Simon Oakland gets him a job as a reporter. In typical Carl fashion, he finds a monsterous, undying doctor that is killing to make his "elixer of life." Another excellent supporting cast including Jo Ann Pflug, Wally Cox, Richard Anderson, and Al Lewis (Grandpa from the Munsters) makes this another must see movie.
If you are a fan of the old "Kolchak: The Night Stalker" series than you can't miss these two prequels to the series.
One of the seminal TV movies of all time.
This is one of those great surprises DVD can offer.
I vaguely remember the excitement this initial TV movie caused, and I definitely remember the TV series, even though I was only in grade school.
I pulled this out the day before Halloween, and my wife and I kicked back to enjoy this slice of early 70's television.
The first thing I noticed is how quaint Vegas seemed. Darren McGavin plays Carl Kolchak, intrepid reporter, and he's clearly the source material for Mulder and the whole X-Files phenomenon. He traipses aroung Las Vegas, investigating murders which are apparently the work of a real vampire.
This TV movie does a few things very well.
First, McGavin is excellent...it's almost like he's in another film. Most of the other actors' work seems dated, but his is still fresh and funny.
Second, even though you KNOW that's it's probably a vampire, the screenplay deftly manipulates you into thinking it still may be some lunatic with a fetish.
Third, the cinematography and art direction are both of fairly high standards...this is not too far from anything you'd see at your local movie palace during the era.
The soundtrack isn't a highlight, but it sounds fine in context. The DVD transfer does its' source proud.
The "sequel", "The Night Strangler", is really a retelling...moving to Seattle...retaining the same basic plot, characters...but it swaggers with a bit more confidence. The whole "underground" Seattle thing was fascinating, and had me convinced it really existed...
Watching this film, I couldn't believe how influential it was. Seriously. Half of what's on TV now owes a debt to Kolchak and company.
I can't wait to get started with the TV series box!
Worth the wait
These two movies have some major differences from the new series recently introduced by FOX:
1. They have excellent writing.
2. They tell compelling stories.
3. They feature quality actors.
Movies, especially continuing series, about journalists always work better when the journalist is a cynical veteran who can take a detached view of the story and allow the viewer to experience the story through his eyes. That's what makes this all come together. Appearances by actors such as Claud Akin, Simon Oakland, Wally Cox, John Caradine, Al Lewis (Grampa from the Munsters), and Margaret Hamilton all add to the enjoyment.
The visual imagry of Margaret Hamilton as a college professor with two skulls and a miniature cauldron on the desktop is worth the price alone.
View this DVD first, and then buy the boxed set of 20 episodes that make up the original series.
Related DVD's The Night Stalker/The Night Strangler (Double Feature)
The acknowledged inspiration for The X-Files, and the basis for an updated 2005 network version, Kolchak: The Night Stalker was a short-lived 1974 series spun off from a pair of extremely popular made-for-TV movies about the supernatural adventures of dogged newspaper reporter Carl Kolchak (Darren McGavin). Though plagued by low ratings and critical brickbats, the show has cultivated a huge cult following over the past three decades, which has given rise to this three-disc set, which compiles all 20 episodes of the show. Though none of the episodic stories matches the suspense and writing strength of the Night Stalker or Night Strangler movies, TV horror fans will appreciate the parade of interesting and inventive monsters encountered by Kolchak (including a... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Allen Baron DVD Release Date: Released the 04 October 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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In a land in the distant past BC(before Cable), Television was orginal! Gargolyes is an excellent example of what can be done in a TV movie.
The DVD is Sharp and Commercial free, although the colors are way to vivid. The greens make New Mexico look like Hawaii. I agree there should have been a commentary track! (Jennifier Salt would have been great!)Cornel Wilde and Jennifer Salt sold the story with help of a great supporting cast of real character actors.
Watch the back seat for the uncredited camera man.
Watch it before your next road trip in the desert and you too will see Garagolyes in the distant hills.
Oh don't forget to stop by Uncle Willy's Desert Museum.
Enjoy!
I absolutely loved this show when I was a Kid. I'm so greatful that we are able to own the first season on dvd, but...
I have not heard anything about releasing the remaining seasons. So please, please brings us back the rest of this excelent tv show. More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Joan Crawford DVD Release Date: Released the 24 August 2004 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Armchair sleuths, get out your trenchcoats: Universal has released the sophomore season (1972-73) of the classic detective series Columbo, starring Peter Falk as the sage but rumpled police lieutenant. As with the first season, there's plenty of star power in front of and behind the camera to abet Falk in these eight 90- and 120-minute episodes: John Cassavetes stars in the season premiere, Etude in Black, as a philandering symphony conductor, with Blythe Danner and Hollywood legend Myrna Loy in support; Oscar winner Ray Milland is a scheming orchid grower in "The Greenhouse Jungle," co-starring Bradford Dillman and William Smith; Robert Culp and Dean Stockwell are a football team manager and owner, respectively, whose disagreements blossom into murder in "The Most Crucial... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Steven Spielberg DVD Release Date: Released the 08 March 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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TV detective fans rejoice: Peter Falk's rumpled and infallible Lt. Columbo joins the DVD precinct with a five-disc set that features the detective's first nine appearances for NBC. Though Falk as Columbo (no first name) made his TV debut in 1967, the detective had actually first appeared on an episode of the 1960-61 Chevy Mystery Show (Bert Freed played the role) written by veteran TV scribes Richard Levinson and William Link (The Fugitive, Alfred Hitchcock Presents). The pair turned the episode into a stage play titled Prescription: Murder, which was adapted into a TV movie in 1967 with Falk in the lead. NBC greenlit a two-hour Columbo pilot (Ransom for a Dead Man) in 1971, and the series was launched that fall as part of the NBC Sunday Mystery... More Info about this DVD DVD Release Date: Released the 07 September 2004 Usually ships in 24 hours
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