The Night Stalker (1972) (TV)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

John Llewellyn Moxey

Writers:

Richard Matheson (teleplay)
Jeffrey Grant Rice (novel)
(more)

Release Date:

11 January 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Plot:

An abrasive Las Vegas newspaper reporter investigates a series of murders committed by a vampire.

Plot Keywords:

Reporter | Vampire | Blood | Murder | Newspaper

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Darren McGavin	...	Carl Kolchak
Carol Lynley	...	Gail Foster
Simon Oakland	...	Tony Vincenzo
Ralph Meeker	...	Bernie Jenks
Claude Akins	...	Sheriff Warren A. Butcher
Charles McGraw	...	Police Chief Ed Masterson
Kent Smith	...	District Attorney Tom Paine
Elisha Cook Jr.	...	Mickey Crawford
Stanley Adams	...	Fred Hurley
Larry Linville	...	Dr. Robert Makurji
Jordan Rhodes	...	Dr. John O'Brien
Barry Atwater	...	Janos Skorzeny
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Edward Faulkner	...	Las Vegas Policeman (uncredited)
Virginia Gregg	...	Mrs. Brandon (uncredited)
Buddy Joe Hooker	...	Interne (uncredited)

Directed by
John Llewellyn Moxey

Writing credits
Richard Matheson		teleplay &
Jeffrey Grant Rice		novel (as Jeff Rice)
Max Hodge		writer (uncredited)

Produced by
Dan Curtis	....	producer

Original Music by
Bob Cobert		(as Robert Cobert)

Cinematography by
Michel Hugo

Film Editing by
Desmond Marquette

Casting by
Hoyt Bowers

Art Direction by
Trevor Williams

Set Decoration by
Fred Price		(as Fred R. Price)

Makeup Department
Gae Clark Butler	....	hair stylist (as Gae J. Clark)
Jerry Cash	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Neil T. Maffeo	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Christopher Seitz	....	assistant director (as Christopher H. Seitz)

Art Department
Robert M. Anderson	....	property master
Hendrik Wynands	....	construction coordinator (as Hendrik G. Wynands)

Sound Department
Harold Lewis	....	sound mixer
Charles L. Campbell	....	supervising sound editor (uncredited)
Roger Sword	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Stunts
Dick Ziker	....	stunt coordinator
Eddie Hice	....	stunts (uncredited)
Hal Needham	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ronnie Rondell Jr.	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ralph McCarthy	....	gaffer
Lloyd Isbell	....	key grip (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Betsy Cox	....	costumer: women
John S. Perry	....	costumer: men

Editorial Department
Mike Crumplar	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Frank Kulaga	....	music recordist (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Mario Simon	....	transportation co-captain (uncredited)

Other crew
Lily La Cava	....	script supervisor
Robert Singer	....	assistant to producer

Production Companies

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
• Dan Curtis Productions

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1972) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (video)
• CBS/Fox (video)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Magnum Entertainment (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Chrysler Corporation  vehicles
• Metromedia Producers Corporation (MPC)  sound effects
• Samuel Goldwyn Studios  filmed at

Also Known As:

The Kolchak Papers (USA) (original script title)
The Kolchak Tapes (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

74 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

USA:Not Rated (DVD) | USA:TV-PG | Iceland:16 | UK:PG (1998 video re-issue) | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Company:

American Broadcasting Company (ABC)

Trivia:

Actor Barry Atwater was given red contact lenses for his role as vampire Janos Skorzeny. After wearing them for long periods his eyes became very sensitive - as a result, he did not need the contact lenses to make his eyes look red in later scenes.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Vincenzo tells Kolchak he won't print the vampire story, Kolchak suggests that instead they print a special featurette interviewing the two girl victims. There was a third female victim that happened before this scene.

Quotes:

Carl Kolchak: [singing] I'll take Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island, too. Watch out you great big wonderful Big Apple, Kolchak's coming back. Yeah!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Angel: Awakening (#4.10)" (2003)

Soundtrack:

Manhattan

STILL scary...

Richard Matheson has scripted some of the finest fantasy to ever grace the screen (big and small) and this one, based on the then-unpublished novel by Jeff Rice, took us all by surprise in 1972. I remember the feeling of unease that crept over me as the tale unfolded that night so long ago. I remember a pale man dressed in black, robbing bloodbanks, and the not-so-heroic reporter who dogged his trail, determined to find the truth of the matter, no matter what the cost. I was mesmerised. And greatly satisfied, on all counts. Try watching this one alone, at night, and you'll experience the sheer terror that only the best fright films can engender.