"Kolchak: The Night Stalker" (1974) TV series 1974-1975

User Rating:

8.6/10   

Creator:

Jeffrey Grant Rice

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

13 September 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

A newspaper reporter investigates strange supernatural occurrences in Chicago.

Plot Keywords:

Reporter | Supernatural | Newspaper | Cover Up | Cult Favorite

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Darren McGavin	...	Carl Kolchak (20 episodes, 1974-1975)
Simon Oakland	...	Tony Vincenzo (20 episodes, 1974-1975)
Jack Grinnage	...	Ron Updyke (18 episodes, 1974-1975)
Ruth McDevitt	...	Emily Cowles / ... (12 episodes, 1974-1975)

Also Known As:

"The Night Stalker"

Runtime:

60 min (20 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Francy Productions

Trivia:

Ruth McDevitt's character is referred to variously throughout the series on-screen by various characters and in the cast lists as Emily Fenwick, Emily Cowels, and Edith Cowels. They eventually settled on the name "Emily Cowles." Her character's occupation also alternates between advice columnist, riddle feature writer, and crossword puzzle editor.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Many of the stories take place in the winter months, but there is never any snow, and even if there was no snow, it is highly unlikely one would be driving a convertible with the top down during the winter months in Chicago.

Quotes:

[Told that a dead panda at the zoo died from a heart attack]
Carl Kolchak: A raccoon, with a heart attack... maybe you fed it too much cholesterol.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Sopranos: Meadowlands (#1.4)" (1999)

Yeah, old Carl was the real McCoy!

Absolutely at the top of the TV horror tree. Up there with THE TWILIGHT ZONE and THE OUTER LIMITS. Whats happenening these days? "Sabrina, The Teenage Witch", "Buffy?" "Charmed?"...Jeez, give me a break!

Darren McGavin absolutely made this his own - one of the most under-rated actors in history. His verbals with boss Vincenzo (Simon Oakland) were legendary. You KNEW Vincenzo loved him like a brother! Each week a new monster/creature of the night and each week, crucifix, silver bullet or just plain insult, Kolchak had the "beast of the week" under wraps before you could say "Bela Lugosi". You just KNEW it was safe to go outside again.

OK, so it tended towards the "campy" sometimes? sheesh, this was 1974 for God's sakes! This show ruled and if you are unfortunate enough to be less than 40, then bad luck!