Dark Intruder (1965)

Director:

Harvey Hart

Writer:

Barré Lyndon (writer)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery

Tagline:

He killed with the power of demons a million years old!

Plot:

Police call in occult expert to help solve series of murders. |

Plot Keywords:

Occult | Supernatural | 1890s | Monster | Midget

Cast

Leslie Nielsen	...	Brett Kingsford
Peter Mark Richman	...	Robert Vandenburg (as Mark Richman)
Judi Meredith	...	Evelyn Lang
Gilbert Green	...	Harvey Misbach
Charles Bolender	...	Nikola
Werner Klemperer	...	Prof. Malaki
Vaughn Taylor	...	Dr. Kevin Burdett
Peter Brocco	...	Chi Zang
Bill Quinn	...	Neighbor
Ken Hooker	...	Ist Sergeant
Richard Venture	...	1st Man
Holly Bane	...	Plainclothesman
Ingvard Nielsen	...	2nd Man
Claudia Donelly	...	Woman
Al Lettieri	...	2nd Sergeant (as Anthony Lettier)

Also Known As:

Black Cloak (USA) (alternative title)

Runtime:

59 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

Shamley Productions

Trivia:

Originally a pilot for a TV series to be called "The Black Cloak". The series was not picked up and this pilot was released as a theatrical feature.

Excellent, atmospheric oddity that was before it's time

Leslie Nielsen is energetic, to say the least, as Bret Kingsford, ostensibly a playboy to everyone he knows in late 19th century San Francisco. But there is more to him than meets the eye. He is an expert on the occult, and secretly helps the local police force when a horrible string of murders are committed. Somehow his soon-to-be-married friend is involved, and Bret suspects someone or something not quite human is at the bottom of it. Leslie dons disguises to meet with the police chief to protect his social status, his victorian mansion has secret doors and passageways, and he plays at being uninterested while mentally taking notes and then disappears, leaving his guest staring at an empty chair. He's somewhat miscast in this film as a playboy, but when he throws off that persona he's fantastic. The foggy atmosphere of San Francisco is used to great effect to enhance the supernatural aura of the film.

This was a failed pilot produced by Jack Laird, who went on to produce "Night Gallery" a few years later, and was released theatrically at a few theaters. It's impossible to find, but deserves to be seen as the unique production it is. In some ways it is a clear precursor to "Kolchak, the Nightstalker", and also to the wonderful demon-themed TV movie "Spectre".