The Norliss Tapes (1973) (TV)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Dan Curtis

Writers:

William F. Nolan (writer)
Fred Mustard Stewart (story)

Release Date:

21 February 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Plot:

An investigative reporter stumbles onto a group of modern-day vampires.

Plot Keywords:

Reporter | Vampire | Newspaper Publisher | Supernatural Power | Zombie

Cast

Roy Thinnes	...	David Norliss
Don Porter	...	Sanford T. Evans (publisher)
Angie Dickinson	...	Ellen Sterns Cort
Claude Akins	...	Sheriff Tom Hartley
Michele Carey	...	Marsha Sterns
Vonetta McGee	...	Mme. Jeckiel
Hurd Hatfield	...	Charles Langdon
Bryan O'Byrne	...	Mr. Dobkins
Ed Gilbert	...	Sid Phelps (coroner)
Jane Dulo	...	Sarah Dobkins
Robert Mandan	...	George Rosen (Norliss' lawyer)
Bob Schott	...	Sargoth
George DiCenzo	...	Man in Langdon gallery
Patrick M. Wright	...	Larry Mather (as Patrick Wright)
Nick Dimitri	...	James Raymond Cort

Runtime:

72 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Company:

Dan Curtis Productions

Trivia:

This movie was intended as a pilot for a TV series of the same name. It was not picked up by NBC.

Quotes:

David Norliss: The morning I drove down from San Francisco, the weather was foul. A curtain of cold rain fell from a gun metal grey sky. I'd set up a meeting with Sheriff Hartley in Carmel to discuss the Ellen Court situation. I didn't expect much cooperation from him but it was worth a try. A way to begin. When I pulled up in front of Hartley's office, the sky had begun to clear and the sun was breaking through. I hoped it was a good omen.

Movie Connections:

Version of The Night Stalker (1972) (TV)

WELL WORTH THE WATCH

A quick summery of this movie is that it's Kolchak:The Night Stalker without any comedy. Thinnes is an investigative journalist rather than a reporter. It was obviously a pilot for a show which would have been good, but without the comedy relief of The Night Stalker. Thinnes is a great actor for such pieces , but has no comedic range. The last time I saw this was probably over 15 years ago at about 2:00 AM on WGN. Hopefully, SciFi will show it sometime.