"Knight Rider" Knight of the Phoenix (1982)

Director:

Daniel Haller

Writer:

Glen A. Larson (written by)

TV Series:

"Knight Rider" (1982)

Original Air Date:

26 September 1982 (Season 1, Episode 1)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

A young man set on revenge. His partner... an indestructible car.

Plot:

A detective, believed to have been killed, is given a new face and identity and is armed with an artificially intelligent super car.

Plot Keywords:

Artificial Intelligence | Knight Rider | TV Series Pilot | Gadget Car | Automobile

Cast

David Hasselhoff	...	Michael Knight
Edward Mulhare	...	Devon Miles
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Richard Anderson	...	Dr. Ralph Wesley
Richard Basehart	...	Wilton Knight
Alma Beltran	...	Luce (as Alma L. Beltran)
Noel Conlon	...	William Benjamin
Brian Cutler	...	Bar Manager
Phyllis Davis	...	Tanya Walker
Vince Edwards	...	Fred Wilson
Ed Gilbert	...	Charles Acton (as Edmund Gilbert)
Victoria Harned	...	Doris
Ed Hooks	...	Guard
Lance LeGault	...	Vernon Gray
Tyler Murray	...	Sally
Barret Oliver	...	Buddy
Robert Phillips	...	Symes
Michael D. Roberts	...	Jackson
Bert Rosario	...	Brown
Pamela Susan Shoop	...	Maggie
Shawn Southwick	...	Lonnie

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color | Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono | Mono

Certification:

Sweden:11

Company:

Glen A. Larson Productions

Trivia:

This two hour TV movie is split up into two parts for syndication.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Wilson shoots at K.I.T.T. it ricochets and hits the helicopter but when you see shots of the helicopter damaged, it is smoking on the opposite side. Also when the helicopter comes into land you can clearly see the box attached to the side of it.

Quotes:

Michael Knight: Why do I get the feeling this isn't gonna be the last time I run into trouble in this town?

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Knight Rider: Chariot of Gold (#1.17)" (1983)

Soundtrack:

Third Rate Romance

Thank God for nostalgia

I'll tell you, it's a good thing we've got nostalgia, cause that's really all this show has going for it. I remember watching this show, and being impressed, not only but the futuristic design of KITT, but the stories weren't half bad. Now I'm bearing in mind, that the episodes I'm remembering most likely were long after first season, maybe even 3rd or 4th, because, number one, I don't remember any of these episodes, and number two, the KITT in these episodes is quite primitive compared to the one I remember. I mean, his little voice light is just a flashing read light. I vaguely remember it being like that. I have great memories of the episodes where his voice light changes to the bouncy equalizer type light that measure his inflection. As of now, the only feature he has is pursuit mode, where he's capable of getting up to high speeds, surveillance mode, auto mode, and the ever present, and constantly standard turbo boost. I'm finding myself hungering for later seasons so I can see some of my favorites like when he could jam up other car's breaks, and the ever impressive "super pursuit mode."

All this aside, lets take a look at some of the episodes. The episodes in general in this season...well, they're just bad. The writing is terrible, Hasselhoff is abhorid as Knight himself, and these issues make me question how in God's good green earth did this show get picked up for another season, let alone 5 in total. I just finished watching an episode in which Micheal had to protect the arrival of what were called "leaders of several 'well off' third world countries," which in itself slayed me. Anyways, so all this happens, Micheal saves them all from assassination with the help of his automotive friend, and the show leaves the viewer watching these foreign dignitaries with Knight in a country and western bar getting absolutely HAMMERED so they can "unwind" before they stop terrorism. Come on now. It's absolute pure camp, but then again, maybe that's some of the driving force that keeps me watching.

So lets break it down.

Pros: -KITT is still pretty cool despite his primitive state

-The opening credits and theme music will always kick ass.

-Every episode ends with a voice over of the eccentric millionaire who saved Michael in the first episode, built KITT, and began the "Foundation for Law and Government" saying "Micheal Knight. A lone crusader in a dangerous world....the world of....the Knight Rider."

Cons:

-Only one, but it's a big one....everything from the writing, acting, staging, production value of this show, at least in the first season is just plain horrible, with very, very few redeeming qualities.

That's all I got....hope it makes sense.