"Kolchak: The Night Stalker" The Spanish Moss Murders (1974)

User Rating:

8.3/10   

Director:

Gordon Hessler

Writers:

Alvin R. Friedman (teleplay) and
David Chase (teleplay) ...

TV Series:

"Kolchak: The Night Stalker" (1974)

Original Air Date:

6 December 1974 (Season 1, Episode 9)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

A pair of seemingly unrelated deaths are connected by the fact that each victim had a small amount of Spanish Moss on the body...

Plot Keywords:

Ford Mustang | Reporter | Supernatural | Newspaper | Cover Up

Cast

Darren McGavin	...	Carl Kolchak
Simon Oakland	...	Tony Vincenzo
Keenan Wynn	...	Captain Joe 'Mad Dog' Siska
Severn Darden	...	Dr. Aaron Pollack
Randy Boone	...	Gene the Fiddler
Johnny Silver	...	Pepe LaRue aka Morris Shapiro
Jack Grinnage	...	Ron Updyke
Ruth McDevitt	...	Emily Cowles
Ned Glass	...	Joe - Superintendent
Richard Kiel	...	Peremalfait, the Swamp Monster
Virginia Gregg	...	Dr. Hollenbeck
Brian Avery	...	Record Producer
Maurice Marsac	...	Henri Villon
Elisabeth Brooks	...	Lab Assistant Natalie
Don Mantooth	...	Sleep Subject Paul Langois (as Donald Mantooth)

Runtime:

USA:60 min (including commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Francy Productions

Goofs:

Factual errors: When sleep subject Paul Langois goes into cardiac arrest, no one does anything. Medical research firms are required by law to have resuscitation equipment, and police officers (like Captain Siska who is standing nearby) are trained in CPR.

Iconic and satisfying

Picking up a monster from rural Louisiana and dropping it in sprawling Chicago was a brave move, it may not have made the transition intact, but Gordon Hessler directs SMM with a sure and firm hand, we are allowed to see Peremalfait, but only just - disappearing around a corner, reflected in glass. It is this shadowplay that makes Richard Kiel rising out of the water to finally confront Kolchak seem all the more iconic and satisfying. Both McGavin and Oakland are on sparkling form, which is fortunate for them because SMM is awash with great guest stars turning in great performances. Keenan Wynn plays Mad Dog Siska with such manic abandonment that he makes Kolchak seem languid by comparison. Johnny Silver produces a wonderful character study in precious little screen time. Ned Glass gives McGavin such a run for his money that you can actually see Darren raising his game in an attempt to stop him stealing the scene. Kolchak fans will argue forever about which is the best episode, but one thing is certain - this is a contender for the crown.