The Night Stalker (1972)

An abrasive Las Vegas newspaper reporter investigates a series of murders committed by a vampire.

Director:

John Llewellyn Moxey

Writers:

Richard Matheson (teleplay), Jeffrey Grant Rice (story) (as Jeff Rice)

Stars:

Darren McGavin, Carol Lynley, Simon Oakland

1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Darren McGavin	...	Carl Kolchak
Carol Lynley	...	Gail Foster
Simon Oakland	...	Vincenzo
Ralph Meeker	...	Bernie Jenks
Claude Akins	...	Sheriff Butcher
Charles McGraw	...	Chief Masterson
Kent Smith	...	D.A. Paine
Elisha Cook Jr.	...	Mickey Crawford
Stanley Adams	...	Fred Hurley
Larry Linville	...	Makurji
Jordan Rhodes	...	Dr. O'Brien
Barry Atwater	...	Janos Skorzeny

Storyline

Carl Kolchak is a newspaper reporter with an abrasive personality that has gotten him fired ten times from various big-city papers. Now he's reduced to reporting for a relatively small-time paper in Las Vegas. It's here he gets the story of his life. But will the local sheriff, or the D.A., or even his own boss, let him print it? He has an ally in the FBI agent brought in to investigate this strange case. It seems someone is biting the necks of young girls and draining their blood. Can this killer with supernormal powers really be a 70-year-old Romanian millionaire? Can he really be a vampire? And can an aging reporter do anything to stop him?

---

Plot Keywords:

serial murder | reporter | vampire | blood | murder | 

---

Genres:

Horror | Mystery

---

Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 January 1972 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Kolchak Papers

Filming Locations:

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$450,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

ABC Circle Films,Dan Curtis Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

74 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Actor Barry Atwater was given red contact lenses for his role as vampire Janos Skorzeny. After wearing them for long periods his eyes became very sensitive - as a result, he did not need the contact lenses to make his eyes look red in later scenes.

---

Goofs

When the body is discovered at the construction site, the shadow of the camera is visible, and the shadow of the cameraman's fingers can be seen moving.

---

Quotes

Carl Kolchak: So think about it and try to tell yourself wherever you may be in the quiet of your home, in the safety of your bed, try to tell yourself, It couldn't happen here.

---

Connections

Featured in Svengoolie: The Night Stalker (1999)

---

Soundtracks

Manhattan
Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by Lorenz Hart
Performed by Darren McGavin

User Reviews

One Heck of a Movie

Item - Take one modern setting such a Las Vegas and tell a story of vampirism set there. Item - Add one eccentric, cynical reporter out for a good story with a great personality. Item - Add supporting characters that are interesting. Item - Add a fine cast headed by Darren McGavin as the relentless reporter Carl Kolchak. and Simon Oakland as the head of the newspaper Kolchak works for. Also add great supporting stars such as Barry Atwater, Larry Linville, and Claude Akins. Item - Have one of the kings of horror fiction...Richard Mathseon write a script based on the excellent novel by Jeff Rice. Item - Add the final ingredient of artful direction and you have one great movie that was made for television and that spawned a sequel and a television series on the title character. The Night Stalker is easily one of the best horror films ever made and certainly one of the best ever produced for television.