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

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Darren McGavin	...	Carl Kolchak
Carol Lynley	...	Gail Foster
Simon Oakland	...	Tony 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?

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Plot Keywords:

serial murder | 1970s | las vegas | nevada | reference to dracula | 

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery

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Certificate:

TV-PG

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.

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Goofs

The police radio (just before the fight in the swimming pool) describes the suspect's vehicle as a green station wagon. But when he's intercepted by the police, the station wagon is blue.

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Quotes

Carl Kolchak: [voiceover] Sherman Duffy of the New York Herald once said, "A newspaperman is the loneliest guy on earth. Socially he ranks somewhere between a hooker and a bartender. Spritually he stands with Galileo, because he knows the world is round."
[Sarcastically]
Carl Kolchak: Not that it matters much, when his editor knows its flat.

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Connections

Referenced in Angel: Awakening (2003)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

One of the most suspenseful thrillers ever to grace the small screen!

THE NIGHT STALKER, the telefilm adapted from the then unpublished novel THE KOLCHAK TAPES by Jeff Rice, presents viewers with a most frightening and utterly BELIEVABLE vampire, Janos Skorzeny (Barry Atwater), a creature who resembles a tormented heroin addict more so than the glamorized, two-dimensional vampire fare of Anne Rice and Buffyland. Darren McGavin's gritty portrayal of Carl Kolchak, the intrepid newshound on the vampire's trail, is certainly the most inspired role of his career. Of all the horror films in existence, THE NIGHT STALKER is certainly at the top of this genre's list for its surrealistic, cinema verite photography, first-rate acting, top-notch directing (John Llewelyn Moxey) and for its "The Front Page Meets Dracula" screenplay by fantasy veteran Richard Matheson. This is a telefilm that chills as well as offers a parable about political corruption and deceit. Now how timely is that?

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