Knight of the Phoenix: Part 1 

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

Director:

Daniel Haller

Writers:

Glen A. Larson (created by), Glen A. Larson

Stars:

David Hasselhoff, Edward Mulhare, Phyllis Davis

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
David Hasselhoff	...	Michael Long / Michael Knight
Edward Mulhare	...	Devon Miles
Phyllis Davis	...	Tanya Walker
Pamela Susan Shoop	...	Maggie
Lance LeGault	...	Vernon Gray
Noel Conlon	...	William Benjamin
Michael D. Roberts	...	Jackson
Bert Rosario	...	Brown
Richard Anderson	...	Dr. Ralph Wesley
Vince Edwards	...	Fred Wilson
Richard Basehart	...	Wilton Knight
Ed Gilbert	...	Charles Acton (as Edmund Gilbert)
Shawn Ora Engemann	...	Lonnie (as Shawn Southwick)
Brian Cutler	...	Bar Manager
Barret Oliver	...	Buddy

Storyline

When a young detective is ambushed in a failed police stake out, he is believed to have been killed. In reality, he revives and learns that his face has been altered and his identity has been changed to Micheal Knight. The person responsible for this is Wilton Knight, a dying billionare who, convinced that one man can make a difference, has selected Micheal for the role as a crime-fighter. Now armed with a advanced car called KITT which has the equivalent armor of a battle tank, capable of speeds over 300 MPH and contains an artificial intelligence computer personality as an aide, Micheal agrees to perform his assigned role.

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Plot Keywords:

number in episode title | artificial intelligence | gadget car | knight rider | tv series pilot | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 September 1982 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Hollywood Burbank Airport - 2627 North Hollywood Way, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Glen A. Larson Productions,Universal Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

45 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"Knight Rider: Knight of the Phoenix," Originally aired on NBC in 1982 as a two-hour TV movie. The two-hour pilot was later split in to two parts for syndication and the second half of the pilot was retitled "Knight Rider: Knight of the Phoenix, Part II."

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Goofs

When KITT is doing the 'doughnuts' at the intersection you can clearly see it has a normal round steering wheel.

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Quotes

Michael Knight: Maggie!
Maggie: Get lost! I'm warning you, this bag is full of mace.
Michael Knight: I stayed in my car so I wouldn't scare you.
Maggie: Well ain't you the David Niven?

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Alternate Versions

When this was originally aired, Larry Anderson's real voice was used for Michael Long. In subsequent airings, David Hasselhoff's voice is dubbed over.

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Connections

Featured in Knight Rider: Chariot of Gold (1983)

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Soundtracks

Hit Me With Your Best Shot
Written by Eddie Schwartz (uncredited)

User Reviews

OK to watch

David Hasslehof and his talking car may not be the brightest moments in television, but not the darkest neither.

While it may have been a good idea at the time, this just doesn't hold up today. The story is all through silly and would maybe make it in a children's cartoon today. The beginning was really vague and confusing. It kind of made sense later, but still. It's never really believable and you never really forget you're just watching TV. You'll also find the regular clichés in there. Like the take-out-five-guys-alone-in-a-bar-fight-cliché, meet-sexy-girl-with-kid-cliché and not to mention the rich-and-powerful-secret-organization-cliché.

The acting is OK. It's acting and there is no doubt about it. The characters are OK. They make a character of the car and that is good.

The stunts and special effects are obvious, you see the ramps for the jumps and the driver who is not supposed to be there. All together it's not very impressive, but it's fun enough to watch.

As for cinematography it's OK. No shots is bad and here and there, there is a cool one and the lightning is nice. The music is not bad neither. In fact I'd say that theme is the best thing with this whole movie. The rest of the score is good too.

All together this is not quality TV at it's best. Never the less, I found it too be rather entertaining and OK to watch.