I'm watching Kolchak: The Night Stalker the film now. A film I loved as a kid back in 1972 and have seen many times, it can never be too many times to re-watch.
Set in Ed's Las Vegas the world-weary hack Kolchak is on the tail of a blood-thirsty killer.
This film went on to inspire a sequel, a series and ultimately the X-Files.
The Producer, Bridgeport-born Dan Curtis, made many 1970's horror films and is probably most famous for being Director of the influential Dark Shadows series and films in the late 1960's and early 70's.
Do you like Kolchak?
Oh yeah, loved Kolchak, loved Dark Shadows. I remember on a rewatch a few years ago, it struck me how times have changed. In those days you could still pick up, move to another town, and start a new identity. Today we're monitored and tracked and you can't even rent a motel room with cash. I don't think the benefits of such a system are worth it.
ReplyDeleteInteresting Baron. I hadn't realised Americans felt under surveillance like that. Not sure about the UK. I haven't moved in 24 years. The cash thing is odd here too though, some small stores only taking cash, some only cards. Most take both. Will cash exist in 50 years?
DeleteBack in the day when I was a regular TV watcher, this was actually a fav show of mine. I read somewhere that Darren McGavin wasn't satisfied with the series and ended up leaving after only one year. Still, like some other short-lived TV shows, it's influence outlasted its short time on the tube.
ReplyDeleteI'm onto the second film now Ed and the series after that. I must have seen it all before but .... I can't remember!
DeleteI have a box set of the full series which I haven't got around to rewatching (like the New Avengers). I have fond memories of my original viewings with things like the Native American spirit and the Hindu monster well remembered. Years later I visited Seattle's "Underground City" and it was nowhere near as impressive as the Kolchak matte painting!
ReplyDeleteSomerthing to watch when you get a bug Looey then. Its bug central here in the UK.
DeleteI enjoyed Kolchak as a teen and was a mini fan of Darren McGavin generally, at that time, also watching him in the shortlived detective series 'The Outsider'. It was on late, on Yorkshire Television, in the mid 70s, and I used to watch it whilst painting dinosaurs for my 'O' level Biology project and eating late night peanut butter on toast suppers.
ReplyDeleteKolchak and dinosaurs! A classic education then Mish! Don't recall the Outsider. Any good?
DeleteThe remake with the kid is awful.
ReplyDeleteThere is only one actor today I could accept as Carl
Bob Odenkirk
Not seen the remake or heard of Bob sorry. Looked him up. I've never seen Breaking Bad either. Maybe they should just leave Kolchak alone!
DeleteI'm very pleased to have contributed to a collection of stories that covered the life of Carl Kolchak, from youth to death, earlier this year: https://www.ign.com/articles/kolchack-night-stalker-anniversary-graphic-novel-batman Despite having only seen the two TV movies until the series was released on DVD a few years ago, I still found Kolchak a fascinating character with unrealised dramatic potential. I did see the remake series but can remember nothing about it - not a good sign!
ReplyDeleteI'm very pleased to have contributed to a collection of stories that covered the life of Carl Kolchak, from youth to death, earlier this year: https://www.ign.com/articles/kolchack-night-stalker-anniversary-graphic-novel-batman Despite having only seen the two TV movies until the series was released on DVD a few years ago, I still found Kolchak a fascinating character with unrealised dramatic potential. I did see the remake series but can remember nothing about it - not a good sign
ReplyDelete