The narration is so good that I regularly listen to this film (and to Night Stalker) in bed as I drift off to sleep, as a kind of bedtime story now that I'm too old to be read to by anyone else. My wife is stone deaf so she doesn't mind. And to be honest I'd rather listen to Darren McGavin than to her.
@@ciaran6171i do the same thing. I drift off to The Night Stalker on many nights. They use the same music in the opening of this movie as they did in Night Stalker.
You’re about a year or two older than me, but I had the same experience. It was also my introduction into the harsh world of television: they cancelled “The Night Stalker” after one season! It really hurt that my favorite show was cancelled. I waited all week to watch this show and enjoyed every one of them. Darren McGavin and Simon Oakland were fantastic. Both were VERY convincing in their roles. I took it for granted that TV shows could be this good, interesting and fun, but it turned out that most tv shows were mediocre at best. I don’t have reply notifications on, but I recommend the HBO show “Rome” if you want to see some newer great television.
You and I were watching the same cool stuff back in the 70s. So awesome we were able to see it firsthand......now I like revisiting them and showing my 16 yo. Such great times.
In my most humble opinion, this and "The Night Stalker" has got to be the very best "made for TV" films ever, even if you don`t agree with the subject matter. Both films are so well done, with excellent supporting cast, Darren and Simon were the perfect match and played off each other superbly. In addition, both these Men were somewhat underrated and unjustly so, it is a joy to see them work together, everyone enjoy!.......
wow.... already 50 years now. They could have been re-edited and released on the big screen. Barry Atwater was another great actor. Also, the Kolchak TV series could have been a different subject each season, rather than each episode, and it would've been much more successful, but that just wasn't the format back then. 'The Norliss Tapes' was another one which was really weird from this time period.
Darren McGavin was a treasure of an actor. What life he brought to this character. They don’t make ‘em like that anymore. Simon Oakland was another terrific actor. They made a wonderful duo!💀🧟♂️🧛
"Kolchak: The Night Stalker" was a great show, and when it originally aired in the '70s I never missed it. McGavin was terrific and so was Simon Oakland. Just a fabulous show on so many levels! This TV movie and the one that preceded it ("The Night Stalker"), were so entertaining...and both still hold up exceptionally well!
Darren McGavin was such a versatile, and sadly, often underrated actor. I enjoyed every film and TV show, I ever saw him in. Thanks for sharing this with us all. 👍👍 10⭐ Also this episode boosted the Underground tour in Seattle enormously.
It's funny because two of my favorite cities are Vegas and Seattle. So it's always enjoyable to watch The Night Stalker and Strangler back to back. Kolchak is like a supernatural version of Columbo and DM plays him to perfection. 💯
Nothing like seeing Kolchak & Vincenzo go at it. Darren McGavin & Simon Oakland were made for each other as those characters. May they both rest in peace.
The back and forth between Kolchak and Vincenzo is always priceless. Vincenzo is getting an ulcer and is often on the verge of tears because he wants to take the easy way with bizarre stories, but deep down he knows that Kolchak has good instincts.
@ nonamesleftdammit. It is interesting that Vincenzo for the first time shows signs that he is developing an ulcer from his constant feuding with Kolchak over Kolchak's reporting when in the last scene in "The Night Strangler"(1973), Vincenzo is seen drinking milk from a carton as he and Louise Harper are being driven by Kolchak in Kolchak's car to NYC after Kolchak and Vincenzo were fired by Crossbinder.
@@michaelbarlow6610 No, that's the SECOND time. Look just after the start of "The Night Strangler," Vincenzo walks into the bar and the bartender asks, "The usual, Mr. Vincenzo?" and Vincenzo says "yeah," and a few seconds later he is being served a glass of milk. That's the first time.
@michaels4255. You didn't read my posted comment carefully. I clearly was referring to the fact that Vincenzo in "The Night Strangler"(1973) movie was already developing an ulcer from his earlier experience with Kolchak in Las Vegas from the first film, "The Night Stalker"(1972) even BEFORE his later experiences with Kolchak in Chicago when they worked together at the INS! I am fully aware that the first time Vincenzo is actually seen drinking milk is in the bar scene in the Seattle Press Club at the beginning of "The Night Strangler"(1973) movie! So you're not telling me anything that I didn't already know!
I Grew up, watching the night stalker and the night strangler pilots, and then the series, which was one of the best series out there. They made it seem so real. McGavin was amazing, and I loved the banter between him and his boss and even the cops. Very entertaining movies and shows.
I could watch each 1 of the episodes of Kolchak the nite stalker over and over again and NEVER GET TIRED of watching them 🥰☺️Thank u sooo much RUclips u r the BESTEST!!
Remember both these movies, so well! Thanks for the downloads!!! Got the boxset of " Kolchak: The Night Stalker " TV series, and the two TV movies all make superb entertainment. McGavin & Oakland worked off each other mavellously!!!
Nightstalker/Kolchak was one of the greatest characters in T.V. and movie history that oftentimes gets overlooked and under rated by directors, writers, critics, and Hollywood buttheads in general.
I heard a while back, that Johnny Depp was interested in portraying him, in a movie. I have to admit I was intrigued, as well as interested, but time has passed and nothing happened.
If anybody remember the Syfy channel had a weekday showing of different theme each like mystery day. Kolchak was one of those shows. I didn't watch it because of the time. I seen the actor who plays Christmas story , I thought it was something silly, so I didn't watch it. Now I brought the collection and I love it. It goes to show, "Never judge an actor just because they have been in a non serious show". Forgive.
I bought the series so I can binge watch the night stalker. It suffered from constant turnover of producer after producer. The quirky characters are so much and I love the audio narration throughout the series.
The argument between Kolchak and Seattle Police Chief Roscoe Schubert in Schubert's office is dialogue writing at its' absolute finest! Richard Matheson, with the notable three exceptions cited in my previous posted comments , did an absolutely magnificent job writing the screenplay for "The Night Strangler"(1973)!
Love the ending! Carl & Tony in Purgatory together, LoL! Watched these movies & the series as a kid in Detroit. Some of my dearest memories are of watching this show with my Mom. Nostalgia…. the sweetest elixir.
After the over whelming success of The Night Stalker the year before they really poured more into the plot, set and actors in this movie to join with the part Darren McGavin was born to play and he was great as always, then throw in the chemistry with Simon Oakland and you have another hit as they did a great job. This one had Wally Cox the voice of Under Dog, Margaret Hamilton who played the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizzard of Oz, Al Lewis who was Gran Pa from the Munsters and last but not least the great John Carradine who played a pretty good Vampire in many movies and was a great all around actor. It's such a shame that they did not get to do 2 or 3 seasons of the show because you can just imagine all the stories you could have came up with but life teaches us to be thankful for what we have so I still watch the show every week.
Darren McGavin and Simon Oakland made such a great team! Kolchak, breezy, insolent and cantankerous; Vincenzo, harassed, hard-nosed and positively volcanic. Like hypergols, the ignite immediately upon contact! RIP Darren McGavin and the mighty Simon Oakland.
use to watch this show growing up love the show these show were the good old day shows like these you never see again today or ever i cherish these shows back in the 70's and 80's sometimes miss those good old days thanks
This was one of the best series on television at the time. If anyone is interested, there was a novel written called"The Kolchak Papers" written in 1972 by Jeff Rice who created our dear reporter and the pilot episode, The Night Stalker was based on Rice' s novel. It is a very wonderful read if you can still find it.
Gilsgal I seriously don’t believe Jeff Rice existed. Look at the picture on the back of the book, it looks like Richard Matheson in a bad beard and glasses. The man didn’t do anything his whole career afterwards. It was Kolchak and nothing more.
@@davidtester3239 You know I saw one of his last photos and he does resemble Matheson. One can never know. But the details concerning how he lost out on royalties and how he died with little to his name is heart breaking.
I've taken that Underground Tour. It's fascinating and creepy at the same time. It looks to me like they shot the segment on location, because the real thing starts with a lecture in a bar and then moves to the tunnels, just as happened here. I always loved Darren McGavin in anything he did, but my favorite might be the Old Man in "A Christmas Story." RIP.
@@timweatherill3738 It's funny you should mention that, because we were discussing the Bradbury Building in my writers' group this week. One of us also talked about the Metro Life building in Minneapolis, which had--if you can imagine this--glass block floors! It's gone now, the victim of developers' greed despite efforts to save it. The Bradbury also shows up in one of my favorite goofy comedies, "Good Neighbor Sam." (1964). Fave line: "Don't stand there in my underwear and threaten me!"
@@timweatherill3738 The building was also used in an episode of _The Outer Limits_ -- "Demon with a Glass Hand" starring Robert Culp, and penned by Harlan Elison. It's a popular episode, and has a sad ending (at least to me).
@@timweatherill3738 Not surprising. I doubt very much that Kolchak, The Night Stalker episodes, which were supposed to be in Chicago, was actually made in L.A.
This is the best copy I've seen since it aired. Even Peabird's copy was unwatchable. I am grateful, and I thank you. It is a true piece of classic television that's somehow every bit as good as it was the first time I saw it. Thank you so very much!
The actor Darren McGavin was amazing - but if I'm truly honest what I find so compelling is his voice. The baritone but also the cadence. You just don't hear that kind of pattern any more - the word choices, the rhythm, the choices of emphasis be it word or syllable.
That is a remarkably perceptive thing you've said! I recognized immediately that it was true because I'm sure I've been aware of it but just never noticed. It's an extremely theatrical style of speech. Very, very few actors could get away with acting like that on film. It would be spotted right away as "stagey" by viewers. But McGavin for some reason could get away with it.
Love this series, have got it on DVD, Great acting by the lead, a little tongue in cheek in places. But still watchable today, inspiration for the X Files so I've heard. Still loved watching it on TV back in the 70's when I was in my teens,still love watching it on DVD, brings back many precious memories.
Chris Carter who created “The X-Files” has often said that as a kid he was a fan of “Kolchak: Night Stalker” and indeed it was an inspiration for XF and actually hired Darren to act in a couple of the episodes.
They should remake this. It is one of the very, VERY few classics. Nobody can do the job Darren McGavin did with this but this begs to be remade. It was an instant classic.
John Carradine, Wally Cox, Nina Wayne ( Carol`s sister), Al Lewis, Margret Hamilton & Jo ann Pflug. Yep, a wonderful walk through nostalgia for Me. Dan Curtis is often sighted for his creation of Barnabas Collins & Dark Shadows but Karl Kolchak is just as wonderful. Perhaps a crossover one day?
This use to my family’s favorite show. It use to come on every Friday night and my mom and dad use to get us grinders and we would eat and watch this show.
My crazy aunt would let me watch this and Night Gallery when I was 6 and they both hold a special place in my heart. I'm so glad I stumbled upon these episodes. Thank You.
Love this! Dan Curtis sure ruled TV Horror in the early 70s' If you love the Night Stalker style show from Dan Curtis be sure to check out the unreleased Dan Curtis pilot of "The Norliss Tapes" which is on RUclips to watch. The year Dan Curtis presented the Night Stalker pilot to ABC he'd also filmed a 2nd show to pitch to NBC which wasn't picked up unfortunately. But it's basically the exact same format with a reporter hunting down a supernatural killer. It stars Roy Thinnes and Angie Dickinson. And it's like the long lost brother to Night Stalker. Very Enjoyable
@ J. T. Creations. What is the title of the 1972 made-for-TV movie pilot that Dan Curtis pitched to NBC as a potential TV series, but was rejected by NBC that starred Angie Dickinson?
@@j.t.creations7048 . Thanks for the title of the movie. I have always wanted to watch that movie. I don't recall watching it when it was originally broadcast on TV during the 1970's.
I use to stay up till 4am to see the night stocker, one time all alone at home I couldn't get out of my chair it was so scary, the one with the trophy claws on his feet. It was so good. What great acting and camera work in these old shows.
I loved this series so much, I bought the boxed set. Kolchak one of the best TV characters ever. He- McGavin- looked like my Father...the clothes, his walk, craggy face, camera slung around his neck, cantankerous and argumentative.
@@CanvasCanary ha ha.. Gregory Peck lookalike Dad beats out a Darrin McGavin lookalike but .... I wouldn't trade! No lie, my father coulda been a double to Kokchak. (He didn't like us teasing him about it!)
Simon Oakland appeared in more than 550 television episodes and had leading roles in three television series. From 1976 to 1978, he was a regular on ''Baa Baa Black Sheep,'' playing a Marine Corps general who tolerated the antics of Robert Conrad, the leader of a squad of misfit flyers in the South Pacific during World War II. In the police series ''Toma,'' he played Tony Musante's supervisor in the Newark Police Department. In ''Kolchak: The Night Stalker,'' he played the skeptical newspaper editor to a reporter portrayed by Darren McGavin.
Another fantastic flick from The Night Stalker series. A real chiller / thriller from a great era in TV history. A classic period that'll never ever be duplicated. It's tragic the garbage that's on the tube nowadays
Absolutely love both the two Kolchak made-for-TV movies and the 1974 TV series that Jeff Rice's original manuscript "The Kolchak Papers" and the two movies spawned! One of the greatest lines of dialogue in movie history is completely overlooked by movie fans which came from Dr. Richard Malcolm/Malcolm Richards (superbly played by the late Richard Anderson who was most famous for playing the role of Col. Steve Austin' and Jaime Somer's boss at the OSI in "The Six Million Dollar Man" and " The Bionic Woman" TV series) when Malcolm grabbed Kolchak by the shirt collar in Malcolm's underground hideout beneath the Malcolm Richards Clinic in modern Seattle and said to Kolchak, "You profane my world sir! I will not permit you to to live here, to stay here, to exist here"!
A Fantastic Movie! It went on to another movie Night Stalker...then a 1 year Run in a T.V. series...a great ensemble with Darin Mcgavin & Simon Oakland, a great veiw and job.keep well & be safe!🙂✌
If you love the Night Stalker style show from Dan Curtis be sure to check out unreleased Dan Curtis pilot of "The Norliss Tapes" which is on RUclips to watch. When Dan Curtis presented the Night Stalker pilot to ABC he'd also filmed a 2nd show to pitch to NBC which wasn't picked up unfortunately. But it's basically the exact same format with a reporter hunting down a supernatural killer. It stars Roy Thinnes and Angie Dickinson. And it's like the long lost brother to Night Stalker. Very Enjoyable.
I was just seven years old and not suppose to watch this scary stuff but my parents worked 2 jobs and my fourteen year old sister let me watch them with her we shared a bedroom so I never got scared. Brings back so many memories
Michael Ali I could never understand why it never went longer? Only recently came across it haven't seen it since the 70s. Still better than a lot of Rv nowdays
The greatest travesty in television was the fact that the night stalker series was dropped after one season. I remember everyone looked forward to the next show. What a shame!
Enjoyed watching this movie as it brought back memories. Nice to watch an old movie that made me jump a few times but found it rather relaxing after watching the news today!!
Excellent copy. This is a good one. Best copy available Mind the writing here. That reference to Cotton Mather, "prim and proper", shows a writer with depth. Quality writing. Great stuff
I saw this in '73 when I was 8. Carried the story with me for some reason, a city built on TOP of a burned-out city, with the old city still below. Made no sense, they don't do that! Why would they do that? You just raze everything and rebuild, right? Too young then to catch important details, always thought it was just made up. Until today - at age 57 - I learned about Seattle's Underground for the first time. Mind. Blown.
I always thought that the Night Stalker and Night Strangler movies as a whole were so much better than the actual tv series episodes. The 2 movies were longer in length, had more story and character development, solid top notch acting, and had a much better storyline/plot to them. The tv series was ok; but with the episodes only 45 minutes long, they kind of had a rush feeling to them as far as the storyline/plot and acting to them. The tv series pretty much was the same every week. Kolchak getting yelled at by his boss, getting in the way of the police investigation, going alone to catch the bad guy, having a standoff with the monster/villian, killing him or her, and finally getting his story published in the newspaper at the reluctance of Tony Vincenzo. Honestly The Night Stalker should have been part of the NBC rotating tv movie series of Columbo, McCloud, and Mcmillan & Wife on Sunday nights. I think the episodes would have been much better in quality at least 75 - 90 minutes in length with more thought and effort put into them.
The series was wildly uneven, I’ll give you that. The very best episodes (The Ripper, The Zombie, The Spanish Moss Murders, Horror in the Heights) we’re almost as enjoyable as the movies. But many of the other episodes were watchable only for McGavin’s performance and his interactions with Oakland.
@@BlanketMan . You forgot that the episode, "The Vampire" about the female vampire in Los Angeles was a very good episode from "The Night Stalker" 1974 TV series! But the two movies definitely were better than the TV series. As Darren McGavin acknowledged, you really can't do a "monster-of-the-week " TV series for the obvious reasons that (1) you very quickly run out of the classic monsters ( i.e., a vampire, werewolf, a zombie, a Dr. Jeckyl/Mr. Hyde-type monster, a mummy, etc.) to base episodic stories on and (2) it is simply totally implausible that every time Vincenzo assigns Kolchak a story to investigate, Kolchak always finds a supernatural explanation!
This was made the year I was born. I discovered Kolchak in the early 90's when I saw an infomercial for the entire set of VHS tapes. It was a subscription service where they sent one every other month or so. I was hooked by what I saw and signed up. Still have every single one of them to this day. Sentimental keepsakes of a different time and place I guess. Last year there was a Kickstarter for a graphic novel of new Kolchak stories celebrating the 50th Anniversary. I picked that up too. Good stuff!
That underground city was pretty wild. I know it was really far fetched, but the show is about vampires, etc. It’d be so cool to find something like that.
The narration of Darren McGavin- that incredible voice-is the absolute magic of the Kolchak movies. A true treasure
The narration is so good that I regularly listen to this film (and to Night Stalker) in bed as I drift off to sleep, as a kind of bedtime story now that I'm too old to be read to by anyone else. My wife is stone deaf so she doesn't mind. And to be honest I'd rather listen to Darren McGavin than to her.
Good
@@ciaran6171 😮😮😮😅
@@ciaran6171That's exactly what I'm doing now. Watched Night Stalker movie couple days ago. Never gets old
@@ciaran6171i do the same thing. I drift off to The Night Stalker on many nights. They use the same music in the opening of this movie as they did in Night Stalker.
Made 47,years ago ,and its still better than most of the stuff we see today ,,great show ,great cast ,.
Suspense. Everything since the 90’s lacks suspense, waiting or the inevitable
Best scary series ever-! Great acting.
Not most all!
Absolutely!!
Made just like yo Mama would make . . . with TLC or TLK.
I miss the good old days when you could just tune in and watch something cool like this.
I still remember watching this in 1973 .
About a Month after this Movie came out Wally Cox Passed Away.😢@@josephforest7605
I was 15 when this came out , I just turned 62 . Man , they don't lie when they saw time fly's. This was one of the best , I still enjoy them!!
You’re about a year or two older than me, but I had the same experience. It was also my introduction into the harsh world of television: they cancelled “The Night Stalker” after one season! It really hurt that my favorite show was cancelled. I waited all week to watch this show and enjoyed every one of them.
Darren McGavin and Simon Oakland were fantastic. Both were VERY convincing in their roles. I took it for granted that TV shows could be this good, interesting and fun, but it turned out that most tv shows were mediocre at best.
I don’t have reply notifications on, but I recommend the HBO show “Rome” if you want to see some newer great television.
You and I were watching the same cool stuff back in the 70s. So awesome we were able to see it firsthand......now I like revisiting them and showing my 16 yo. Such great times.
I was 13, I'm 64 now. These movies, and his show, were the best!!!!
Man, I can't believe it I'm 66 and still getting email from 4 years ago. That's cool , I didn't know there was such a big following!!
In my most humble opinion, this and "The Night Stalker" has got to be the very best "made for TV" films ever, even if you don`t agree with the subject matter. Both films are so well done, with excellent supporting cast, Darren and Simon were the perfect match and played off each other superbly. In addition, both these Men were somewhat underrated and unjustly so, it is a joy to see them work together, everyone enjoy!.......
wow.... already 50 years now. They could have been re-edited and released on the big screen. Barry Atwater was another great actor. Also, the Kolchak TV series could have been a different subject each season, rather than each episode, and it would've been much more successful, but that just wasn't the format back then. 'The Norliss Tapes' was another one which was really weird from this time period.
I agree and I am pro-vajazzle as many people know
This was the X Files before the X Files. My late Father loved this show....
A labor of love ❤️💉
We don't have shows like this any more...sadly. love this when I watched with my mum and still love it. Thanks mate 👍
You Tube deserves a lot of THANKS !!!! These old shows are 10 times better than what we have now !!
damn right
damn straight old is bad!
well...no.
Some are, some aren't.
The poster deserves the credit. If it was youtube they would be charging you 4 bucks to watch it
Darren McGavin was a treasure of an actor. What life he brought to this character. They don’t make ‘em like that anymore. Simon Oakland was another terrific actor. They made a wonderful duo!💀🧟♂️🧛
He was a good actor but it's a shame they made him wear that terrible hairpiece
Grandpa Munster was a terrific character actor, also. Played the denizen wanderer
Quite a different character than his role in A Christmas Story. Loved watching these shows when I was a kid in the 70's.
Amazing actor Darren McGavin. Especially loved him in “Christmas Story.” 👌🏻
I liked him in a Christmas story
"Kolchak: The Night Stalker" was a great show, and when it originally aired in the '70s I never missed it. McGavin was terrific and so was Simon Oakland. Just a fabulous show on so many levels! This TV movie and the one that preceded it ("The Night Stalker"), were so entertaining...and both still hold up exceptionally well!
Ya, Simon Oakland is awesome. Reminds me of my uncle when he used to yell at me and my cousin , lol.
KOJAK = SAVALAS.
Darren McGavin was such a versatile, and sadly, often underrated actor. I enjoyed every film and TV show, I ever saw him in. Thanks for sharing this with us all. 👍👍 10⭐
Also this episode boosted the Underground tour in Seattle enormously.
Yep they even had bill spidel in a cameo for authenticity.
McGavin was a character actor. They never really get the celebrity status of leading men.
Always enjoyed Darrin McGavin's narration of each set-up.
Jo Ann Pflug was one of the most beautiful women of the 70s (and today). This is a great movie. Thanks for sharing!
She was married to Game show host Chuck Woolery for years
The shouting matches between Kolchak and Vincenzo are just perfect! Fantastic character interaction.
Absolutely.
SHADDUP!!!!!!!!!!!
@@randymillhouse791 😅😅😅😅😅😅😊
"OUT!! GET OUT!!" 😅
"I dont care if that's the way he's been described more than twice - let me finish my lunch". Tony Vincenzo. I love it !
It's funny because two of my favorite cities are Vegas and Seattle. So it's always enjoyable to watch The Night Stalker and Strangler back to back. Kolchak is like a supernatural version of Columbo and DM plays him to perfection. 💯
Nothing like seeing Kolchak & Vincenzo go at it. Darren McGavin & Simon Oakland were made for each other as those characters. May they both rest in peace.
The back and forth between Kolchak and Vincenzo is always priceless. Vincenzo is getting an ulcer and is often on the verge of tears because he wants to take the easy way with bizarre stories, but deep down he knows that Kolchak has good instincts.
@ nonamesleftdammit. It is interesting that Vincenzo for the first time shows signs that he is developing an ulcer from his constant feuding with Kolchak over Kolchak's reporting when in the last scene in "The Night Strangler"(1973), Vincenzo is seen drinking milk from a carton as he and Louise Harper are being driven by Kolchak in Kolchak's car to NYC after Kolchak and Vincenzo were fired by Crossbinder.
Totally agree
@@michaelbarlow6610 No, that's the SECOND time. Look just after the start of "The Night Strangler," Vincenzo walks into the bar and the bartender asks, "The usual, Mr. Vincenzo?" and Vincenzo says "yeah," and a few seconds later he is being served a glass of milk. That's the first time.
@michaels4255. You didn't read my posted comment carefully. I clearly was referring to the fact that Vincenzo in "The Night Strangler"(1973) movie was already developing an ulcer from his earlier experience with Kolchak in Las Vegas from the first film, "The Night Stalker"(1972) even BEFORE his later experiences with Kolchak in Chicago when they worked together at the INS! I am fully aware that the first time Vincenzo is actually seen drinking milk is in the bar scene in the Seattle Press Club at the beginning of "The Night Strangler"(1973) movie! So you're not telling me anything that I didn't already know!
I've watched all of these several times over the last 47 plus years. Puts a smile on my face every time. Great writing, great acting and great cast.
I Grew up, watching the night stalker and the night strangler pilots, and then the series, which was one of the best series out there. They made it seem so real. McGavin was amazing, and I loved the banter between him and his boss and even the cops. Very entertaining movies and shows.
There's just something about movies and t.v. shows from the 70's. They have such style and coolness about them.
FACT
The Norliss Tapes was another one like this.. really weird..
One of my favorite decades of cinema.
I could watch each 1 of the episodes of Kolchak the nite stalker over and over again and NEVER GET TIRED of watching them 🥰☺️Thank u sooo much RUclips u r the BESTEST!!
Remember both these movies, so well! Thanks for the downloads!!! Got the boxset of " Kolchak: The Night Stalker " TV series, and the two TV movies all make superb entertainment. McGavin & Oakland worked off each other mavellously!!!
Nightstalker/Kolchak was one of the greatest characters in T.V. and movie history that oftentimes gets overlooked and under rated by directors, writers, critics, and Hollywood buttheads in general.
One of my all-time favourite TV series!. So glad to find them here.
I heard a while back, that Johnny Depp was interested in portraying him, in a movie. I have to admit I was intrigued, as well as interested, but time has passed and nothing happened.
x files before x files
If anybody remember the Syfy channel had a weekday showing of different theme each like mystery day. Kolchak was one of those shows. I didn't watch it because of the time. I seen the actor who plays Christmas story , I thought it was something silly, so I didn't watch it. Now I brought the collection and I love it. It goes to show, "Never judge an actor just because they have been in a non serious show". Forgive.
I bought the series so I can binge watch the night stalker. It suffered from constant turnover of producer after producer. The quirky characters are so much and I love the audio narration throughout the series.
The argument between Kolchak and Seattle Police Chief Roscoe Schubert in Schubert's office is dialogue writing at its' absolute finest! Richard Matheson, with the notable three exceptions cited in my previous posted comments , did an absolutely magnificent job writing the screenplay for "The Night Strangler"(1973)!
These hold up really well for TV, 48 years after the fact. Nice cast. Old Hollywood, partially. Much better than I remember.
Love the ending! Carl & Tony in Purgatory together, LoL! Watched these movies & the series as a kid in Detroit. Some of my dearest memories are of watching this show with my Mom. Nostalgia…. the sweetest elixir.
Loved the cold starts, coupled with the Great narration. It always reminded me of the Crime films of the 40s and 50s
These vintage 70’s shows are truly a time capsule…
Loved the Night Stalker!
My favourite of the two tv films. I love the atmosphere of the night shots, especially when Kolchak explores the underground
This has to be one of the greatest made for TV movies ever made !
Recently took the underground tour. Only reason i was excited was because of this movie!!
Reminds of being a kid again.
What a great episode! I loved this show as a kid. Thanks for sharing!
Hard to believe this 70's
Was 50 years ago
I love these old tv. shows. Thanks for the memories as Bob Hope used to say.
I like these old movies. Thanks for a great time.
After the over whelming success of The Night Stalker the year before they really poured more into the plot, set and actors in this movie to join with the part Darren McGavin was born to play and he was great as always, then throw in the chemistry with Simon Oakland and you have another hit as they did a great job. This one had Wally Cox the voice of Under Dog, Margaret Hamilton who played the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizzard of Oz, Al Lewis who was Gran Pa from the Munsters and last but not least the great John Carradine who played a pretty good Vampire in many movies and was a great all around actor. It's such a shame that they did not get to do 2 or 3 seasons of the show because you can just imagine all the stories you could have came up with but life teaches us to be thankful for what we have so I still watch the show every week.
So do I! Every saturday night on MeTV at midnight. I never miss it.
@@ivelissediaz9583 Me too, and I also like the way they put a little humor in the episodes as well.
i am 62 and this is the first time i have watched one of these tales i shall be leaveing the lights on to night
watch the series on MeTv Saturday nights your enjoy it.
Darren McGavin and Simon Oakland made such a great team! Kolchak, breezy, insolent and cantankerous; Vincenzo, harassed, hard-nosed and positively volcanic. Like hypergols, the ignite immediately upon contact! RIP Darren McGavin and the mighty Simon Oakland.
They are probably in heaven arguing right now. They had great chemistry 👍😊.
Amen!!! Darren McGavin and Simon Oakland were just priceless together...and IRREPLACEABLE.
AMEN!! 😊😊😊
Kolchak lives on forever!! I love being scared by vampires!!! Thanks for the vid. I have watched all episodes maybe more than a few times.
In the early 70s my brother and i were around 7 and 8. We had this small tv and we would sit on my bed and watch the night stalker. We loved it!!!!
I was 8 in 73 too and loved the night stalker ...mcgavin, Simon Oakland were great
I have always loved the night stalker, twilight zone, night gallery etc! Thank you for posting these awesome classics!
use to watch this show growing up love the show these show were the good old day shows like these you never see again today or ever i cherish these shows back in the 70's and 80's sometimes miss those good old days thanks
This was one of the best series on television at the time. If anyone is interested, there was a novel written called"The Kolchak Papers" written in 1972 by Jeff Rice who created our dear reporter and the pilot episode, The Night Stalker was based on Rice' s novel. It is a very wonderful read if you can still find it.
Really. I never knew they had novel. I would like to purchase some.
Please watch the old movie... the night visitor...... available on u tube
Gilsgal
I seriously don’t believe Jeff Rice existed. Look at the picture on the back of the book, it looks like Richard Matheson in a bad beard and glasses. The man didn’t do anything his whole career afterwards. It was Kolchak and nothing more.
They sell it on Amazon, $ 218.00 a copy!
@@davidtester3239 You know I saw one of his last photos and he does resemble Matheson. One can never know. But the details concerning how he lost out on royalties and how he died with little to his name is heart breaking.
Just watched this for the first time( May 2024) and it was great!! Can’t beat Darrin McGavin!!
Richard Matheson's writing skills adds to the classy style.
This is a great movie as well as the Night Stalker and the television series as well. Kolchak is a great character.
My sentiment exactly remember watching these both from recordings that my grandparents had
nightstalker scared the crap out of us until the exorcist came along. it pretty much scarred us forever.
It bacame a 60 minute tv series on ABC television.
Terry Crotts this, and The Night Gallery, also, The Sixth Sense with Gary Collins, there was a few good scary shows on back then.
Yep indeedio, I have the box set on DVD of Kolchak, Love it!
This is definitely one of the best tv series I've watched all great actors and they will be missed but thank God we can still watch great show
IMHO..This was the best offering in the Night Stalker series. Good storyline, good writing & great setting. Thanks for the UL!
Love this show.. watched it every week back in the "70's" .. they have no shows that I really like now ..
i adore Kolchak!! My Dad and i used to watch this all the time!! Police shows were our favorite! Lol father/daughter bonding over violent programs!!
oh wow....Darren McGavin is the man! as a kid i remember this show which my uncle would watch always! there will never be another Carl Kolchak!
I've taken that Underground Tour. It's fascinating and creepy at the same time. It looks to me like they shot the segment on location, because the real thing starts with a lecture in a bar and then moves to the tunnels, just as happened here. I always loved Darren McGavin in anything he did, but my favorite might be the Old Man in "A Christmas Story." RIP.
Much of the main climactic part was shot in the Bradbury Building in L.A. Blade runner was also shot there, in part.
@@timweatherill3738 It's funny you should mention that, because we were discussing the Bradbury Building in my writers' group this week. One of us also talked about the Metro Life building in Minneapolis, which had--if you can imagine this--glass block floors! It's gone now, the victim of developers' greed despite efforts to save it. The Bradbury also shows up in one of my favorite goofy comedies, "Good Neighbor Sam." (1964). Fave line: "Don't stand there in my underwear and threaten me!"
@@timweatherill3738 The building was also used in an episode of _The Outer Limits_ -- "Demon with a Glass Hand" starring Robert Culp, and penned by Harlan Elison. It's a popular episode, and has a sad ending (at least to me).
@@timweatherill3738 Not surprising. I doubt very much that Kolchak, The Night Stalker episodes, which were supposed to be in Chicago, was actually made in L.A.
This is the best copy I've seen since it aired. Even Peabird's copy was unwatchable. I am grateful, and I thank you. It is a true piece of classic television that's somehow every bit as good as it was the first time I saw it. Thank you so very much!
We 'll never get great shows like this ever again. Friday bites where good to us, growing up.
The actor Darren McGavin was amazing - but if I'm truly honest what I find so compelling is his voice. The baritone but also the cadence. You just don't hear that kind of pattern any more - the word choices, the rhythm, the choices of emphasis be it word or syllable.
That is a remarkably perceptive thing you've said! I recognized immediately that it was true because I'm sure I've been aware of it but just never noticed. It's an extremely theatrical style of speech. Very, very few actors could get away with acting like that on film. It would be spotted right away as "stagey" by viewers. But McGavin for some reason could get away with it.
I watch this series regularly even now! Great characters and way ahead of it’s time!
This guy was so underrated as an actor.
Permanently "dad" in "A Christmas Story."
Thank you. Thank you very much. Wrong Darren? oooh, sorry.
So was Richard Ramirez.
Na...
See him in 'The Man with the Golden Arm.'
ALL the great shows from the 60's and 70's need to be transferred to Blu-ray. They look amazing.
Need to be 4k UHD
@@l.a.m7645 Baby steps....
One of the best movies made for tv. Mcgavin was a tremendous actor.
Love this series, have got it on DVD, Great acting by the lead, a little tongue in cheek in places. But still watchable today, inspiration for the X Files so I've heard. Still loved watching it on TV back in the 70's when I was in my teens,still love watching it on DVD, brings back many precious memories.
Chris Carter who created “The X-Files” has often said that as a kid he was a fan of “Kolchak: Night Stalker” and indeed it was an inspiration for XF and actually hired Darren to act in a couple of the episodes.
They don’t make good movies like this anymore
YEP! So glad growing up during this time.
Hey these movies wernt good...they are great movies
36:40 What a treat to see the actress, Margaret Hamilton, who played the Wicked Witch of the West in 'The Wizard of Oz' playing Professor Crabwell. :)
Also the drunk in the underground tour... Grandpa Munster, Al Lewis.
I know she looked great!!
Great supporting cast, yes-- including Wally Cox too (the voice of Underdog, and he was Professor P. Caspar Biddle on "The Beverly Hillbillies").
Bob Cobert's session drummer lighting fires all over this soundtrack. Thanks much for this super-crisp upload.
Darren mcgavin was the best I used to watch the series all the time n you know what I still do RIP mr kolchak
I love Darren McGavin, he is one of my favorite actor's!💓👍👽
They should remake this. It is one of the very, VERY few classics. Nobody can do the job Darren McGavin did with this but this begs to be remade. It was an instant classic.
I watched the nightstalker movies and NEVER missed an episode of the TV series. The interaction between Kolchak and Vincenzo was classic.
John Carradine, Wally Cox, Nina Wayne ( Carol`s sister), Al Lewis, Margret Hamilton & Jo ann Pflug. Yep, a wonderful walk through nostalgia for Me. Dan Curtis is often sighted for his creation of Barnabas Collins & Dark Shadows but Karl Kolchak is just as wonderful. Perhaps a crossover one day?
These two great movies that started the Kolchak saga were genuine television classics, highly realistic, and still spooky today.
Hell of a cast, what?
Its amazing how a down on his luck reporter with no powers or weapons manages to defeat monsters and demons.
True
@Beau Michael(open): As has often been said, not all heroes wear capes...
Never underestimate the power of sarcasm.
He's a plucky underdog who used good old fashioned American ingenuity!
Oscar Goldman!!!
HILARIOUS!! My favorite of the two night stalker films☺🙄
I liked Skorzeny better.....to each their own. My favorite episode of the series was "Chopper".
This use to my family’s favorite show. It use to come on every Friday night and my mom and dad use to get us grinders and we would eat and watch this show.
What are grinders? Curious, in Canada!
Some people call them a sub or in New York they call them hero’s. I’m Connecticut we called them Grinders lol
@@daydream70 I used to live in RI and Mass.; they called such sandwiches grinders also.
SuperPat88 I think it’s a New England thing.
@@daydream70 Thanks! I don't get how you go from subs to grinders, but my curiousity is satisfied.
I use to watch all his shows and loved his Narration he had like the perfect voice for it I miss his shows thank you for you tube 🤷🏾♂️👍🏽
My crazy aunt would let me watch this and Night Gallery when I was 6 and they both hold a special place in my heart.
I'm so glad I stumbled upon these episodes. Thank You.
Your crazy aunt was super cool.
Maybe she wasnt so crazy. This is good TV she introduced you to.
I miss all the 70’s shows like this, Ghost Stories/Circle of Fear, The Sixth Sense, Night Gallery, all great ones.
Give me a good ghost store and a big bag popcorn potato chip ice cold pop a nice big bed and it's going on
i liked the English one Thriller as well!!
OMG I loved Ghost Stories/Circle of Fear.
Lance Lanny yes I remember that. It was filmed in Australia
Januquaria Space Fritz the Night Owl ?
Love this! Dan Curtis sure ruled TV Horror in the early 70s' If you love the Night Stalker style show from Dan Curtis be sure to check out the unreleased Dan Curtis pilot of "The Norliss Tapes" which is on RUclips to watch. The year Dan Curtis presented the Night Stalker pilot to ABC he'd also filmed a 2nd show to pitch to NBC which wasn't picked up unfortunately. But it's basically the exact same format with a reporter hunting down a supernatural killer. It stars Roy Thinnes and Angie Dickinson. And it's like the long lost brother to Night Stalker. Very Enjoyable
@ J. T. Creations. What is the title of the 1972 made-for-TV movie pilot that Dan Curtis pitched to NBC as a potential TV series, but was rejected by NBC that starred Angie Dickinson?
@@michaelbarlow6610 The Norliss Tapes. It's on RUclips to watch.
@@j.t.creations7048 . Thanks for the title of the movie. I have always wanted to watch that movie. I don't recall watching it when it was originally broadcast on TV during the 1970's.
One of my favorite shows back in the 70's.
I use to stay up till 4am to see the night stocker, one time all alone at home I couldn't get out of my chair it was so scary, the one with the trophy claws on his feet. It was so good. What great acting and camera work in these old shows.
I loved this series so much, I bought the boxed set. Kolchak one of the best
TV characters ever. He- McGavin- looked like my Father...the clothes, his walk, craggy face, camera slung around his neck, cantankerous and argumentative.
I bought the complete boxed set too. (Although my Mom used to think that, looks-wise, Daddy was more like Gregory Peck in the older movies! 😉👍)
@@CanvasCanary ha ha..
Gregory Peck lookalike Dad beats out a Darrin McGavin lookalike but ....
I wouldn't trade! No lie, my father coulda been a double to Kokchak.
(He didn't like us teasing him about it!)
What a joy! I own the DVD collection. Watching this reminds me of watching television with my mother.
Where did you get the series?
Linda Arringion I’ve had mine for a few years now. Circuit City was still open. You purchase it off of amazon for $24.00
Simon Oakland appeared in more than 550 television episodes and had leading roles in three television series. From 1976 to 1978, he was a regular on ''Baa Baa Black Sheep,'' playing a Marine Corps general who tolerated the antics of Robert Conrad, the leader of a squad of misfit flyers in the South Pacific during World War II. In the police series ''Toma,'' he played Tony Musante's supervisor in the Newark Police Department. In ''Kolchak: The Night Stalker,'' he played the skeptical newspaper editor to a reporter portrayed by Darren McGavin.
Another fantastic flick from The Night Stalker series. A real chiller / thriller from a great era in TV history. A classic period that'll never ever be duplicated. It's tragic the garbage that's on the tube nowadays
Absolutely love both the two Kolchak made-for-TV movies and the 1974 TV series that Jeff Rice's original manuscript "The Kolchak Papers" and the two movies spawned! One of the greatest lines of dialogue in movie history is completely overlooked by movie fans which came from Dr. Richard Malcolm/Malcolm Richards (superbly played by the late Richard Anderson who was most famous for playing the role of Col. Steve Austin' and Jaime Somer's boss at the OSI in "The Six Million Dollar Man" and " The Bionic Woman" TV series) when Malcolm grabbed Kolchak by the shirt collar in Malcolm's underground hideout beneath the Malcolm Richards Clinic in modern Seattle and said to Kolchak, "You profane my world sir! I will not permit you to to live here, to stay here, to exist here"!
A Fantastic Movie! It went on to another movie Night Stalker...then a 1 year Run in a T.V. series...a great ensemble with Darin Mcgavin & Simon Oakland, a great veiw and job.keep well & be safe!🙂✌
Actually Stalker was first followed by Strangler. A 3rd was proposed but ABC decided to give the series a whirl and that's where Dan Curtis bowed out.
If you love the Night Stalker style show from Dan Curtis be sure to check out unreleased Dan Curtis pilot of "The Norliss Tapes" which is on RUclips to watch. When Dan Curtis presented the Night Stalker pilot to ABC he'd also filmed a 2nd show to pitch to NBC which wasn't picked up unfortunately. But it's basically the exact same format with a reporter hunting down a supernatural killer. It stars Roy Thinnes and Angie Dickinson. And it's like the long lost brother to Night Stalker. Very Enjoyable.
@@j.t.creations7048 thanks i will definitely check it out! I liked Roy in, I believe it was in the Invaders T.V show!
I was just seven years old and not suppose to watch this scary stuff but my parents worked 2 jobs and my fourteen year old sister let me watch them with her we shared a bedroom so I never got scared. Brings back so many memories
THAT is a quintessential Seventies memory!
Thank you 👍 Classic movie and series 👍
You're welcome. Enjoy.
Michael Ali I could never understand why it never went longer? Only recently came across it haven't seen it since the 70s. Still better than a lot of Rv nowdays
I would stay up late and watch this with my dad. We were fans mum would be in the kitchen getting us our suppers.
Excellent clear copy and sound,thanks.
Thank you for the upload 😀 an oldie but a goodie .....nice an clear 💯💯💯
This is a great movie. Nothing of that kind exists today.. not anymore... too bad, but true...
Please watch this movie.....the night visitor. Available on u tube
Thank you this show is one of my favorites.
This is the only movie that has been able to grab me since I've been thumbing thru all sites looking for something to watch to pass the time. Cheers!
Please watch the old movie... the night visitor.... this movie is available on u tube
Kyle Sheldon sane here!
Used to watch this series it was good for its time, and even though it is older, still enjoy the re runs.
Thank you for this. I watched it when it first aired, and haven’t seen it since... until now. This was fun! Thank you
The Kolchak - Vinchenzo arguments were the best part. 😁
The greatest travesty in television was the fact that the night stalker series was dropped after one season. I remember everyone looked forward to the next show. What a shame!
Enjoyed watching this movie as it brought back memories. Nice to watch an old movie that made me jump a few times but found it rather relaxing after watching the news today!!
Please watch the old movie.....the night visitor.... available on u tube
Thank you for this classic!
Excellent copy. This is a good one. Best copy available
Mind the writing here. That reference to Cotton Mather, "prim and proper", shows a writer with depth. Quality writing. Great stuff
I saw this in '73 when I was 8. Carried the story with me for some reason, a city built on TOP of a burned-out city, with the old city still below. Made no sense, they don't do that! Why would they do that? You just raze everything and rebuild, right? Too young then to catch important details, always thought it was just made up. Until today - at age 57 - I learned about Seattle's Underground for the first time. Mind. Blown.
Truth is stranger than fiction.
Enjoy watching Darren McGavin, he is a character, so solid yet so gentle, an actor, a husband and a father.
I always thought that the Night Stalker and Night Strangler movies as a whole were so much better than the actual tv series episodes. The 2 movies were longer in length, had more story and character development, solid top notch acting, and had a much better storyline/plot to them. The tv series was ok; but with the episodes only 45 minutes long, they kind of had a rush feeling to them as far as the storyline/plot and acting to them.
The tv series pretty much was the same every week. Kolchak getting yelled at by his boss, getting in the way of the police investigation, going alone to catch the bad guy, having a standoff with the monster/villian, killing him or her, and finally getting his story published in the newspaper at the reluctance of Tony Vincenzo.
Honestly The Night Stalker should have been part of the NBC rotating tv movie series of Columbo, McCloud, and Mcmillan & Wife on Sunday nights. I think the episodes would have been much better in quality at least 75 - 90 minutes in length with more thought and effort put into them.
The series was wildly uneven, I’ll give you that. The very best episodes (The Ripper, The Zombie, The Spanish Moss Murders, Horror in the Heights) we’re almost as enjoyable as the movies. But many of the other episodes were watchable only for McGavin’s performance and his interactions with Oakland.
@@BlanketMan . You forgot that the episode, "The Vampire" about the female vampire in Los Angeles was a very good episode from "The Night Stalker" 1974 TV series! But the two movies definitely were better than the TV series. As Darren McGavin acknowledged, you really can't do a "monster-of-the-week " TV series for the obvious reasons that (1) you very quickly run out of the classic monsters ( i.e., a vampire, werewolf, a zombie, a Dr. Jeckyl/Mr. Hyde-type monster, a mummy, etc.) to base episodic stories on and (2) it is simply totally implausible that every time Vincenzo assigns Kolchak a story to investigate, Kolchak always finds a supernatural explanation!
Yet in the 1970's and 1980's there was the Green river killer Gary ridgeway in the Seattle area at the time.
This was made the year I was born. I discovered Kolchak in the early 90's when I saw an infomercial for the entire set of VHS tapes. It was a subscription service where they sent one every other month or so. I was hooked by what I saw and signed up. Still have every single one of them to this day. Sentimental keepsakes of a different time and place I guess. Last year there was a Kickstarter for a graphic novel of new Kolchak stories celebrating the 50th Anniversary. I picked that up too. Good stuff!
That underground city was pretty wild. I know it was really far fetched, but the show is about vampires, etc. It’d be so cool to find something like that.