Carl Kolchak is a reporter for a Chicago newspaper. Through more accident than design he ends up investigating homicides, many of which involve supernatural forces. Ultimately, rather than r... Read allCarl Kolchak is a reporter for a Chicago newspaper. Through more accident than design he ends up investigating homicides, many of which involve supernatural forces. Ultimately, rather than reporting on the crimes, he solves them.Carl Kolchak is a reporter for a Chicago newspaper. Through more accident than design he ends up investigating homicides, many of which involve supernatural forces. Ultimately, rather than reporting on the crimes, he solves them.
- Awards
- 1 win & 2 nominations
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Did you know
- TriviaThe series was cancelled because Darren McGavin asked to be released from his contract. Not only did he become disappointed with the series' scripts, but he ended up exhausted from the rigorous daily shooting schedule (beginning at 3:00 pm until just before sunrise) and his uncredited producing duties. Three scripts were left unproduced. Two of them were adapted into a "Kolchak" series of comic books in 2003.
- GoofsMany of the stories take place in the winter months, but there is never any snow, and even if there was no snow, it is highly unlikely one would be driving a convertible with the top down during the winter months in Chicago.
- Quotes
Carl Kolchak: If you want a job done right, you just have to foul it up yourself.
- Crazy creditsDuring opening credits, Kolchak throws his hat at a wall hook, it misses and falls into the garbage. When the show first aired, there was an alternate opening where he threw his hat, it stays on the hook, and Kolchak has a surprised look on his face. This was Darren McGavin's genuine reaction, as he had not expected it to happen. After the first few episodes, the opening was changed to the one that is currently shown on reruns and media releases.
- ConnectionsEdited into Tales of the Gold Monkey: God Save the Queen (1983)
Featured review
R.I.P Darrin McGavin
I just learned today that Darrin McGavin has passed on. Which is a real pity, because he was such a great actor.
I never met the man, much to my regret, but I am doing a little tribute here, because this is the first place I recall see this fine, talented actor. To this day, his portrayal of Karl Kolchak (I hope I spelled it right) is a favorite of my, and one of my favorite television shows from the 70s.
The show aired on Friday nights for one season. But it was never forgotten by fans, and fortunately the Sci-Fi Channel runs it occasionally.
The show had great writing, was extremely moody, and some really great monsters and scary situations. But the high point of the show each week was McGavin's performance. He played Karl as a guy who'd rather use his brains as opposed to brawn to get the job done. Often when he fought and defeated the monster, it was from what he'd learned earlier in the show, as opposed to just hacking and slashing his way through.
McGavin also had a real nice sense of comic timing that worked well when bantering words with is boss Tony Vinchenzo (Simon Oakland). The two of them together generated some really entertaining chemistry.
My favorite episode of the series was "Horror in the Heights" (aka: The Rakshaka). It had it all -- a great performance by McGavin, a really great monster that you didn't see until the end, and a really, really great shock ending. (No I won't spoil it for you folks who haven't seen it. But I strongly recommended it to anyone who hasn't. It's a real dilly.) Well, Darrin McGavin is gone now. But he leaves behind a nice little legacy. Many of us also remember him as "The Old Man" in that wonderful season film "A Christmas Story." But for me, he will always be, first and foremost, "Karl Kolchak, the Night Stalker."
I never met the man, much to my regret, but I am doing a little tribute here, because this is the first place I recall see this fine, talented actor. To this day, his portrayal of Karl Kolchak (I hope I spelled it right) is a favorite of my, and one of my favorite television shows from the 70s.
The show aired on Friday nights for one season. But it was never forgotten by fans, and fortunately the Sci-Fi Channel runs it occasionally.
The show had great writing, was extremely moody, and some really great monsters and scary situations. But the high point of the show each week was McGavin's performance. He played Karl as a guy who'd rather use his brains as opposed to brawn to get the job done. Often when he fought and defeated the monster, it was from what he'd learned earlier in the show, as opposed to just hacking and slashing his way through.
McGavin also had a real nice sense of comic timing that worked well when bantering words with is boss Tony Vinchenzo (Simon Oakland). The two of them together generated some really entertaining chemistry.
My favorite episode of the series was "Horror in the Heights" (aka: The Rakshaka). It had it all -- a great performance by McGavin, a really great monster that you didn't see until the end, and a really, really great shock ending. (No I won't spoil it for you folks who haven't seen it. But I strongly recommended it to anyone who hasn't. It's a real dilly.) Well, Darrin McGavin is gone now. But he leaves behind a nice little legacy. Many of us also remember him as "The Old Man" in that wonderful season film "A Christmas Story." But for me, he will always be, first and foremost, "Karl Kolchak, the Night Stalker."
- cmarsh0221
- Feb 24, 2006
- Permalink
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- Kolchak
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- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime51 minutes
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- 4:3
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By what name was Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1974) officially released in India in English?
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