Product Description

Kolchak: The Night Stalker the uniquely eerie mystery series that paved the way for The X-Files comes to DVD for the first time with all 20 original one-hour episodes of the 1974-1975 series. Emmy nominee Darren McGavin stars as Carl Kolchak a headstrong investigative reporter on the trail of the paranormal: zombies vampires werewolves ghosts succubi and even aliens. No matter how unnatural or unbelievable Kolchak is there to uncover the truth one supernatural threat at a time. Join the hunt in the dark alleys and creepy hidden lairs of Chicago with such sensational guest stars as Scatman Crothers Antonio Fargas Sharon Farrell Dick Van Patten Jamie Farr Larry Linville Jim Backus and more. Kolchak: The Night Stalker is finally on DVD digitally restored to capture every shiver every scream and every bump in the night.System Requirements:Running Time 413 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 025192226526 Manufacturer No: 61022265

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5871 in DVD
• Brand: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAIN.
• Released on: 2005-10-04
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish
• Number of discs: 3
• Dimensions: .75 pounds
• Running time: 1026 minutes

Amazon.com
The acknowledged inspiration for The X-Files, and the basis for an updated 2005 network version, Kolchak: The Night Stalker was a short-lived 1974 series spun off from a pair of extremely popular made-for-TV movies about the supernatural adventures of dogged newspaper reporter Carl Kolchak (Darren McGavin). Though plagued by low ratings and critical brickbats, the show has cultivated a huge cult following over the past three decades, which has given rise to this three-disc set, which compiles all 20 episodes of the show. Though none of the episodic stories matches the suspense and writing strength of the Night Stalker or Night Strangler movies, TV horror fans will appreciate the parade of interesting and inventive monsters encountered by Kolchak (including a witches' coven in "The Trevi Collection"; an Aztec cult in "Legacy of Terror"; a Hindu Demon in "Horror in the Heights," which was penned by Hammer Films scribe Jimmy Sangster; and a headless biker in "Chopper," an episode deemed in extreme poor taste by Stephen King and co-written by Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale, and Sopranos creator David Chase). McGavin is of course topnotch as Kolchak, and he's well-matched by Simon Oakland as his hot-tempered boss; guest stars include Scatman Crothers, James Gregory, Phil Silvers, Eric Braeden, Tom Skerritt, and Richard Kiel as the monster in two back-to-back episodes. Sadly, no extras accompany this fun collection of Kolchak's creepiest cases. --Paul Gaita

Customer Reviews

Includes All 20 Episodes Of The 1974-1975 Series!
"INCLUDES ALL 20 EPISODES OF THE 1974-1975 SERIES!"
[from the sticker of front cover of the DVD case]

Classic Science Fiction
The Night Stalker blends mystery,horror and imagination into one. Although this series doesn't have alot of blood or gore, the suspense comes from shadows, glimpes or ideas the stories portray. Some humor is added by Darren Mcgavin as the bumbling Kolchak. While trying to convince the police he is not insane or just plain seeing things, Kolchak manages to solve the murder or mystery of this once weekly series. Series was taken from the movie, "The Night Stalker", about a vampire who terrorizes Las Vegas. Some of my favorite episodes include, The Ripper, Chopper, Horror In The Heights and Demon In Lace. Series is nothing special by today's standards, but people who watched it back in the 70's will still appreciate this fine show.

A Walk Back In Time
To write this review I have to admit my age but for a short lived show, this was great. Action, mystery, horror, it was a kids dream come true. It's wonderful that someone has opted to forever preserve this in DVD format. If you prefer the past over the future, you'll love this. It's a show the entire family can watch without fear of scenes nowdays that could only be seen previously in a movie theater.