KOLCHAK PAPERS: Episode #8 BAD MEDICINE

IMDB SUMMARY:  A Native American legend materializes in Chicago, and Carl discovers it when he investigates the mysterious deaths of two wealthy society matrons who possessed priceless jewels. When the murders increase, Kolchak learns that the force at work is know as The Diablero, a being cursed to roam the Earth in search of valuable gems.  

Aired: Nov 29, 1974

Directed by Alex Grasshoff  Guest Cast: Raymond Bieri, Richard Kiel, Alice Ghostly, Victor Jory

Written by Rudolph Borcher

The episode opens with Carl Kolchak arguing with his boss Tony Vincenzo  as to whether or not the recent murders are indeed murders or suicides and co-workers Miss Emily and Ron Updyke are fleshed out a little more with Updyke waxing poetically about an article he’s going to write and Miss Emily coming to Carl’s defense.

Vincenzo ends the argument by telling Carl he would never assign him to anything involving society because he looks like an unmade bed, to which he announces he’s going out to buy some new clothes causing Miss Emily to shout out “Finally!”.    I’ve said it before but these interactions with his co-workers are some of the best points to the show.  

In an interview with star Darren McGavin he discussed choosing Carl’s wardrobe.    As originally written by character creator Jeff Rice Kolchak dressed in Hawaiian Shirts and jeans, but McGavin said he’d never met a reporter who dressed that way.   Instead, he reasoned, that Carl first lost his last “real” journalistic job in 1962 and hadn’t bought a new suit since then.

Miss Emily with Carl

The office team plays a pretty big part through the episode including one of Carl’s schemes to get information on the story.

Carl’s never makes it to his shopping trip because a bit on his police radio alerts him to a scene at a jewelry exchange with shots fired.   Arriving there he finds Captain Joe Baker, played by gruff veteran actor Ramon Bieri, and his men facing what appears to be an eight foot Native American ghost.  Bieri played a lot of these cop types over the year and the irony here is that his character’s name is Joe Baker and he bears a resemblance to actor Joe Don Baker.   His relationship with Kolchak is one of the most antagonistic of the series, and that’s saying something.   Beiri will return in one of the final episodes as the series but as a different police official.

The Unusual Suspects…  It wouldn’t be a great Kolchak episode without a good number of oddball side characters and this particular episode is chock full.

Character actor Marvin Kaplan, better known as the voice on many Hanna Barbera cartoons including one of the characters on TOP CAT makes a cameo as Kolchak informant Albert Delgado who is a former gangland thug who know works as a barber, he wants to go straight but it’s clear from his conversation that he is still lured back to the lifestyle.   He insists on shaving Kolchak despite his shaky hands, as a way of getting his tip.

Alice Ghostly looks on as Victor Jory explains Native American myth to Kolchak

Alice Ghostly, who made a name for herself as nosy neighbors, plays Dr Temple who is an expert on Native American heritage and she helps him identify the monster as a Diablero, which is a strange figure in Indian lore that were alleged to be tribal sorcerers.   These creatures are shape shifters.

The office boy/dark room attendant is back but he’s not the same actor who appeared in an earlier episode.   I can’t find any credit for him.

David Lewis who tended to play characters of the upper crust in such diverse things as GENERAL HOSPITAL and BATMAN plays the head of an auction house who see’s through Kolchak’s nonsense.

Victor Jory, a very well known actor who’s biggest role was probably in GONE WITH THE WIND in 1939 and then playing the title role in THE SHADOW for Columbia Pictures a year later is here as a Native American Medicine Man named Charles Rolling Thunder.    Jory’s powerful voice and strong presence always adds to anything he’s in.

As this episodes monster, Richard Kiel was a 7 foot tall actor who played many big frightening characters over the years including the henchman with the metal teeth called Jaws in the James Bond film  THE SPY WHO LOVED ME (1979).  He was also a human eating alien in THE TWILIGHT ZONE and he would be back to play a monster again on this series in the upcoming SPANISH MOSS MURDERS.   Kiel’s credits go on endlessly, he was The Ghost in an episode of GILLIGAN’S ISLAND and he was the original choice for THE INCREDIBLE HULK TV Series.   Other credits include Clint Eastwood’s PALE RIDER, HAPPY GILMORE, THE MONKEES (where he played Frankenstein’s Monster), THE WILD WILD WEST, CANONBALL RUN II and many many more.   He doesn’t have much to do here but look intimidating but he does that very well.

Great Vincenzo Bits:   He’s in top form in this episode, at one point Kolchak discovers him in the office in the middle of the night in his pajamas, not because of marital problems but because he figures it’s the only way to find Kolchak knowing that he would eventually return to the office.

Kolchak Dialogue:

Carl Kolchak: [Grabbing his hat and jacket] Okay. If clothes make the reporter around here, then Carl Kolchak can play that game too!

Tony Vincenzo: Where are you going?

Carl Kolchak: [Storming out the door] I'm taking the rest of the afternoon off. I am going out and buy myself some new clothes, okay?

Emily Cowles: [Delighted] Finally!

KOLCHAK RATING: The Giant Indian is hard to find exciting, but it’s a good solid episode coming in at 4.0