KOLCHAK PAPERS: Episode #18 - THE KNIGHTLY MURDERS

TV SHOWS

Apr 11

Airdate: Mar 7, 1975

Directed by Vincent McEveety. Written by Michael Kozoll, David Chase and Paul A. Magistretti

Guest Cast: John Dehner, Hans Conried, Robert Emhardt, Jeff Donnell, Shug Fisher, Lieux Dressler, Bryan O'Byrne, Sidney Clute and William O'Connell.

From IMDB: A haunted suit of armor, belonging to a man who swore that his resting place would never be disturbed by gaiety and music, seeks out the people behind turning the museum where his armor is located into a disco. Kolchak learns of the murders and seeks out who--or what--is responsible.

A particularly strong episode populated with a great group of oddball characters and an interesting plot in the haunted armor seeking revenge. For a show that critics call a monster of the week program this one shows you can find inspiration even with a simple ghost.

Among the guest cast is our Police Captain this time around in the form of John Dehner as Captain Vernon Rausch— he’s a complete switch from the brutish police Captain’s we’ve seen previously. Rausch is portrayed as a socialite philosopher who is actually polite to Kolchak at least until he’s done his best to wear on his nerves. Dehner began his career in Hollywood as an animator for Disney Studios before branching out into acting. He was often cast as slightly flamboyant baritone saloon owners in westerns and urbane professionals in many comedies in his long career.

Rausch has great dialogue like this;

Capt. Vernon Rausch: But a knight - in armor? Make me believe that, Carl, because if I find you're shooting me through the grease, it'll have a definite detrimental effect on how we interface with each other.

Hans Conried is Mendall Boggs, the curator of the museum that is being torn down. Hans is well known having appeared in hundreds of films and TV shows as diverse as Orson Welles’ MERCURY THEATER and as the voice of Captain Hook in PETER PAN as well as Snidley Whiplash in the DUDLEY DO RIGHT cartoon series.

Robert Emhardt plays a coat of arms dealer who provides some information for Kolchak, Emhardt had a long career spanning work with Elvis Presley and Andy Griffith as the blustered businessman in the classic episode MAN IN A HURRY.

Shug Fisher plays Pop Stenvold, a pawnshop owner friend of Carl’s, Shug was equally well known in hundreds of westerns and as “Shorty” on THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES.

Bryan O’Byrne plays Charles the Butler, he made a career playing uptight businessmen and flustered neighbors.

Sidney Klute is a telephone repairman who sees through Carl’s game, he will be a familiar face in many popular TV series.

William O’Connell appeared in many 60s movies and TV series including BATMAN where he would often play overly flustered victims or busy body neighbors.

A episode with this much oddballity has to rank highly.

KOLCHAK DIALOGUE:

Carl Kolchak: What is important is that it takes 420 pounds pressure - psi. - to crush a telephone. Now, it says right here that a medieval knight in full armor and in full weaponry weighs well over 400 pounds.

Tony Vincenzo: Oh, I feel much better. All my life I wanted to know that a medieval knight could crush a telephone.

How’s The Monster? Great.