Writer: Paul Playdon, David Chase
Director: Allen Baron
Actors:
Eric Braeden as Bernhardt Stieglitz / Dick Gautier as Mel Tarter / Nita Talbot as Paula Griffin / Henry Jones as Captain Julian Wells / Bob Hastings as Hallem / Ray Ballard as Bernie Efron / Barry Cahill as Dr. Alan Ross / Lewis Charles as George Levitt / Dort Clark as Gribbs / Lyn Guild as Lois Prysock / Jim Hawkins as Jay Remy / Heath Jobes as Radio Man / Steve Marlow as Sailor / Jackie Russell as Wendy / Ruth McDevitt as Edith/Emily Cowels
Memorable Line:
Kolchak: "Oh no, no - this has nothing to do with chimes ringing or splicing at all!"
Carl trying to explain to Mel that his desire to find a Priest doesn't have anything to do with Marriage.
Story:
Carl takes Tony's place on the cruise ship 'Hanover', and meets up with a deadly Werewolf.
Speaking of camp superhero shows from 1967 (he says from out of the blue) Last week we had "Captain Nice" (William Daniels), this time out the show guests stars a "Mr. Terrific" cast member, Dick Gautier. Dick is the comic relief (Mel Tatar) who sets Carl up with Paula (Nita Talbot); Kolchak's main comrade on this cruise ship caper.
Talbot does well in her role as the fast-talking film lover and she and McGavin have good chemistry together. There's a touch of screwball comedy in their banter. I liked her, and if I have a complaint about the episode, it's that her story isn't given a proper finish (Carl should have said something about her. I assumed she was killed along with Mel, though we never see her body. She's just... gone.)
Eric Braeden balances the humorous elements with an intense performance. His Bernhardt Stieglitz is cursed and impatiently struggles to find release. Braeden does a fine job conveying the desperation and painful suffering of his character during his transformation. (I would have liked a 'face to face' confrontation between Stieglitz in human form and Kolack. Add that as another failing)
The werewolf itself looks like Teddy Ruxpin on a bender, but there's a palpable animalistic fury to the creature. It's fast and it's deadly. Now add the claustrophobic elements of being trapped on a boat with this thing, and you have a brilliant setup.
The big payoff at the end is spin-tingling: The beast is loose and wreaking havoc. The sound of gunshots fills the empty ocean air, and as Carl weaves through the ship to hunt the creature; he sees pockets of frantic activity, dead bodies line the halls - and the sounds and shadows of the monster seem to surround him in all directions.
While not an A+ level ep, it does offer good "B-Movie" type fun, with a nice mix of humor and horror.
Of Note: This is Ruth McDevitt's first appearance as Emily Cowels (Listed as "Edith" in the credits). Emily was said to be out on vacation for a week in "The Ripper. She must have a lot of vacation time because in two weeks (in "The Devil's Platform") she'll be shown returning from Italy. Also, she's gone from "Advice" to writing a "Riddle" column?
Grade: B
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