Carl Kolchak(Darren McGavin) is to meet a mob informant when that man is thrown from the top floor to his death at the Trevi Salon, which is a high fashion company whose boss(played by Nina Foch) denies all knowledge. Another model named Madelaine(played by Lara Parker) offers to help, but it becomes obvious that there is a deadly witch at work there, determined to eliminate all competition, which includes Carl's snooping... Lara Parker is a real hoot here, playing her part to the absolute hilt, and some effective humor helps this otherwise dubious story that seems to suggest that the witch hunts of yesteryear may not have been entirely without merit...
13 Reviews
Witchcraft in the fashion industry.
Hey_Sweden9 September 2012
Warning: Spoilers
'The Trevi Collection' is a snappy and energetic episode of this legendary series, if not on the level of the best 'Kolchak' episodes. Our intrepid reporter ends up pursuing a bona fide witch working in the fashion industry who is using their powers to harm and murder others. Among the people he interviews are hotshot designer Madame Trevi (Nina Foch) and outgoing model Madelaine (Lara Parker).
There are some wonderful laughs to be had here, especially in the sequence where Kolchak joins a coven to gain information. He makes quite a sight, still wearing his familiar hat while wearing a witches' robe. It's hysterical when he's told that his donation isn't nominal enough, and when he snatches his money back after leaving the meeting. He gets in yet another good shot at his weary editor Vincenzo, who laments his frustrating existence and wishes sometimes that he'd gone into a different line of work.
While overall this episode is never exactly spooky, it does manage to be effectively creepy at times, in the sequences involving mannequins that seem to come to life in alternating shots. The roster of guest stars make all of this quite enjoyable: the lovely and enticing Parker (whose casting is quite apt), Marvin Miller (voice of Robby the Robot) as the lecturer, Bernie Kopell as a doctor, Richard Bakalyan as a mobster, Douglas Fowley as a super, and Henry Brandon in a bit part. Parker is far and away the best thing about 'The Trevi Collection', as she is able to make the switch from perky and helpful to flamboyantly evil. This episode showcases Simon Oakland as Vincenzo wonderfully as he's once again annoyed by his aggressive star reporter. Series regulars Jack Grinnage and Ruth McDevitt don't get too much to do here, unfortunately.
The formula for these shows is followed effectively by writer Rudolph Borchert and director Don Weis, with Kolchak typically left to save the day on his own, which he does with his usual wit and style. The standard wrap-up with Kolchak as he summarizes the story into his handy tape recorder is a fine way to end things as always.
Seven out of 10.
There are some wonderful laughs to be had here, especially in the sequence where Kolchak joins a coven to gain information. He makes quite a sight, still wearing his familiar hat while wearing a witches' robe. It's hysterical when he's told that his donation isn't nominal enough, and when he snatches his money back after leaving the meeting. He gets in yet another good shot at his weary editor Vincenzo, who laments his frustrating existence and wishes sometimes that he'd gone into a different line of work.
While overall this episode is never exactly spooky, it does manage to be effectively creepy at times, in the sequences involving mannequins that seem to come to life in alternating shots. The roster of guest stars make all of this quite enjoyable: the lovely and enticing Parker (whose casting is quite apt), Marvin Miller (voice of Robby the Robot) as the lecturer, Bernie Kopell as a doctor, Richard Bakalyan as a mobster, Douglas Fowley as a super, and Henry Brandon in a bit part. Parker is far and away the best thing about 'The Trevi Collection', as she is able to make the switch from perky and helpful to flamboyantly evil. This episode showcases Simon Oakland as Vincenzo wonderfully as he's once again annoyed by his aggressive star reporter. Series regulars Jack Grinnage and Ruth McDevitt don't get too much to do here, unfortunately.
The formula for these shows is followed effectively by writer Rudolph Borchert and director Don Weis, with Kolchak typically left to save the day on his own, which he does with his usual wit and style. The standard wrap-up with Kolchak as he summarizes the story into his handy tape recorder is a fine way to end things as always.
Seven out of 10.
Lara Parker
erisman-552726 February 2022
For those of us who crushed on Lara Parker in Dark Shadows, it is great to see her again. Not one of the best episodes but Kolchak and Angelique provide some good entertainment. Even though nothing can match The Night Stalker tv movie, this is still worth a watch.
Stalking A Witch
a_l_i_e_n3 June 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Strange and violent occurrences surrounding the unveiling of a fashion designer's new line may be the work of witchcraft.
A snitch taking a dive out of a high rise window leads Carl Kolchak (seersucker suit and all) into the world of high fashion design, and a more incongruous combination one will never see. Aided in his investigation by a young model named Madelaine (Lara Parker), Kolchak comes to suspect the wealthy designer, Madame Trevi (Nina Foch) may have played a role in the death of his snitch, as well as in a rash of violent events behind the scenes of a fashion show. Kolchak is at first skeptical when a frightened Madelaine confides that she believes Trevi is a witch, but he soon begins to wonder after a driver-less car nearly runs him over. When Carl eventually destroys the charms inside a wooden chest (allegedly the source of Trevi's power), he discovers that he's been deceived by Madelaine, the real witch. Now no longer safe from Madelaine's powers, the old woman begins to slowly choke to death. Carl goes back to the design house to locate a certain item: a voodoo doll, and is able to save Trevi by snipping a ribbon tied around it's neck. Of course Madelaine is there waiting for him, and uses the bewitched mannequins under her control to keep Carl from escaping. The witch explains that she and Trevi had made a deal in which she would take the aging designer to the top of the fashion world. But Trevi, fearing Madelaine's methods, double-crossed her using white magic. Madelaine then offers to make a similar deal with Carl, but when he hesitates she unleashes the mannequins on him like a horde of plastic soldiers. Kolchak manages to fend them off and then temporarily overpowers the witch with a mojo bag before making a break for the exit. Madelaine goes after him brandishing a pair of dressmaker's scissors, but once outside, Carl is able to use the presence of passersby to publicly accuse Madelaine of witchcraft, an act that drains any witch of her power.
In the closing scene we learn that Madelaine was later declared insane and consigned permanently to a mental institution, and that the form of medieval pox she'd developed after her public accusing has left the former model permanently scarred. "Ah, Madelaine, poor Madelaine," Kolchak says, "she won't even be pretty anymore. Isn't that a pity?"
The main attraction in this episode is supposed to be the living mannequins that follow Madelaine's bidding. Unfortunately, a low budget TV show like this just didn't have the means to create convincing effects, so much of their movement consists of mannequins doing a half turn here, a little glide there and obviously on dollies just below the camera. Worse, some of these shots are repeated more than once which further diminishes the illusion. In scenes where more mobility is required, actresses in heavy makeup stand as still as possible until they are called upon to attack. Some of it works, but much of it doesn't.
It's really the comedy element that makes this one well worth watching as Kolchak annoys one pompous, self-important type after another. For example, in one scene Carl asks Madame Trevi if she knew the murdered snitch, Mickey Patchek~
Madame Trevi: "I never met him. I wish I could say the same for you."
Kolchak: "You don't have any idea why he'd jump off the top of your saloon?"
Trevi (indignantly): "Salon!"
Later, Carl consults a stuffy authority on witches~
Kolchak: "How do you tell if someone's a witch? I mean besides the pointy hat and the cackle?"
Witch Authority: "It's all there in my book."
Kolchak: "Yes, I bought it, (then in a slightly lower tone)...for 10.95."
When Carl shows up at a coven meeting, he is greeted by a doorman who tells him, "a nominal donation would be appreciated." Carl places a bill in the pot to which the doorman comments "not that nominal".
During the coven ceremony, Carl looks hilariously out of place in a flowing robe while still wearing his straw hat. Best of all, when the reporter flees the house after a knife starts flying around the room, he stops to take his donation out of the pot and stuffs it back into his pocket.
With it's inspired choice of setting that provides the story with an effective fish-out-of-water angle, some great lines and McGavin's solid comedic delivery, "The Trevi Collection" is certainly the funniest episode of the series. Featuring a top notch supporting cast, particular praise goes to Lara Parker who infuses her performance as the conniving Madelaine with a maniacal glee. In fact, this was a role for which Parker was particularly well-suited after playing the evil witch Angelique on the classic soap opera, "Dark Shadows".
Despite the unconvincing effects work, there's more than enough that works in "The Trevi Collection" to earn this episode, tailored mainly for laughs, a good solid 8.
A snitch taking a dive out of a high rise window leads Carl Kolchak (seersucker suit and all) into the world of high fashion design, and a more incongruous combination one will never see. Aided in his investigation by a young model named Madelaine (Lara Parker), Kolchak comes to suspect the wealthy designer, Madame Trevi (Nina Foch) may have played a role in the death of his snitch, as well as in a rash of violent events behind the scenes of a fashion show. Kolchak is at first skeptical when a frightened Madelaine confides that she believes Trevi is a witch, but he soon begins to wonder after a driver-less car nearly runs him over. When Carl eventually destroys the charms inside a wooden chest (allegedly the source of Trevi's power), he discovers that he's been deceived by Madelaine, the real witch. Now no longer safe from Madelaine's powers, the old woman begins to slowly choke to death. Carl goes back to the design house to locate a certain item: a voodoo doll, and is able to save Trevi by snipping a ribbon tied around it's neck. Of course Madelaine is there waiting for him, and uses the bewitched mannequins under her control to keep Carl from escaping. The witch explains that she and Trevi had made a deal in which she would take the aging designer to the top of the fashion world. But Trevi, fearing Madelaine's methods, double-crossed her using white magic. Madelaine then offers to make a similar deal with Carl, but when he hesitates she unleashes the mannequins on him like a horde of plastic soldiers. Kolchak manages to fend them off and then temporarily overpowers the witch with a mojo bag before making a break for the exit. Madelaine goes after him brandishing a pair of dressmaker's scissors, but once outside, Carl is able to use the presence of passersby to publicly accuse Madelaine of witchcraft, an act that drains any witch of her power.
In the closing scene we learn that Madelaine was later declared insane and consigned permanently to a mental institution, and that the form of medieval pox she'd developed after her public accusing has left the former model permanently scarred. "Ah, Madelaine, poor Madelaine," Kolchak says, "she won't even be pretty anymore. Isn't that a pity?"
The main attraction in this episode is supposed to be the living mannequins that follow Madelaine's bidding. Unfortunately, a low budget TV show like this just didn't have the means to create convincing effects, so much of their movement consists of mannequins doing a half turn here, a little glide there and obviously on dollies just below the camera. Worse, some of these shots are repeated more than once which further diminishes the illusion. In scenes where more mobility is required, actresses in heavy makeup stand as still as possible until they are called upon to attack. Some of it works, but much of it doesn't.
It's really the comedy element that makes this one well worth watching as Kolchak annoys one pompous, self-important type after another. For example, in one scene Carl asks Madame Trevi if she knew the murdered snitch, Mickey Patchek~
Madame Trevi: "I never met him. I wish I could say the same for you."
Kolchak: "You don't have any idea why he'd jump off the top of your saloon?"
Trevi (indignantly): "Salon!"
Later, Carl consults a stuffy authority on witches~
Kolchak: "How do you tell if someone's a witch? I mean besides the pointy hat and the cackle?"
Witch Authority: "It's all there in my book."
Kolchak: "Yes, I bought it, (then in a slightly lower tone)...for 10.95."
When Carl shows up at a coven meeting, he is greeted by a doorman who tells him, "a nominal donation would be appreciated." Carl places a bill in the pot to which the doorman comments "not that nominal".
During the coven ceremony, Carl looks hilariously out of place in a flowing robe while still wearing his straw hat. Best of all, when the reporter flees the house after a knife starts flying around the room, he stops to take his donation out of the pot and stuffs it back into his pocket.
With it's inspired choice of setting that provides the story with an effective fish-out-of-water angle, some great lines and McGavin's solid comedic delivery, "The Trevi Collection" is certainly the funniest episode of the series. Featuring a top notch supporting cast, particular praise goes to Lara Parker who infuses her performance as the conniving Madelaine with a maniacal glee. In fact, this was a role for which Parker was particularly well-suited after playing the evil witch Angelique on the classic soap opera, "Dark Shadows".
Despite the unconvincing effects work, there's more than enough that works in "The Trevi Collection" to earn this episode, tailored mainly for laughs, a good solid 8.
Season of the witch
Woodyanders8 February 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Ruthlessly ambitious top model and black witch Madelaine (superbly played with deliciously maniacal glee by the lovely Lara Parker) uses her dark magic powers to eliminate the competition in the fashion industry. Meanwhile, the ever snoopy Carl Kolchak (the great Darren McGavin in typically wonderful robust form) has to deal with a couple of crooks who are after him because of his involvement in an extortion case. Director Don Weis, working from a sharp script by Rudolph Borchert, relates the enjoyable story at a constant quick pace, does a sound job of creating a compellingly spooky mood in the first half, stages the stirring climax with real rip-roaring panache, and further enlivens the program with many inspired moments of sparkling sarcastic humor. The fine acting from a tip-top cast rates as another major asset, with stand-out work from Simon Oakland as the eternally irascible Tony Vincenzo, Nina Foch as classy, but hard-nosed fashion designer Madame Trevi, Marvin Miller as a pompous occult expert, and veteran tough guy character actor Richard Bakalyan in one of his usual menacing heavy roles. The shots of the living mannequins are genuinely creepy and pleasingly reminiscent of the underrated 70's drive-in cult favorite "Tourist Trap." Jerry Fielding's shivery score hits the eerie and jazzy spot. Ronald W. Browne's polished cinematography likewise does the trick. A worthwhile show.
Kolchak: "The Trevi Collection"
Wuchakk22 April 2018
PLOT: Kolchak finds witchcraft afoot in the high fashion industry after people are mysteriously assaulted and zeroes-in on an arrogant fashion mogul (Nina Foch). Lara Parker plays a genial model.
COMMENTARY: This is easily one of the best episodes of the series because (1.) the story has a quality twist and (2.) the witchcraft angle is executed in a creative way, rather than one-dimensionally. For instance, there's only one stereotypical Coven sequence and even that part doesn't play it completely straight. Furthermore, the Wicca-oriented attacks are varied and include a couple of creepy mannequin scenes. Lastly, the curvy Lara Parker has a meaty role; you might remember her from Dark Shadows (1967-1971), "Race with the Devil" (1975) and "The Incredible Hulk" pilot movie (1977).
COMMENTARY: This is easily one of the best episodes of the series because (1.) the story has a quality twist and (2.) the witchcraft angle is executed in a creative way, rather than one-dimensionally. For instance, there's only one stereotypical Coven sequence and even that part doesn't play it completely straight. Furthermore, the Wicca-oriented attacks are varied and include a couple of creepy mannequin scenes. Lastly, the curvy Lara Parker has a meaty role; you might remember her from Dark Shadows (1967-1971), "Race with the Devil" (1975) and "The Incredible Hulk" pilot movie (1977).
Witchfinder
hellraiser715 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Warning do not read unless seen episode.
This is my eighth favorite episode of the show. The episode is Kolchak vs. Angelique, I know not quite but it's as close as we'll get. This episode is also the closest we'll get to a "Kolchak the Night Stalker" and "Dark Shadows" crossover.
The plotline isn't particularly great I'll admit as the motives of the witch are typically shallow; however, it's more in the rivalry between both Kolchak and the witch that make it good. There are some good moments of humor, one scene is when this black magic cult suddenly sees a pen come to life and they are just trying to fight it off, I think. Meanwhile Kolchak just skedaddles out of there as well as takes his money out of their contribution bowl, yeah if I ever saw that display, I wouldn't want my money to go to that group. And of course there are those scary moment, really like how the whole attacking mannequins were handled, reminds me a little like the movie "Tourist Trap" , it was really creepy as you just never really knew when they were going to move.
Laura Parker is good as usual, she sort of puts on a bit of that Angelique performance, where on one hand she seems sweet and nice. But if you're a fan of "Dark Shadows" you know that mask of niceness soon drops, and she reveals here nasty manic evil side. Like that one scene with the black magic cult which was a creepy scene where everyone was laughing, and we see her as part of this cult, and she is laughing but like a mad woman.
Really like the final conflict which is suspenseful but also kind of funny at the same time. I couldn't help but be a little unsettled as Kolchak was in the dressing room alone with all those live mannequins, I was constantly hoping that Kolchak would keep that mojo bag really really close to him, personally I would of wore it around my neck so I never lose it.
We even see an interplay between both the witch and Kojak which is interesting as she gives Kojak sort of a Devil's deal. We'll Kolchak be able to ward off the evil witch's power, you'll just have to wait and see.
Rating: 3 and a half stars
This is my eighth favorite episode of the show. The episode is Kolchak vs. Angelique, I know not quite but it's as close as we'll get. This episode is also the closest we'll get to a "Kolchak the Night Stalker" and "Dark Shadows" crossover.
The plotline isn't particularly great I'll admit as the motives of the witch are typically shallow; however, it's more in the rivalry between both Kolchak and the witch that make it good. There are some good moments of humor, one scene is when this black magic cult suddenly sees a pen come to life and they are just trying to fight it off, I think. Meanwhile Kolchak just skedaddles out of there as well as takes his money out of their contribution bowl, yeah if I ever saw that display, I wouldn't want my money to go to that group. And of course there are those scary moment, really like how the whole attacking mannequins were handled, reminds me a little like the movie "Tourist Trap" , it was really creepy as you just never really knew when they were going to move.
Laura Parker is good as usual, she sort of puts on a bit of that Angelique performance, where on one hand she seems sweet and nice. But if you're a fan of "Dark Shadows" you know that mask of niceness soon drops, and she reveals here nasty manic evil side. Like that one scene with the black magic cult which was a creepy scene where everyone was laughing, and we see her as part of this cult, and she is laughing but like a mad woman.
Really like the final conflict which is suspenseful but also kind of funny at the same time. I couldn't help but be a little unsettled as Kolchak was in the dressing room alone with all those live mannequins, I was constantly hoping that Kolchak would keep that mojo bag really really close to him, personally I would of wore it around my neck so I never lose it.
We even see an interplay between both the witch and Kojak which is interesting as she gives Kojak sort of a Devil's deal. We'll Kolchak be able to ward off the evil witch's power, you'll just have to wait and see.
Rating: 3 and a half stars
Good Late-Run Episode
Gislef7 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
"The Trevi Collection" is a gem among the late-run episodes, which usually have a bad rep because by that time in the series, the production staff knew ABC was planning to cancel the show. Like "The Knightly Murders", this episode is an underrated gem.
Most of it is that the series gives the evil a talking, walking persona. Usually the series gave us personality-less, untalking monsters like the Ripper, the zombie, the vampire, the diablero, the pelemafait, and so on. And Tom Skerritt as Robert Palmer was a wooden dummy by comparison to Angelique. So Lara Parker is a delight, albeit a hammy one, as a "monster´ who actually interacts with Kolchak.
Part of it is that the "monster" does more than just kill everyone in some straightforward pattern or another. It's not much of plan, but Madelaine, schemes, plots, plans, and lays a trail of false clues to put Kolchak off the scent. Kolchak not only has to figure out the pattern and the monster's vulnerability, but figure out how he's being bamboozled by Madelaine.
Part of it is writer Rudolph Borchert, who weaves all of this together along with the series humor. Scenes like Kolchak negotiating with the legbreakers, and his grabbing his money from the cult as he runs out the door, are pleasantly light. And for once we get Kolchak doing an actual story on the mob with the Mob, which is only loosely tied to the primary story, showing why he probably managed to keep his job.
Part of it is the hammy guest cast. You have the main villain, but also Foch and Koppell.
What doesn't help is the rather confusing showdown. So does Kolchak have the mojo bag or doesn't he? First he has it, then a dummy sweeps it away, then he grabs it, then they swarm him and he has to grab it. And what was the point of him dunking Madelaine? It doesn't seem to impact her powers, whatever they are, although presumably she's powerless. And what are her powers? She can animate dummies and cars, but only if she has prep time? Or not, or what?
Also, the animated mannequins aren't very convincing. Either when they've being moved by a below-the camera dolly, or when stunt women pile on Kolchak.
Overall, I'd rate the episode fairly high, for the factors above. It's a good episode in the series' later run, when it was winding down, like "Chopper" and "Knightly Murders". It's not one of the great ones, partly because it lacks an authority figure like Siska or Rausch. But overall it's a keeper.
But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?
Most of it is that the series gives the evil a talking, walking persona. Usually the series gave us personality-less, untalking monsters like the Ripper, the zombie, the vampire, the diablero, the pelemafait, and so on. And Tom Skerritt as Robert Palmer was a wooden dummy by comparison to Angelique. So Lara Parker is a delight, albeit a hammy one, as a "monster´ who actually interacts with Kolchak.
Part of it is that the "monster" does more than just kill everyone in some straightforward pattern or another. It's not much of plan, but Madelaine, schemes, plots, plans, and lays a trail of false clues to put Kolchak off the scent. Kolchak not only has to figure out the pattern and the monster's vulnerability, but figure out how he's being bamboozled by Madelaine.
Part of it is writer Rudolph Borchert, who weaves all of this together along with the series humor. Scenes like Kolchak negotiating with the legbreakers, and his grabbing his money from the cult as he runs out the door, are pleasantly light. And for once we get Kolchak doing an actual story on the mob with the Mob, which is only loosely tied to the primary story, showing why he probably managed to keep his job.
Part of it is the hammy guest cast. You have the main villain, but also Foch and Koppell.
What doesn't help is the rather confusing showdown. So does Kolchak have the mojo bag or doesn't he? First he has it, then a dummy sweeps it away, then he grabs it, then they swarm him and he has to grab it. And what was the point of him dunking Madelaine? It doesn't seem to impact her powers, whatever they are, although presumably she's powerless. And what are her powers? She can animate dummies and cars, but only if she has prep time? Or not, or what?
Also, the animated mannequins aren't very convincing. Either when they've being moved by a below-the camera dolly, or when stunt women pile on Kolchak.
Overall, I'd rate the episode fairly high, for the factors above. It's a good episode in the series' later run, when it was winding down, like "Chopper" and "Knightly Murders". It's not one of the great ones, partly because it lacks an authority figure like Siska or Rausch. But overall it's a keeper.
But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?
That coo coo witchcraft
bkoganbing18 September 2017
For an alpha male like Carl Kolchak an assignment to cover a fashion show is really a downer. But once again Darren McGavin stumbles into the world of the supernatural.
One of the Queen Bees of the fashion industry Nina Foch is the subject of the story and her maintenance of the top position in Chicago may be due to some help from witchcraft. Some rather nasty and in some cases fatal incidents are occurring around her and the show she is covering.
I always like how McGavin is such a quick study in these matters of the occult. It keeps him alive no doubt.
He does make one wrong move here, but gets it right in the end as you would figure Carl Kolchak would.
One of the Queen Bees of the fashion industry Nina Foch is the subject of the story and her maintenance of the top position in Chicago may be due to some help from witchcraft. Some rather nasty and in some cases fatal incidents are occurring around her and the show she is covering.
I always like how McGavin is such a quick study in these matters of the occult. It keeps him alive no doubt.
He does make one wrong move here, but gets it right in the end as you would figure Carl Kolchak would.
Fashions For The Wicked
DKosty1231 September 2017
Warning: Spoilers
A mystery just got cast here as the original review just disappeared in a satanic way only found on the internet. Item, the rare prime time TV series filmed in Chicago does not last like the daytime talk shows. In fact this fashion collection is a killer, that eats its victims.
If you really want to see mannequins more lively than the Twilight Zone. this cast of killers is for you.
If you want to see a witch built almost as well as Samantha Stevens but without the sense of humor, here she is.
Kolchak has to dig deep into his mojo bag to stop this killing spree. It comes with all the tension found by any reporter nosing around a stylish walkway without fear. Kolchak does lose his hat at times in this one, the last straw.
If you really want to see mannequins more lively than the Twilight Zone. this cast of killers is for you.
If you want to see a witch built almost as well as Samantha Stevens but without the sense of humor, here she is.
Kolchak has to dig deep into his mojo bag to stop this killing spree. It comes with all the tension found by any reporter nosing around a stylish walkway without fear. Kolchak does lose his hat at times in this one, the last straw.
Fashion is death
BandSAboutMovies24 July 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Directed by Don Weis (Beyond Westworld, The Munster's Revenge) and one of several episodes written by Rudolph Borchert, "The Trevi Collection" has Carl Kolchak find out that fashion model Madeline Parker (Lara Parker, Angelique from Dark Shadows) is a real witch. On the excellent blog It Couldn't Happen Here, she told writer Mark Dawidziak that star Darren McGavin gave her some advice: "Nobody really understands the style of this thing. It has to be played seriously, and then the horror will come out naturally."
She'd already been doing that for years in Collinsport.
She told The Night Stalker Companion, "He kept trying to tell me how to play a witch. It was a fun part, but, to be honest, it wasn't the most fun acting experience I ever had."
This episode was made when they were halfway through the season and one assumes nerves were already shot, what with the long hours and low budgets. At least this episode has a fluffy white cat maul a model named Ariel (Diane Quick). Another, Melody Sedgwick (Beverly Gill), is killed by a shower that gets way too hot.
The one interesting part of it all is that Carl goes from Madeline helping him to her being the actual villain. It's a different approach to the formula of the show and while not an episode I enjoy as much as some of the others, I'll take any Kolchak over most shows.
She'd already been doing that for years in Collinsport.
She told The Night Stalker Companion, "He kept trying to tell me how to play a witch. It was a fun part, but, to be honest, it wasn't the most fun acting experience I ever had."
This episode was made when they were halfway through the season and one assumes nerves were already shot, what with the long hours and low budgets. At least this episode has a fluffy white cat maul a model named Ariel (Diane Quick). Another, Melody Sedgwick (Beverly Gill), is killed by a shower that gets way too hot.
The one interesting part of it all is that Carl goes from Madeline helping him to her being the actual villain. It's a different approach to the formula of the show and while not an episode I enjoy as much as some of the others, I'll take any Kolchak over most shows.
The Witching Hour
wes-connors25 July 2008
In Chicago's "chichi" high fashion district, Kolchak (Darren McGavin) goes to meet an informant. Arriving at the sexy women's modeling agency, he witnesses the man being tossed out of the salon's top floor studio (a cool scene), to his death. At the Trevi salon, Kolchak also meets lovely Lara Parker (as Madelaine), a model eager to assist in Kolchak's investigation of the increasingly murderous activity centered at the salon. It quickly become clear a witch is involved. Ms. Parker suspects boss Nina Foch (as Madame Trevi).
This isn't a particularly strong episode; but, it does feature an especially strong guest appearance, by Lara Parker. She was up to her neck in similar behavior, on Dan Curtis' "Dark Shadows". Parker and Ms. Foch are outstanding. The execution and mannequin "effects" are weak. The series' touch of humor is used well, which might have sustained the series, had it been renewed. After all, how else would Tony (Simon Oakland)'s continuing supernatural doubts be explained?
***** The Trevi Collection (1/24/75) Don Weis ~ Darren McGavin, Lara Parker, Nina Foch, Simon Oakland
This isn't a particularly strong episode; but, it does feature an especially strong guest appearance, by Lara Parker. She was up to her neck in similar behavior, on Dan Curtis' "Dark Shadows". Parker and Ms. Foch are outstanding. The execution and mannequin "effects" are weak. The series' touch of humor is used well, which might have sustained the series, had it been renewed. After all, how else would Tony (Simon Oakland)'s continuing supernatural doubts be explained?
***** The Trevi Collection (1/24/75) Don Weis ~ Darren McGavin, Lara Parker, Nina Foch, Simon Oakland
The Mysterious Madame Trevi
bribabylk6 February 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Kolchak knocks down another pin in the Night Stalker classic-monster-bowl; he's taken on vampires, werewolves, mummies, zombies, and now...a witch. And it's arguably one of Kolchak's most formidable opponents: This isn't a mindless missing link or a reflexively murderous moss monster, it's an intelligent adversary not restricted to moonlit nights; one who can use guile, misdirect, plan, strategize, stage elaborate cons, feint, parry, thrust; well, you get the idea.
The heavy in this one is so formidable, in fact, that it seems odd that a being capable of imbuing plaster mannequins with amazingly lifelike points of articulation, and plucking hidden information out of the ether, is ultimately so easily bested. She couldn't use her clairvoyance to suss out what Carl was planning and head him off at the pass...?
If there's an aspect of the show that could be called a fatal flaw, it's the formulaicness of the way Kolchak dispatches his groovy ghoulies. Each beastie has its own particular kryptonite, the one specific substance or method that will do it in, and this gift-wrapped comeuppance is always handily provided by either a resident expert, common folklore, or a book that can be found in any public library. In the years to come, THE X-FILES would be smarter in its approach to monster-of-the-week stories, realizing that ambiguity can be your friend and that instead of a decisive defeat, sometimes just staying alive until the story's end is the real victory.
My favorite part of the episode is a sequence in which Kolchak is hoodwinked--quite literally--by a very reasonable sounding lady he encounters at a book-signing, who persuades him to participate in a campy coven romp and destroy the one magical artifact that is keeping the bad guy (girl) in check. Turns out the cultists are in cahoots with "black witch" Madeline, and yet also conveniently provide Carl with the list of ingredients he'll need to make his own anti-witch deflector shield, a contradiction which didn't quite make sense to me. The other info necessary to defeat the witch comes from the author of the aforementioned book, a kind of list of prohibitions straight from Cotton Mather's field guide to witch-hunts, the unspoken implication of which is that at least some of the victims of the 17th-century witch hysteria were actually guilty of their crimes and deserved what they got.
Ah Madeline; if you were tempted, as I was, to see her as Angelique from DARK SHADOWS with a new gig, you were almost rooting for her to slip away unpunished; but then you have to remember she subjected a rival model to a painful and protracted death by scalding water. Lara Parker does a good job of giving hints of Madeline's mental instability right from the very beginning and suggesting that achieving the kind of power she wielded comes at a price, a price which she may have paid with her own sanity.
And that brings us to the mysterious Madame Trevi. She knew what Madeline was when she hired her, so presumably she hoped to benefit from the relationship in some way. She immediately set about protecting herself from Madeline's power and was stated to be able to constrain it to some degree, but then also seemed to allow Madeline to murder and maim as the witch saw fit, bringing suspicion and investigation down upon the haute couture house. What was her end game? How did she know so much about magic? The term "trevi" (the junction of three roads), goes back to ancient Rome. It made me wonder about just how long a time Mme. Trevi had been in the fashion biz.
The heavy in this one is so formidable, in fact, that it seems odd that a being capable of imbuing plaster mannequins with amazingly lifelike points of articulation, and plucking hidden information out of the ether, is ultimately so easily bested. She couldn't use her clairvoyance to suss out what Carl was planning and head him off at the pass...?
If there's an aspect of the show that could be called a fatal flaw, it's the formulaicness of the way Kolchak dispatches his groovy ghoulies. Each beastie has its own particular kryptonite, the one specific substance or method that will do it in, and this gift-wrapped comeuppance is always handily provided by either a resident expert, common folklore, or a book that can be found in any public library. In the years to come, THE X-FILES would be smarter in its approach to monster-of-the-week stories, realizing that ambiguity can be your friend and that instead of a decisive defeat, sometimes just staying alive until the story's end is the real victory.
My favorite part of the episode is a sequence in which Kolchak is hoodwinked--quite literally--by a very reasonable sounding lady he encounters at a book-signing, who persuades him to participate in a campy coven romp and destroy the one magical artifact that is keeping the bad guy (girl) in check. Turns out the cultists are in cahoots with "black witch" Madeline, and yet also conveniently provide Carl with the list of ingredients he'll need to make his own anti-witch deflector shield, a contradiction which didn't quite make sense to me. The other info necessary to defeat the witch comes from the author of the aforementioned book, a kind of list of prohibitions straight from Cotton Mather's field guide to witch-hunts, the unspoken implication of which is that at least some of the victims of the 17th-century witch hysteria were actually guilty of their crimes and deserved what they got.
Ah Madeline; if you were tempted, as I was, to see her as Angelique from DARK SHADOWS with a new gig, you were almost rooting for her to slip away unpunished; but then you have to remember she subjected a rival model to a painful and protracted death by scalding water. Lara Parker does a good job of giving hints of Madeline's mental instability right from the very beginning and suggesting that achieving the kind of power she wielded comes at a price, a price which she may have paid with her own sanity.
And that brings us to the mysterious Madame Trevi. She knew what Madeline was when she hired her, so presumably she hoped to benefit from the relationship in some way. She immediately set about protecting herself from Madeline's power and was stated to be able to constrain it to some degree, but then also seemed to allow Madeline to murder and maim as the witch saw fit, bringing suspicion and investigation down upon the haute couture house. What was her end game? How did she know so much about magic? The term "trevi" (the junction of three roads), goes back to ancient Rome. It made me wonder about just how long a time Mme. Trevi had been in the fashion biz.
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