Dan Curtis
The Norliss Tapes was the feature-length pilot episode for a
proposed TV series that was never picked up by original broadcaster NBC. I
have no clue why this never made it to series (the premise is certainly
promising enough), but it probably just boiled down to poor or mediocre
Nielsen ratings. After all, this was released not long after the
Curtis-produced THE NIGHT STALKER (1972) made history as the highest-rated
TV movie of all time and its follow-up, the Curtis-directed THE NIGHT STRANGLER (1973), likewise pulled in impressive enough numbers to prompt
the short-lived series Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1974-75).
Roy Thinnes, who appeared in made-for-TV terror flicks THE HORROR AT 37,000 FEET (1973) and Satan's School for Girls (1973) the
same year, stars as eccentric writer David Norliss. A year prior to when
the story begins, he was given an advance by his publisher, Sanford Evans
(Don Porter), to write a book about the commercial aspects of
spiritualism and the occult. In other words, he set out to debunk the
supernatural and expose phonies who bilk millions of dollars from naive
suckers each year in various scams. During a brief phone conversation,
David informs Sanford that his research has taken a dangerous and
unexpected turn. He claims he can no longer write the book but has
recorded some of his findings onto audio tapes. After David doesn't show
up for a business lunch and isn't heard from in a week, Sanford goes to
his home only to find the door wide open and David nowhere in sight. He
has, however, left behind a series of tapes. Sanford grabs one labeled "1"
and pops it in for a listen, which is the story that makes up the bulk of
this movie. Thinnes stars in and narrates the tale, and one would assume
the series would continue along these lines with tapes 2, 3, 4, etc.
telling new supernatural horror stories if it had been picked up.
On Tape #1 is a case concerning recent widow Ellen Sterns Cort (Angie
Dickinson), who's just inherited a sizable fortune from her
recently-deceased husband Jim (Nick Dimitri); a famous, reclusive
sculptor stricken with crippling Pick's Disease. Late one night while
investigating a noise, Ellen makes a shocking discovery in her late
husband's studio: him. Now sporting a grey-blue face,
blue-and-yellow eyes and exceptional strength, Jim kills their dog with
his bare hands before Ellen shoots him with a rifle. She's flees and calls
the police. When they show up, they find the dog but no husband.
Naturally, no one believes her story about what really went down,
especially when it's discovered that Jim's body in still at rest inside
his crypt. Ellen's sister Marsha (Michele Carey), an associate of
David's, has him investigate the claims. David meets up with Ellen and
learns that Jim had become interested in the occult shortly before his
death. In fact, he made some kind of deal with antique gallery owner
Madame Jeckiel (Vonetta McGee) in exchange for a valuable Egyptian
scarab ring somehow tied to Osiris; the God of Immortality. An ancient
demon called Sargoth may also be involved. Meanwhile, Sheriff Tom Hartley
(Claude Akins) is investigating a string of murders where each
victim is drained completely of blood.
This modest production has some very good elements, as well as some
not-so-stellar ones. The pacing is a real Catch 22. It frequently seems
rushed; not surprising since this covers a lot of ground in a brief period
of time, but it also moves along briskly enough to keep it from dragging.
Some of the overly-descriptive voice-overs, attempting to capture the
essence of a writer, are a bit corny, as well. You know, an overcast day
turns into "a curtain of cold rain fell from a gun metal grey sky;"
forests turn into "acres of lush cypress and tall pine." etc. Neither the
characterizations nor the plot are much above passable and, since this was
intended as a continuing series, we're not given adequate closure about
the fate of David (though this perhaps works in an unintended ambiguous
way). On the plus side, nice use is made of rainy Northern California
coastal locations, the eye contacts / makeup design on the resurrected
killer are pretty neat and, best of all, director Curtis manages to stage
several highly-effective scare scenes; at least one of which is guaranteed
to make most viewers jump out of their seats. So while not up to Night
Stalker standards, this is still worth a look.
Next to impossible to find for the longest time, this is now available on
DVD from Anchor Bay. The cast also includes Hurd Hatfield
as an art gallery owner who unwisely attempts to steal the ring, Bryan
O'Byrne as a goofy motel manager, George DiCenzo and Patrick
Wright. William F. Nolan scripted from a story by Fred Mustard Stewart.
Thinnes would later become one of the stars of Curtis' short-lived Dark
Shadows reprisal in 1991.
★★1/2
