David Soul - Det. Ken 'Hutch' Hutchinson
Paul Michael Glaser - Det. Dave Starsky
John Saxon - René Nadasy ~ Vampire
Antonio Fargas - Huggy Bear
Bernie Hamilton - Capt. Harold Dobey
G.W. Bailey - Slade
Suzanne Somers - Linda
Paul Michael Glaser - Det. Dave Starsky
John Saxon - René Nadasy ~ Vampire
Antonio Fargas - Huggy Bear
Bernie Hamilton - Capt. Harold Dobey
G.W. Bailey - Slade
Suzanne Somers - Linda
The 1970's must have been big for the vampire on TV; there was an episode of McCloud with John Carradine as a vampire, there was the hideous vampire Janos Skorzeny in the classic pilot movie for the series Kolchak: The Night Stalker, among others, such as this episode of Starsky & Hutch. Most of the TV vampires were more colourful than frightening (apart from Skorzeny...yeesh). In n this particular instance we have a vampire with a bit of an edge, played by the prolific TV character actor John Saxon. Saxon's most famous role, of course, would be in the Bruce Lee classic Enter the Dragon, but if you watch more than five episodes of any television action series made between 1970 and 1979, you will most likely see him. As a young guy, I was always surprised that he didn't have many major roles; he was rugged, charismatic, and a confident and commanding presence. To be in Enter the Dragon alongside Bruce Lee should have been enough, I thought.
Well, in this 1976 episode of S & H Saxon does what he does best, lighting up the TV screen with pure intensity.
Well, in this 1976 episode of S & H Saxon does what he does best, lighting up the TV screen with pure intensity.
John Saxon A man stands in a shadowy candle-lit room, eyes affixed to a painting of a beautiful woman...there is pain in his eyes. He talks madly to the painting, as if the woman can hear him. He expresses agony and longing, and makes promises. He turns and bares sharpened teeth, and the scene fades.
Next, we're outside in the dark and windy night, and we see a beautiful blonde woman get off a bus. The camera follows her. The storm tears at her hair, even as the lightning flashes. At that moment we see the man in the cover of nearby brush, eyes mad an teeth bared. The lightning flashes again, and the scene fades. We've seen this type of scene before, and we know what happens next...
Next, we're outside in the dark and windy night, and we see a beautiful blonde woman get off a bus. The camera follows her. The storm tears at her hair, even as the lightning flashes. At that moment we see the man in the cover of nearby brush, eyes mad an teeth bared. The lightning flashes again, and the scene fades. We've seen this type of scene before, and we know what happens next...
That's the atmospheric beginning to The Vampire. Though it was so reminiscent of so many beginning to this type of story (Scooby Doo had a few similar episodes), I thought the slightly brutish presence of Saxon made it a little special, if not unique.
As we proceed, Starsky and Hutch are at the morgue with captain Dobey; he shows them the corpse and gives them the details. Her name is Honey Williams, and she's a stripper at a dive called Slade's Cave. The guys are given their orders; first stop, Slade's...
As we proceed, Starsky and Hutch are at the morgue with captain Dobey; he shows them the corpse and gives them the details. Her name is Honey Williams, and she's a stripper at a dive called Slade's Cave. The guys are given their orders; first stop, Slade's...
Chrissy Snow, stoned Ho... Slade is played by G. W. Bailey, who was Rizzo on M.A.S.H.(among a litany of other recognisable parts), and his drugged-out girlfriend Linda in this episode is played by Three's Company star Susanne Somers, who actually comes off more as sleepy than stoned, which may be what the intention of the performance was...it's difficult to tell.
Starsky and Hutch grill the two about Honey, Slade gives them the prerequisite jive that seedy fellows of his type usually do:
Slade: "Ain't you pigs got anything better to do than to bust strippers?
Hutch: "yeah, find out who kills them"
Linda rises out of her haze long enough to let us know that Honey takes dance classes at a certain studio, run by the mysteriously monikered instructor, René Nadasy...our vampire from scenes previous. The boys take leave of Slade's and follow the new lead.
Starsky and Hutch grill the two about Honey, Slade gives them the prerequisite jive that seedy fellows of his type usually do:
Slade: "Ain't you pigs got anything better to do than to bust strippers?
Hutch: "yeah, find out who kills them"
Linda rises out of her haze long enough to let us know that Honey takes dance classes at a certain studio, run by the mysteriously monikered instructor, René Nadasy...our vampire from scenes previous. The boys take leave of Slade's and follow the new lead.
Uhh...guys? At the dance studio they meet with Nadasy, of course played by Saxon, who is as intense and intimidating as a man who drinks blood ought to be. If you examine the picture to the left, you'll see that Starsky and Hutch are pretty well outmatched physically here, in spite of the fact that our villain has a cane. There's a reason that John Saxon was in Enter the Dragon and Paul Michael Glaser was not, and the reason here is displayed in sharp and clear terms.
After a short grilling session, in which Saxon appears truly to be disturbed by the news of his student's death, we find him back at his domain, eyes fixed on the painting of his lost love. "I know, Maria...it's not enough yet", he says. Of course, another one of his students is killed, which lead Starsky and Hutch back to his dance studio. Once again, Nadasy is intense and intimidating...the boys are convinced they have their man. It is a typical trait of serial killers to hunt locally, and in some cases there are personal connections to the victims, even if distant ones. In this case, our duo didn't have much work to do in finding the identity of the killer. Their search leads them eventually to Nadasy's home, where they find out all that they need to know...one more killing is in store(this time Linda, played by Susanne Somers), and they dash off to prevent it before it's too late!
After a short grilling session, in which Saxon appears truly to be disturbed by the news of his student's death, we find him back at his domain, eyes fixed on the painting of his lost love. "I know, Maria...it's not enough yet", he says. Of course, another one of his students is killed, which lead Starsky and Hutch back to his dance studio. Once again, Nadasy is intense and intimidating...the boys are convinced they have their man. It is a typical trait of serial killers to hunt locally, and in some cases there are personal connections to the victims, even if distant ones. In this case, our duo didn't have much work to do in finding the identity of the killer. Their search leads them eventually to Nadasy's home, where they find out all that they need to know...one more killing is in store(this time Linda, played by Susanne Somers), and they dash off to prevent it before it's too late!
I thoroughly enjoyed this episode. It had that fun supernatural element that is always good play, along with a few fun cameos and the typical good banter between Glaser and Soul. Starsky and Hutch is such an interesting mix story-wise; one episode is really light and fun, and the next will be deadly serious...this was a little of both.
If you like a little Scooby Doo vibe with your 70's cop show, I recommend that you hunt this episode down pronto.
If you like a little Scooby Doo vibe with your 70's cop show, I recommend that you hunt this episode down pronto.
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