Product Details

• Actors: Roy Thinnes, Don Porter, Angie Dickinson, Claude Akins, Michele Carey
• Directors: Dan Curtis
• Writers: Fred Mustard Stewart, William F. Nolan
• Producers: Dan Curtis, Charles W. Fries, Robert Singer
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 1.0)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
• DVD Release Date: October 3, 2006
• Run Time: 72 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000H1RFGO
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #116,240 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "The Norliss Tapes" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Before THE X FILES, There Was THE NORLISS TAPES From Dan Curtis Of DARK SHADOWS, TRILOGY OF TERROR & THE NIGHT STALKER Roy Thinnes stars as David Norliss, an investigative reporter writing a book exposing supernatural hoaxes and paranormal phenomena. But after a frightened phone call to his publisher, Norliss disappears leaving only a stack of cassettes on which he’s dictated his strange findings. When a wealthy widow (Angie Dickinson) is attacked by the crazed corpse of her recently deceased husband, Norliss discovers a horrific case of empty crypts, blood-drained corpses and occult violence. What is the significance of an ancient Egyptian scarab? Who is completing a bizarre sculpture in the dead man’s studio? And what has happened to David himself? The terrifying answers – and shocking truth – may lay hidden in THE NORLISS TAPES. Vonetta McGee (BLACULA) and Claude Akins co-star in this landmark pilot produced and directed by Dan Curtis (DARK SHADOWS, THE NIGHT STALKER) and written by William F. Nolan (LOGAN’S RUN, BURNT OFFERINGS) that fans still call one of the most frightening made-for-TV movies of the decade.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars 70's TV movie classic finally comes to DVD, October 24, 2006

By 

WTDK "If at first the idea is not absurd, the... (My Little Blue Window, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Norliss Tapes (DVD)

A long time favorite of mine "The Norliss Tapes" finally arrives on DVD in a very nice transfer but without any extras to speak of. Although it's a cut or two below "The Night Stalker" Curtis uses many of the same techniques to tell his story here about psychic investigator and writer David Norliss(Roy Thinnes from "The Invaders" and later a guest star on "The X-Files") has disappeared after investigating the strange case of a man who seemingly has come back from the dead. Unlike Kolchak in "The Night Stalker" Norliss is out to discredit the supernatural until he encounters Helen Court(Angie Dickinson). James Court her husband has died but he appears to have come back. Norliss disappears shortly after starting work on his book. His worried publisher shows up at Norliss' place and ends up listening to the story and we, in turn, hear Norliss tell the bizarre tale of James Court.

Although "The Norliss Tapes" hasn't aged as well as some other films from the same era it still manages to induce a few chills and be entertaining. Directed by Dan Curtis ("Dark Shadows", producer of "The Night Stalker" and director of "Trilogy of Terror")the film was originally a pilot for a TV series but plays just as well as a stand alone film. We never find out what happened to Norliss and the tale does indeed creep us out. Although not as well written as "The Night Stalker" or "Trilogy of Terror"(both scripted by Richard Matheson and Matheson with William F. Nolan respectively)Nolan's script of the Fred Mustard Stewart story has enough jolts to make the TV film memorable.

I am disappointed that Anchor Bay didn't give this film the complete care they gave cult classics like "Race with the Devil"; although Curtis is no longer with us Thinnes is around as is Dickinson and both could have been contacted for a commentary track at the very least. Also it would have provided the perfect opportunity for Anchor Bay to do a featurette on Curtis who was the consumate TV director working in a variety of genres (he directed "The Winds of War", "War and Rememberence" in addition to "The Night Strangler" and other horror projects)and creating memorable work.

Although "The Norliss Tapes" isn't quite as successful as Curtis' other projects from the time it's still enjoyable and has enough creepy atmosphere to make it worthwhile. A warning to fans of gore driven horror films--this film is not into gore and it's scary moments will seem tame compared to most theatrical films like "The Hills Have Eyes" or "Saw" but it's from another era where acting and suspense were more important than gore for the sake of gore.

I'm happy to finally have this on DVD now I'm hoping that Anchor Bay can license "Night Slaves" a great little sci-fi thriller directed by Ted Post. Many of these vintage 70's films are getting the loving care that they deserve (and I have no complaints whatsoever about Anchor Bay's transfer the film looks surprisingly good)so I'm hoping that either Anchor Bay or Dark Sky will continue to mine the vaults for these minor gems.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars In The House Of Sargoth He Waits, October 21, 2006

By 

Brian E. Erland "BEE" (Brea, CA - USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Norliss Tapes (DVD)

I find it odd that this television pilot film has languished in obscurity for so long. 'The Norliss Tapes' first appeared on the T.V. screen in '73 by Dan Curtis who gave us the wildly success cult classic `The Night Stalker' in '72. Maybe it was simply too similar to the earlier film to capture the attention of the audience.

Synopsis: A psychic investigator David Norliss (Roy Thinnes) is asked to look into the mysterious circumstances involving the recent death of a local California artist and his reported appearance to his widowed wife (Angie Dickenson) shortly after the funeral. When the highly spectial Norliss discovers an empty coffin and learns of a series of grisly, ongoing murders in the surrounding community he slowly begins to postulate the impossible.

I must admit I'm pleased to see this buried and all but forgotten gem from the `70's finally available on DVD so it can be rediscovered and enjoyed by a new audience of horror fans. Not quite on par with `The Night Stalker' but it doesn't miss by much. I love the ending, it's extremely disquieting and Lovecraftian in mood and atmosphere. The film offered the perfect opportunity for a sequel, but unfortunately it wasn't meant to be. Give it a look.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO DAVID NORLISS ??, December 16, 2006

By 

The Critic "Movie Maniac" (Windsor) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Norliss Tapes (DVD)

From the creative mind of Dan Curtis comes the 1973 made for television movie "The Norliss Tapes". This was actually the pilot intended for "The Norliss Tapes" television series, sadly the show wasn't picked up by NBC Studios and we can only wonder what could have been? Anchor Bay has done a remarkable job with the video and sound transfer of this DVD release.

The picture is spectacular and the original 2.0 sound albeit in mono is clean and crisp. After all these years "The Norliss Tapes" is still creepy and highly entertaining. This is one movie I would love to see rise from the ashes and be reborn into a new television series. In 1969 Dan Curtis tried to create a show based on the investigations of a paranormal investigator with a pilot called "In the Dead of Night" sadly it never saw the light of day. After all these years one question still remains, what ever happened to David Norliss?

The Cast:
Roy Thinnes ...David Norliss
Angie Dickinson ...Ellen Sterns Cort
Nick Dimitri ...James Raymond Cort
Claude Akins ...Sheriff Tom Hartley
Vonetta McGee ...Mme. Jeckiel
Don Porter ...Sanford T. Evans (publisher)