The Evil Touch
Created byMende Brown
Directed byMende Brown
Arthur Luddenham
StarringMildred Natwick
Julie Harris
Leslie Nielsen
Darren McGavin
Vic Morrow
Ray Walston
Robert Lansing
Kim Hunter
Carol Lynley
Harry Guardino
Mark Lee
Music byLaurie Lewis
Country of originAustralia
No. of episodes26
Production
Executive producerEverett Rosenthal
ProducerMende Brown
Running time30 mins.
Production companiesAmalgamated Pictures Australasia, in association with Olola Productions Australia
Original release
NetworkNine Network
Release19 June 1973 (1973-06-19) –
9 June 1974 (1974-06-09)

The Evil Touch is an Australian television series, originally broadcast in Australia in 1973 and produced by Amalgamated Pictures Australasia in association with Olola Productions Australia. An anthology series, each episode had a self-contained story usually in a thriller or horror style, and often with a twist ending. Subjects explored included the occult, science fiction, murder schemes, and whodunits. Each episode had a new cast of guest actors playing new characters, although several guest stars appeared in more than one episode.[1]

Overview

The series was produced by American producer Mende Brown and partly funded by the Nine Network. A key feature was the involvement of internationally known actors. Some were lured to Australia to participate in the show by also being allowed to direct an episode. Supporting roles were filled by Australian actors. Although Australian television was still in black and white in 1973, to aid international marketability this series was shot entirely in colour, and on film.

Each episode was introduced by Anthony Quayle who appeared in a darkened studio surrounded by unearthly golden smoke imagery, frequently reminding viewers that "there is a touch of evil in all of us". He returned to provide the epilogue to each installment, always wishing viewers "pleasant dreams".

Cast

Each episode featured a new setting and characters and a different cast. Several name actors appeared, acting in multiple episodes as different characters:

Morrow and McGavin each directed one of the episodes they acted in. Australian actors in supporting roles included Jack Thompson, Elaine Lee, John Morris, June Thody, Tony Bonner, Neva Carr Glyn, Janet Kingsbury, Mirren Lee, Reg Evans, Peter Gwynne, Mark Lee, Carole Skinner, Briony Behets, Roger Ward, Rowena Wallace and Wendy Playfair.

Filmink magazine called it "pure Rick Dalton territory".[2]

Broadcasts

The series was initially screened in Australia by the Nine Network in a prime time slot. The series was also screened in first-run syndication and later re-ran on TV Land in the US and ITV in the UK, with later airings in the 1990s on Bravo. In Australia it was repeated in a late-night slot several times up until the mid-1980s.

List of episodes with American airdates

  • 1.The Lake (9/16/73)
  • 2. Heart to Heart (9/23/73)
  • 3.Dr. McDermitt's New Patients (9/30/73)
  • 4.The Obituary (10/7/73)
  • 5. Happy New Year, Aunt Carrie (10/14/73)
  • 6.A Game of Hearts (10/21/73)
  • 7.Seeing Is Believing (10/28/73)
  • 8.The Upper Hand (11/4/73)
  • 9.Murder Is for the Birds (11/11/73)
  • 10.Marci (11/18/73)[3]
  • 11. George (11/25/73)
  • 12.Scared to Death (12/2/73)
  • 13.The Homecoming (12/9/73)
  • 14.Dear Beloved Monster (12/16/73)
  • 15.Campaign '20 (1/13/74)
  • 16.Faulkner's Choice (1/20/74)
  • 17.Dear Cora, I'm Going to Kill You (1/27/74)
  • 18.The Trial (2/3/74)
  • 19.The Fans (2/10/74)[4]
  • 20.Kaidaitcha Country (2/24/74)[5]
  • 21. Gornak's Prism (3/3/74)
  • 22.The Voyage (3/10/74)
  • 23.Death by Dreaming (3/24/74)
  • 24.Never Fool With a Gypsy Icon (3/31/74)
  • 25.They (6/2/74)
  • 26.Wings of Death (6/9/74)

References

  1. ↑ "TOP STARS IN NEW TCN9 SERIES". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 41, no. 3. Australia. 20 June 1973. p. 10. Retrieved 3 January 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ↑ Vagg, Stephen (3 April 2020). "6 Productions Rick Dalton Might Have Wound Up Doing in Australia After Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood…". Filmink.
  3. ↑ Marcie at AustLit
  4. ↑ The Fans at AustLit
  5. ↑ Kadaicha Country at AustLit
  • Moran, Albert. Moran's Guide to Australian TV Series, Allen & Unwin, 1993. ISBN 0-642-18462-3 p 166–7.
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