The Feathered Serpent (TV series)
A struggle between two religions in pre-Columbian Mexico.
The Feathered Serpent is a British children's serial costume drama television series made for ITV by Thames Television, set in pre-Columbian Mexico. It stars Patrick Troughton as the scheming High Priest Nasca and follows an adventure story about good and evil. Two series were first broadcast in 1976 and 1978.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Drama
- Runtime
- 30 minutes
- Creator
- John Kane
- Starring
- Patrick Troughton
- Diane Keen
- Brian Deacon
- Composer
- David Fanshawe
- Language
- English
- Series
- 2
- Director
- Vic Hughes
- Michael Custance
- Stan Woodward
Facts from the source article.
Plot
The series is set in 750 AD, primarily in an unnamed city inhabited by an Aztec-like people. The inhabitants formerly worshipped the god Quala, a feathered serpent whose religion did not involve human sacrifice, but this has been replaced by the worship of Teshcata, a smoking mirror that does require human sacrifice. High Priest Nasca opposes this change. The ensuing struggle leads to Nasca's defeat and entombment, the restoration of Quala's worship, and the marriage and coronation of Chimalma and Heumac.
Cast and characters
Patrick Troughton plays Nasca, the evil High Priest of Teshcata. Brian Deacon is Heumac, Prince of the Toltecs of Tula. Tony Steedman plays Kukulkan, the good Emperor. Other cast members include Richard Willis as Tozo, Robert Gary as Mahoutec, George Lane Cooper as Chadac, Alfred Hoffman as Maxtla, George Cormack as Otolmi, Granville Saxton as Xipec, Sheila Burrell as Keelag, and Robert Russell as Mataque.
Production
The Feathered Serpent is related to Doctor Who serials including The Aztecs and Planet of the Spiders, with Troughton appearing as both Nasca and Doctor Who. Costumes were made by Firenze Peruzzi, with Martin Baugh designing most costumes except the wedding gown, which was a modified version of a winning entry from a Look-in competition designed by Simon Theobald. The series was filmed in Studio 2 of Teddington Studios and appeared on the front cover of TVTimes in June 1976. The fictional god Quala substitutes for the Aztec god Quetzacoatl.
Reception
In 1976, The Observer described the series as spicy, while Michael Bartlett called it satisfyingly complex. Later reviews in 2011 and 2017 termed it a simple pleasure and hugely entertaining, respectively. Phillips noted the series went from richly dramatic to richly farcical. Dunkley believed it was aimed at young schoolchildren, including six year olds, but Sue Turner countered that it targeted children aged ten and above. In 1978, Australian censors prohibited some later episodes from a 5:40pm time slot, and the final episode aired in Australia in 1981.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who created The Feathered Serpent (TV series)?
The Feathered Serpent was created by John Kane.
Who stars in The Feathered Serpent (TV series)?
The Feathered Serpent stars Patrick Troughton, Diane Keen and Brian Deacon.
How many episodes of The Feathered Serpent (TV series) are there?
The Feathered Serpent has 12 episodes across 2 seasons.
When did The Feathered Serpent (TV series) first air?
The Feathered Serpent first aired on 21 June 1976.
More in 1970s British Children's Television Series
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