The Evil Touch
An Australian anthology series with twist endings and international guest stars.
The Evil Touch is an Australian television anthology series that originally aired in Australia in 1973. Produced by Amalgamated Pictures Australasia in association with Olola Productions Australia, it featured self-contained thriller or horror stories, often with twist endings, and explored themes such as the occult, science fiction, murder schemes, and whodunits. The series is notable for being produced entirely in color and on film during a time when Australian television was still in black and white, a move intended to enhance its international appeal.
Quick Facts
- Runtime
- 30 mins.
- Creator
- Mende Brown
- Executive producers
- Everett Rosenthal
- Director
- Mende Brown; Arthur Luddenham
- Music
- Laurie Lewis
- Company
- Amalgamated Pictures Australasia, in association with Olola Productions Australia
- Country
- Australia
- Network
- Nine Network
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Evil Touch was produced by American producer Mende Brown and partly funded by the Seven Network. A key feature was the involvement of internationally known actors, some of whom were lured to Australia to participate by also being allowed to direct an episode. Supporting roles were portrayed by Australian actors. 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' and ending each instalment by wishing viewers 'pleasant dreams'.
Reader's Guide
The Evil Touch holds significance as an early Australian attempt to produce a genre anthology series with international appeal, leveraging color film production and name actors from overseas. The series featured a rotating cast of guest stars, including Mildred Natwick, Julie Harris, Leslie Nielsen, Darren McGavin, Vic Morrow, Ray Walston, Robert Lansing, Kim Hunter, Carol Lynley, and Harry Guardino, many of whom appeared in multiple episodes as different characters. Morrow and McGavin each directed one of the episodes they acted in. The series was initially screened in Australia by the Nine Network in a prime time slot, and later aired in first-run syndication and re-runs 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. Filmink magazine called it 'pure Rick Dalton territory', referencing its blend of Hollywood guest stars and Australian production.
More in Australian science fiction television series
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