"The Evil Touch" was an anthology horror, science fiction and mystery series hosted by Anthony Quayle between 1973-74.."The Evil Touch" was an anthology horror, science fiction and mystery series hosted by Anthony Quayle between 1973-74.."The Evil Touch" was an anthology horror, science fiction and mystery series hosted by Anthony Quayle between 1973-74..
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As with the other contributors, I have happy memories of watching this excellent TV drama which regularly included elements of sci fi, horror and supernatural goings-on.
It was stylish entertainment and having recently seen a couple of episodes again for the first time since the 70s, I'm pleased to say that it's lost nothing over the years which speaks volumes about its original quality.
Just one small point ...I think you'll find that it was, in fact, an American production possibly made for (or by) the NBC Network (I may be wrong and I'd be more than happy to stand corrected). Certainly, it was shot in Sydney and featured local actors in support roles. As other contributors have correctly noted, however, virtually every episode starred an imported Hollywood lead actor and the largely Australian production crew worked under the supervision of American director Mende Brown. It could, and perhaps SHOULD, be more accurately described as an American /Australian co-production.
Anyway, the final product was a highly watchable example of 70s television. Unfortunately, and sadly, it sank like a stone and disappeared quickly from the small screen. Perhaps the show's sheer sophistication may have priced it out of the mass market? Perhaps it arrived on the scene a fraction of a moment too late at a time when other quality series such as "Columbo" and "The Nightstalker" had already been given a head start ?
"The Evil Touch" deserved to succeed but fate intervened.
It was stylish entertainment and having recently seen a couple of episodes again for the first time since the 70s, I'm pleased to say that it's lost nothing over the years which speaks volumes about its original quality.
Just one small point ...I think you'll find that it was, in fact, an American production possibly made for (or by) the NBC Network (I may be wrong and I'd be more than happy to stand corrected). Certainly, it was shot in Sydney and featured local actors in support roles. As other contributors have correctly noted, however, virtually every episode starred an imported Hollywood lead actor and the largely Australian production crew worked under the supervision of American director Mende Brown. It could, and perhaps SHOULD, be more accurately described as an American /Australian co-production.
Anyway, the final product was a highly watchable example of 70s television. Unfortunately, and sadly, it sank like a stone and disappeared quickly from the small screen. Perhaps the show's sheer sophistication may have priced it out of the mass market? Perhaps it arrived on the scene a fraction of a moment too late at a time when other quality series such as "Columbo" and "The Nightstalker" had already been given a head start ?
"The Evil Touch" deserved to succeed but fate intervened.
10kirsrick
I am proud to say my father was a sound mixer on some or all of the Evil Touch series. I have always thought it to be an Aussie production as his studio was in Sydney. Being only 9 at the time, I was ecstatic to be allowed to sit up and watch every episode with my siblings, 'because Daddy made it'. We practically thought he made the whole show single-handedly!! I have so wanted to see it again. I can ask my father about production etc if anyone is still interested. I will never forget the colored smoke coming up over Anthony Quails "Vincent Price' type face and one line from an episode 'By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea, you're going to die, die, die, die'! Scary for a 9 year old!!! Loved the heart one though. Mmmmm, maybe that's why I am now a nurse! I do remember my father also being involved in an Australia production of a Columbo episode, shot in Sydney. Well, we moved out to the country at 13 so my father's sound mixing days ended then!
I too have fond memories of this show though I recall its budgetary limitations being obvious even by then-contemporary standards.
The lake monster in DEAR BELOVED MONSTER looked like a briefly-glimpsed head of cabbage. But then so did the 'revelatory' 1970s photos from the underwater camera at Loch Ness.
One interesting episode was A GAME OF HEARTS. Darren McGavin plays a heart surgeon who takes a heart from a not-quite-dead donor. He then starts getting chilling phone calls from the dead man. The final scenes have him fleeing through a deserted house with his undead tormentor in pursuit. It was shot in very NIGHT STALKERish style.... substitute the donor, with a black and bloody hole in his chest, with Barry Atwater and you're pretty much there. And the character's name? Gabor Skorzeny. The vampire's name in the NIGHT STALKER TV movie? Janos Skorzeny! Hmmmm..... well imitation is the sincerest form of flattery I guess.
I would certainly endorse another look at THE EVIL TOUCH.
The lake monster in DEAR BELOVED MONSTER looked like a briefly-glimpsed head of cabbage. But then so did the 'revelatory' 1970s photos from the underwater camera at Loch Ness.
One interesting episode was A GAME OF HEARTS. Darren McGavin plays a heart surgeon who takes a heart from a not-quite-dead donor. He then starts getting chilling phone calls from the dead man. The final scenes have him fleeing through a deserted house with his undead tormentor in pursuit. It was shot in very NIGHT STALKERish style.... substitute the donor, with a black and bloody hole in his chest, with Barry Atwater and you're pretty much there. And the character's name? Gabor Skorzeny. The vampire's name in the NIGHT STALKER TV movie? Janos Skorzeny! Hmmmm..... well imitation is the sincerest form of flattery I guess.
I would certainly endorse another look at THE EVIL TOUCH.
The evil touch was a good tv show,corny,but good. I was once an extra in one of the episodes with Carol Lynley and Sandy Harbutt.It would be great to see it back on tv again.foxtell would be a way to see it.is there anybody else who would like to see it.Email foxtell and request it.
Man, this show gave me the creeps when I was a kid but it's been over 30 years since seeing it and it's hard to remember now.
I was a huge fan of 'Night Stalker', 'Night Gallery', 'Dark Shadows' and 'Ghost Story' as well a made for TV movie at that time called 'Don't Be Afriad of the Dark'. 'Night Stalker' is getting on DVD now and I even got a DVD copy of the made for TV movie. Don't know if 'Ghost Story' is on DVD anywhere.
I seem to remember an episode where there were this guy driving on a lonely highway that kept seeing these three zombies that would appear out of nowhere, on the road, or if he stopped for gas. Does anyone remember this episode and more of what it was about? The premise to the story?
Also, anyone hear anything about getting the episodes on even VHS? I'll take what I can get!
D-rock Austin, TX
I was a huge fan of 'Night Stalker', 'Night Gallery', 'Dark Shadows' and 'Ghost Story' as well a made for TV movie at that time called 'Don't Be Afriad of the Dark'. 'Night Stalker' is getting on DVD now and I even got a DVD copy of the made for TV movie. Don't know if 'Ghost Story' is on DVD anywhere.
I seem to remember an episode where there were this guy driving on a lonely highway that kept seeing these three zombies that would appear out of nowhere, on the road, or if he stopped for gas. Does anyone remember this episode and more of what it was about? The premise to the story?
Also, anyone hear anything about getting the episodes on even VHS? I'll take what I can get!
D-rock Austin, TX
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- ConnectionsFeatured in The Professor's Scary Movie Show: House on Haunted Hill (2015)
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Details
- Runtime
- 30m
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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