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89) THE FACE OF EVIL

1 - 22 January 1977

Average Viewing Figure: 11.2M

Plot

76) THE ARK IN SPACE

On the a far distant planet the inhabitants fear, The Doctor so The Doctor ventures out to find out why

Cast

Tom Baker (The Doctor), Louise Jameson (Leela), David Garfield (Neeva), Victor Lucas (Andor), Brendan Price (Tomas)

Leslie Schofield (Calib), Colin Thomas (Sole), Lloyd McGuire (Lugo), Tom Kelly (Guard), Brett Forrest (Guard), Leon Eagles (Jabel)

Mike Elies (Gentek), Peter Badlock (Acolyte), Rob Edwards, Pamela Salem, Anthony Frieze, Roy Herrick (Xoanon)

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Uncredited Cast

David Nichol (First Assassin), Harry Fielder (Second Assassin), Alan Harris, Michael Reynal (Council Members), John Bryant (Squashed Guard)

Peter Roy, Paul Barton, Mike Mungarvan (Guards), Barbara Bermel (Female Sevateem)

Andy Dempsey, John Sarbutt, Ian Munro (Lugo's Warriors), Terry Walsh, Max Faulker, Alan Chuntz (Horda Pit Guards)

Peter Dean, Alan Troy (Sevateem), Timothy Craven (Tesh in Protective Suit), Tom McCabe, Tom Knox, Robert Hastings

Ernie Goodyear, David Ludwig (Acolytes), Stuart Fell (Acolyte on Level 37)

Crew

Chris Boucher (Writer), Terry Walsh (Fight Arranger), Dudley Simpson (Incidental Music), Ron Grainer (Title Music)

Bernard Lodge (Title Sequence), Marion McDougall (Production Assistant), Chris D'Oyly-John (Production Unit Manager), Derek Slee (Lighting)

Colin Dixon (Sound), John McGlashan (Film Cameraman), Stan Nightingale (Film Recordist), Pam Bosworth, Tariq Anwar (Film Editors)

Mat Irvine (Visual Effects Designer), Dick Mills (Special Sound), John Bloomfield (Costume Designer), Ann Ailes (Make-Up Artist)

Austin Ruddy (Designer), Robert Holmes (Script Editor), Philip Hinchcliffe (Producer), Pennant Roberts (Director)

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Uncredited Crew

Steve Drewett, Charlie Lumm (Visual Effects Assistants), Dave Chapman (Inlay Operator), Karen Bryan, Sue Frear, Jennifer Hughes 

Carol Wilson (Make-Up Assistant), Brenda Barker, Val Woodford (Props Buyer), Ann Rickard (Production Secretary)

Nansi Davies (Artists Booker), Ellen Grech (Floor Assistant), Nick Lake, James Gould (Vision Mixer), Ron Bristow (Technical Manager)

Gordon Phillipson (Grams Operator), Linda Graeme, Richard Leyland (Assistant Floor Mangers), Colin Reed (Senior Cameraman)

Derek Miller-Timmins (Post Production Sound)​

Broadcast

Filming Locations

  • Ealing Film Studios: Stage 2

  • Television Centre: Studio 3

Number of Production Days: 5

Deaths

  • Neeva [dies while defeating Xoanan]

  • Andor [killed by Xoanan's invisible creatures]

  • Sole [killed by The Horda]

  • Lugo [stabbed with a janis thorn]

  • Guard [stabbed with a janis thorn]

  • Acolyte [pushed into an electrified wall]

  • First Assassin [killed by Leela with a crossbow bolt]

  • Second Assassin [shot dead by Tomas]

  • Tesh in Protective Suit [killed]

  • Andor's Men [killed during an attack on the Tesh]​

Production Days

  • 12 Days between Monday 20 September - Tuesday 26 October 1976

Production Errors

  1. During part two, Calib says 'untie The Doctor, however, The Doctor isn't tied up at this point 

  2. When Leela wrestles the Tesh Guard in part three, the Guard's gun falls a considerable distance away. However, during the same scene, Leela pick up the gun which has moved right next to the Guard 

  3. Towards the end of part two, the sound of the gong being struck is out of sync

  4. Leela can't seem to pronounce Calib names at certain moments, but can at others 

  5. The Doctor at one point refers to Tomas as 'Thomas'

  6. How does Leela know that The Doctor's jelly babies are for eating? They could be poison​

Working Titles

  • The Dreamers of Phaidos - (storyline)

  • Prime Directive - (storyline)

  • The Day God Went Mad

  • The Mentor Conspiracy - (storyline)

  • The Tower of lmelo - (storytline) 

Verdict

The Face of Evil may not be the most remembered serial in the Hinchcliffe era nor is it one of the most talked about. Boucher's scripts are full of intelligent ideas and concepts and introduces one of the best companions of all time – Leela. Leela's sole purpose is to ask The Doctor a lot of questions but poses a high level of intelligent in her own right, able to get herself out of tricky situations off her own merit. It is visually pleasing and often pretty to look at considering the nameless planet is drab and dreary. The events of the story also show The Doctor in a negative light where his meddling and interference can indeed lead to misery and pain for those he leaves behind. The plotting and structure are long winded but the ultimate reveal and defeat of Xoanon is one of the better written resolutions. Dealing with themes of science vs. religion certainly puts The Face of Evil right at the heart of renaissance. ****​

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