The Feathered Serpent

The Feathered Serpent

1976 - United Kingdom

Studio-bound Children's drama series set in the Aztec period starring former Doctor Who Patrick Troughton; formerly the hero of millions - but here the villain of the piece. 

Emperor Kukulkhan (Tony Steedman) wishes to bring about the end of sacrifices and other barbaric practices much to the disdain of his High Priest, Nasca (Troughton), who is fearful of losing his own quite considerable powers in the process. He concocts a plan that will draw in Kukulkhan's daughter, Chimalma (Diane Keene), the boy Prince Heumac (Brian Deacon) and a servant boy, Tozo (Richard Willis). Nasca weaves a web of deceitful lies and manipulation which ends with Heumic being sent to the summit of the Pyramid of the Sun to be sacrificed. However, he manages to survive and when the second series aired (two years later) Nasca is still at his conniving best and this time has employed the services of an old witch, Keelag (Sheila Burrell), who claims she can help him in his nefarious plans with the aid of magic and sorcery. As if Heumac hasn't got enough to contend with his intended marriage to Chimalma is disputed by Xipec (Granville Saxton), Governor of the Gold Region who sets him a series of challenges in order to prove his worthiness. 

The Feathered Serpent
The TV Times page for 21 June 1976, featuring The Feathered Serpent.

The implied violence and savagery in this teatime presentation wouldn't have been out of place in an adult series and the costumes were lavishly colourful and authentic, although Chimalma's wedding dress was designed by a competition winner in the children's magazine Look-In.

Published on December 11th, 2018. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

Catweazle

The adventures of the scruffy eccentric 11th century wizard and his efforts to escape the bewildering experiences of being trapped in the 20th century.

Also tagged Childrens Fantasy

George and Mildred

Domestic sitcom about a work-shy husband and his sex-starved, upwardly aspiring but ultimately frustrated wife.

Also released in 1976

Lucky Feller

Shorty Mepstead, a South-East Londoner who lives at home with his mum, is in love with his brother's girlfriend...

Also released in 1976

Flight of the Heron

Epic period drama made by Scottish Television and based on D.K. Broster's 1925 novel centred round fictional events at the time of the non-fictional Jacobite Rebellion of 1746 and leading up to the battle of Culloden.

Also tagged Teenage Drama

Dickens of London

The excellent scriptwriter Wolf Mankowitz has surpassed himself in 'Dickens of London', a miniseries recounting the life of Charles Dickens from early boyhood till his death.

Also released in 1976

Box of Delights

John Masefield's enchanting children's fantasy The Box of Delights, tells the story of a young boy whose chance meeting with a Punch-and-Judy man leads him to a world where almost anything is possible.

Also tagged Teenage Drama

Fraggle Rock

Children's musical fantasy about a race of creatures who live in a fantastical world in the rock under a lighthouse (UK version), below an inventors workshop (US version) below a bakery (France)

Also tagged Childrens Fantasy

Three Gifts for Cinderella

This hugely popular European film, shown in the UK as a three-episode mini-series, is a more accurate version of Charles Perrault's fairy-tale than Disney's renowned and much-loved retelling. Loved by a generation of telly-watchers, it's a suitable tale for Christmas

Also tagged Childrens Fantasy