Having put up with all the milk in his mouth and delivered his creepy last line (you have my sympathies), Ian Holms character was to go out in a ball of flame courtesy of Ripleys now-trademark flamethrower. This necessitated a rubber mask of Holms head being made, which would be laid on the table top where the actors head had been to be set alight and melt. Unfortunately the rubber mask shrunk when drying, resulting in its curious grimace and slightly stringy look.