Like its three predecessors, quatermass was written by nigel kneale. This was the bbcs 2005 remake of the 1955 british scifi film, the quatermass xperiment which was itself based on an even earlier 1950s bbc scifi television series. Enemy from space in the united states is a 1957 blackandwhite british science fiction horror film drama from hammer film productions, produced by anthony hinds, directed by val guest, that stars brian donlevy, and costars john longden, sid james, bryan forbes, vera day and william franklyn. Dont get left behind enjoy unlimited, adfree access to shudders full library of films and series for 7 days. The movie has had a rocky history on home video as seen, but all legitimate discs have offered the original british version. A separate screenplay by nigel kneale for theaters, parallel to the 1979 quatermass four part miniseries. Quatermass experiment 1953 part 5 lost episode scenario duration. The film has already seen its bluray debut in australia and the usa, much to the delight of fans. This edited version of quatermass 1979, half the length of the mini series, was produced to be released theatrically overseas. This genre of horror injected new life into a genre that somehow lost its horrifying appeal. This meant nigel kneale had to write a script that would work as a three hour and twentyfour hour mini series, and as a one hour and fortytwo minute movie. The quatermass xperiment wasnt a great risk they knew the popularity of the tv series would draw a crowd, but it was val guest who pushed the envelope. The quatermass experiment aka the creeping unknown. Quatermass movie reboot in the works at legendary, hammer.
The quatermass xperiment is an interesting cross between hard scifi and lovecraftian horror. The quatermass experiment is a 2005 live television film remake of the 1953 television series. Like its predecessor, it is based on the bbc television serial quatermass ii written by nigel kneale. Made popular by the successful bbc 1950s tv series and a trio of. Quatermass 2 is a sequel to hammers earlier film the quatermass xperiment 1955.
Xperiment was an invented word to emphasize that the film had gotten the xcertificate. The mgm limited edition dvdr of the quatermass xperiment is derived from a beautiful hd master made in 2008 savant wrote about the transfer and screened frequently on the mgm hd cable channel. In 1955, hammer films remade the story as a feature film the quatermass xperiment, featuring a brilliant performance by richard wordsowrth as. Qautermass 2 is a sequel to hammers earlier film the quatermass xperiment. Jan 11, 2018 quatermass ii is a british sciencefiction serial, originally broadcast by bbc television in the autumn of 1955. The quatermass conclusion is an odd example, since the original. Here are chestnuts that would influence alien, carpenters remake of the thing, dr. I just wish quatermass and the pit would be released as a region 1 blu ray. Quatermasov eksperiment loweralpha 1 je britanski crnobijeli science fiction horor film snimljen 1955. The creeping unknown in the united states is a 1955 british sciencefiction horror film drama from hammer film productions, based on the 1953 bbc television serial the quatermass experiment written by nigel kneale. It was a great success upon its initial release, and after a second tv series was made, it too was adapted as a film in 1957 as quatermass 2, or as it was released in the united states, enemy from space.
Quatermass ii may 24, 1957 in england, a group of space scientists, who have developed plans for the first moon colony, learn that a secret, ostensibly governmentrun, complex of identical design has been built in a remote part of england and is the focus of periodic falls of small, hollow meteorites originating in outer space. They encounter quatermass donlevy, who is still working on getting a rocket into space, this time with an atomic engine. Quatermass remains a benchmark of teatime scifi, a show whose wobbly sets and shouted lines somehow couldnt spoil some of the most intelligent scares ever to grace the screen. Brian donlevy reprises his role as the eponymous professor bernard quatermass, making him the only actor to play the character twice in a film. Several modern sources have mistakenly identified john kerr ii as a film lab technician. This is a quatermass who has retired, stayed out of the fray for some time and is called out to appear on a live television program that leads him towards facing an incredible threat. The quatermass experiment is a british sciencefiction serial broadcast by bbc television in the summer of 1953 and restaged by bbc four in 2005. Quatermass ii is a british sciencefiction serial, originally broadcast by bbc television in the autumn of 1955.
Legendary entertainment has partnered with hammer films for a movie reboot of the iconic british scifi hero bernard quatermass. Oncamera val guest interview by hammer films historian marcus hearn. The quatermass experiment is a 2005 live television film remake of the 1953 television series of the same name by nigel kneale. This is quite a surprise given its extreme cult status and its importance as one of hammers first forays into the horror genre.
This has been made available in the united states in two versions. The quatermass xperiment holds a high roost in filmed science fiction. The quatermass xperiment, unlike quatermass ii, has lost some of its impact through the years, but still holds up as one of the more intelligent, thoughtprovoking science fiction films of its time. In fact, the quatermass xperiment is in some ways closer to the original story who goes there by john w. The primary film the quatermass experiment is not as problematic as the. Jul 30, 2019 professor quatermass returns in this sequel to the quatermass xperiment. Coming attractions for you 2020s most anticipated movies. John carpenter discusses the quatermass xperiment aka the. Professor bernard quatermass, director general of the british experimental rocket group. The quatermass xperiment 1955 horror scifi professor bernard quatermass manned rocket ship returns to earth, but two of the astronauts are missing and the survivor seems ill and unable to communicate. Jane asher and richard wordsworth in the quatermass xperiment 1955.
Quatermass and the pit, a 19581959 british sixpart television serial that aired on bbc television, and which served as the third and final installment of the original series. The quatermass xperiment was one of the first of the now famous hammer horror films. They couldnt get the rights however, so they made x the unknown a movie with an extremely similar plotstructure and atmosphere to the first with a highly quatermass like hero named doctor adam royston compilation movie. Stream quatermass xperiment uncut, adfree on all your favorite devices. Val guest is able to blend the tone of the film without it ever getting too lopsided. Among these was the quatermass xperiment 1955, a taut little scifi thriller that hardly betrays its very low budget, owing to the talent and craftsmanship of the filmmakers. The film was titled the quatermass xperiment to emphasise its xcertificate status. The film was produced by anthony hinds, directed by val guest, and stars brian donlevy as the eponymous professor bernard quatermass and richard. In their eagerness to exploit the horror content, hammer even amended the film s title to the quatermass xperiment to highlight its x certificate and adult content. The quatermass experiment dvd, 2011 for sale online ebay. The quatermass xperiment the first british scifi movie. Based on a 1953 bbc tv series of the same name, this is a science fiction film, about an obsessive professor and an alienpossessed astronaut, and the resulting conclusion when the two mixes together. The quatermass xperiment 1955 directed by val guest.
The creeping unknown on bootleg dvds or even video tapes. This time it was not adapted into a film but the play was edited into a featurelength story of the the same name. Quatermass was one of the first series on british television to make life seem potentially terrifying. Titled simply quatermass, this was the only series to be made entirley on film.
Victor carroon was played by scottish actor duncan lamont, who later appeared in the film mutiny on the bounty 1962, and as a different character in the film adaptation of quatermass and the pit 1967. The quatermass xperiment original theatrical trailer 1955. The film picks up with quatermass conducting research into moon colonization, but striving to gain government funding for the project. Quatermass also known as the quatermass conclusion or quatermass iv is a british television science fiction serial produced by euston films for thames television and broadcast on the itv network in october and november 1979. Coming december to bluray and dvd from kino lorber studio classics stuck on a spacecraft returning to earth, the people aboard are faced with the domination of an alien fungi that changed one of. The kl studio classics bluray of the quatermass xperiment is a very welcome addition to british scifi on hd, just one week after the bfis release of another classic by the same director, the day the earth caught fire. Set in the near future against the background of a british space programme, it tells the story of the first manned flight into space, supervised by professor bernard quatermass of the british experimental rocket group. The first bigscreen spinoff from nigel kneales legendary tv series. The quatermass experiment 1953 isabel dean, duncan lamont, reginald tate, and paul. Hammer turned the story into a film, while, in 2005.
And welcome to the twentyeighth episode of hammer house of podcast, where paul cornell doctor who, elementary and lizbeth myles big finish, verity. If you want to know how it ends you will have to buy the bbc dvd which includes the original script, or see hammers 1955 movie version or the 2005 remake. Jan 05, 2020 this quatermass, in contrast to the more caring incarnations to come, cares not one whit for the world and its petty issues. In 2003 the complete program was released on home video under the title quatermass 1978 with a listed running time of 240 minutes. The quatermass xperiment bluray kino lorber home video. These are the only two surviving episodes of the quatermass experiment nigel kneales first quatermass series. The quatermass xperiment the creeping unknown by brian. The rest of the dvd for the quatermass experiment are special features, interviews, etc. The quatermass conclusion is the fourth movielength installment in the longlived professor quatermass series of films, the first of which appeared fifty years ago with brian donlevy in the title role. The quatermass xperiment is a 1955 british science fiction horror film drama from hammer film productions, based on the 1953 bbc television serial the quatermass experiment written. Im not sure if its the first possessed astronaut story but it is one of the earliest and best i can think of.
The creeping unknown in the united states is a 1955 british science fiction horror film drama from hammer film productions, based on the 1953 bbc television serial the quatermass experiment written by nigel kneale. This studio release was thus very eagerly anticipated. Jul 09, 2019 interview with authorhammer film historian marcus hearn 12. A hammer film productions science fiction horror film series based on the bbc television series the quatermass experiment. In the late 70s nigel kneale was convinced to do one final quatermass tv play and did the quatermass conclusion. A sequence in which he is riding in a car with his wife is uncanny. Scanned from a fine grain positive held by the british film institute, the video quality is excellent. The atmosphere is creepy, the film is so well shot in interesting documentarylike fashion. Not only did the movie bring some much needed financial surplus, it also gave hammer a new direction. This is the only film in the quatermass series to get a remotely loving blu ray.
Enormously popular on release, xperiment enabled its maker hammer films to get a leg up in the industry. The quatermass experiment is a british science fiction serial broadcast by bbc television. Though the latter two in that series were released on dvd years ago by anchor bay, the landmark first film, the quatermass xperiment, is only now bowing on the format thanks to mgms limited edition series. A separate screenplay by nigel kneale for theaters, parallel to the 1979 quatermass four part mini series. The quatermass xperiment full frame, manufactured on demand. How that happened it obvious from this tense, realistic, and gritty science fiction classic. Based on the live bbc serial from 1953, the quatermass xperiment put hammer on the film world map.
Jan 27, 2020 as in xperiment, we begin with a courting couple in peril. What are the various quatermass films and the names. This was to be the first in a series of quatermass many ways this sci fi classic is a movie of its time, made in black and white as was most british movies in. The british experimental rocket groups leader, bernard quatermass, learns that the final astronaut, victor caroon, has been taken over by an alien being that has absorbed his two colleagues and a cactus and is now turning into something that threatens the whole future. The series inspired the 1955 hammer film production the quatermass xperiment directed by val guest the abominable snowman, starring brian donlevy kiss of death. All of a sudden something comes hurtling out of the sky at them and they take solace inside the farm house where the young woman. It is the second in the quatermass series by writer nigel kneale, and the oldest of. The creeping unknown movie 1955 the quatermass xperiment.
Some parts were legitimately creepy the cockpit film was disturbing in a last 2 minutes of blair. The original 1955 quatermass xperiment print has the closing caption the end. The first rocket into outer space comes back with two of the crew missing and the third seriously messed up. Morell did later play quatermass in the third instalment of the series, quatermass and the pit. In some ways this reminded me of cronenbergs the fly as it tells a similar story of the deterioration of humanity. Its a short film, at about 82 minutes, but it packs in a lot of story. The quatermass experiment only has the first 2 of the 6 episode series. Terms of activation by activating, you agree that you want to enable cloud technology to access your xfinity stream subscription on additional supported devices like computers and tablets, as well as the tv connected to your settop dvr via comcasts network. Then in 1955 exclusive films produced the movie version, starring brian donlevy as professor bernard quatermass. Professor quatermass donlevy must find a way to overcome the thing before. James donald, andrew keir, barbara shelley the quatermass experiment tv series 1953. Professor bernard quatermass is a heroic scientist character featured in four television serials the quatermass experiment bbc, 1953, quatermass ii bbc, 1955, quatermass and the pit bbc, 1958, and quatermass itv, 1979 and a radio serial the quatermass memoirs bbc, 1996 all written by nigel kneale. The quatermass series began with a serialised tv play what today we would call a mini series the quatermass experiment 1953, which was broadcast live on the bbc in six thirtyminute episodes.
Coronavirus outbreak ny governor cuomo says no community can tackle covid19 alone full. Professor quatermass must save his granddaughter from the clutches of a popular and sinister cult planet people that performs raptures. The quatermass experiment is a british science fiction serial broadcast by bbc television during the summer of 1953 and restaged by bbc four in 2005. Audio commentary by director val guest and marcus hearn trailers from hell with ernest dickerson. The quatermass xperiment was the first of the legendary quatermass films. Quatermass 2 quatermass and the pit the quatermass experiment. This genre of horror injected new life into a genre that somehow lost its. Jul 25, 2019 in 1953, the bbc ran a popular television serial called the quatermass experiment about britains most clever scientist and his goal of space exploration. After the success of the quatermass xperiment hammer immediately wanted to make a sequel. The quatermass xperiment 1955 horror film wiki fandom. The quatermass conclusion is the fourth movie length installment in the longlived professor quatermass series of films, the first of which appeared fifty years ago with brian donlevy in the title role. A mysterious artifact is unearthed in london, and famous scientist bernard quatermass is called into to divine its origins and explain its strange effects on people. The quatermass xperimentthe creeping unknown 1955 this is my entry for the monster mash blogathon, hosted by nathanael from fcoy. The first film was actually titled the quatermass xperiment, to draw attention to its x rating note for motives as described in avoid the dreaded g rating, except that this film came by its rating honestly.
Landmark scifi thriller from hammer films, based on a british tv series, stars richard wordsworth, margia dean and brian donlevy as professor quatermass. At the end, having saved the world from imminent monster sporing by routing all londons electricity through it, he stalks off to start again, the film s final shot being another rocket taking off. The sole survivor of a space mission returns to earth with a bizarre fungus on his hand that slowly consumes him, transforming him into a monster and sending him on a rampage through london. Of the three films in the series xperiment is the most structurally like a horror film, and has influenced a number of stories. Back in the 50s there were still many things we didnt know about space travel, and the quatermass xperiment aka, in the u. Quatermass and the pit in the united states, five million years to earth is a 1967 british science fiction horror film from hammer film productions, a sequel to the earlier hammer films the quatermass xperiment and quatermass 2. The quatermass xperiment 1955 aka the creeping unknown. But while kneale was displeased with such revisions, the greater share of his wrath was directed at the casting and portrayal of quatermass himself. This film featuring the superscientist quatermass was hammers first international hit and moved the studio to do films in the. The story begins at the crash site of a rocketship, britains first manned spaceflight. Professor bernard quatermass manned rocket ship returns to earth, but two of.
Quatermass 2 is the second and most talked about of the three science fiction stories written by nigel kneale and based on his critically acclaimed 1955 bbc series. Cinema versions of the first three seasons were made. Mills quatermass is different from any of the previous versions of the professor seen in the various television and film productions. Directed by val guest and following hot on the heels of the popular british television mini series featuring the same character, 1955s the quatermass xperiment begins when a pair of young lovers is out in the field about to indulge in some make out time.
This time it was not adapted into a film but the play was edited into a. The quatermass xperiment is a solid, but very flawed scifi horror flick. Comparing the versions film critic glenn erickson comparing the 2 versions. Quatermass, a 1979 british fourpart tv series that aired on itv, and was also distributed internationally as a film titled the quatermass conclusion or quatermass iv. The quatermass xperiment 1955 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. The story set in the near future involves influences from outer space that are possessing people. The quatermass xperiment was based on the bbc television series. The quatermass xperiment doesnt quite live up to all the hype as the granddaddy of hammer horror.
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