118 reviews
A British spaceship returns to Earth but instead of celebrating this first space shot, there is a lot of confusion, as two of the three crew members are missing. Additionally, the one who DID return just doesn't look or act right and he's kept under supervision and monitored as his body seems to be undergoing some sort of metamorphosis.
This isn't exactly your standard 1950s sci-fi/monster film, as the story itself is more tightly written and seems more credible than the typical "bug-eyed monster" film. Instead of the over the top acting and silly special effects, this is a more cerebral style film and the "monster" doesn't even make an appearance until near the very end. Instead, the story slowly unfolds and at the same time, simple makeup does the trick--no ping pong ball eyes, giant killer lobsters or any of the sort of tripe seen in the sillier examples of the genre. About the only negative was the whole subplot of the wife trying to kidnap her husband away from the hospital--this didn't make a lot of sense. Still, overall it's a dandy sci-fi film and worth a look.
This isn't exactly your standard 1950s sci-fi/monster film, as the story itself is more tightly written and seems more credible than the typical "bug-eyed monster" film. Instead of the over the top acting and silly special effects, this is a more cerebral style film and the "monster" doesn't even make an appearance until near the very end. Instead, the story slowly unfolds and at the same time, simple makeup does the trick--no ping pong ball eyes, giant killer lobsters or any of the sort of tripe seen in the sillier examples of the genre. About the only negative was the whole subplot of the wife trying to kidnap her husband away from the hospital--this didn't make a lot of sense. Still, overall it's a dandy sci-fi film and worth a look.
- planktonrules
- Apr 24, 2007
- Permalink
Well written and terminally fascinating British sci-fi thriller from director Val Guest and writer Nigel Neale. It is a film of big ideas and planet-sized concepts that stares up into the unknown with a combination of wonderment and dread.
Originally a highly popular TV series, it spawned two excellent sequels and decades of creative Hollywood pilfering.
Brian Donlevy is wonderful as Quatermass, a scientist with the bullying manner of a military drill Sargent and a fierce, pragmatic streak. After a rocket that he sent into space crashes back to Earth, Quatermass and unofficial partner-in-crime Inspector Lomax (Jack Warner) uncover a bizarre alien conspiracy in which a surviving astronauts's body has been "borrowed" by extraterrestrials keen on relocating.
Director Guest gives the drama a no-nonsense, almost documentary feel. The special effects are perfectly acceptable for the period and the brooding sense of mid-century paranoia is well conveyed.
The hero is the script, though. The dialogue is fresh and colourful and writers Guest and Neale always keep the scientific jargon interesting. All the characters are believable and the performances are top notch.
Despite the fact that James Bernard's solid score is a little overbearing at times, this is a dashingly good science fiction film with a strong stench of horror.
Originally a highly popular TV series, it spawned two excellent sequels and decades of creative Hollywood pilfering.
Brian Donlevy is wonderful as Quatermass, a scientist with the bullying manner of a military drill Sargent and a fierce, pragmatic streak. After a rocket that he sent into space crashes back to Earth, Quatermass and unofficial partner-in-crime Inspector Lomax (Jack Warner) uncover a bizarre alien conspiracy in which a surviving astronauts's body has been "borrowed" by extraterrestrials keen on relocating.
Director Guest gives the drama a no-nonsense, almost documentary feel. The special effects are perfectly acceptable for the period and the brooding sense of mid-century paranoia is well conveyed.
The hero is the script, though. The dialogue is fresh and colourful and writers Guest and Neale always keep the scientific jargon interesting. All the characters are believable and the performances are top notch.
Despite the fact that James Bernard's solid score is a little overbearing at times, this is a dashingly good science fiction film with a strong stench of horror.
- fertilecelluloid
- Aug 27, 2005
- Permalink
Unfortunately Nigel Kneal had absolutely no input into the film version of THE QUATERMASS EXPERIMENT . Out goes the philosophy and long discussions of the human condition and in comes the more formuliac and streamlined plotting of a hostile alien endangering the human race , but to be fair to Richard Landau he also jettisoned many underdeveloped subplots from the serial ( When episode one of TQE was broadcast on television Kneale was still writing episode 5 so some subplots were abandoned by Kneale in order to meet the deadline ) and - unlike film viewers in 2002 - the oft used premise of an alien entity coming back to Earth from a spaceship would still be very new to cinema audiences in the mid 50s. I might even be right in saying this is the first time this idea had appeared in cinema .
Director Val Guest treats THE QUATERMASS EXPERIMENT as SF film noir and brings in a heavy dose of mood and atmosphere especially during the night time zoo sequence. Unlike QUATERMASS 2 there`s no feeling that the night scenes were achieved by sticking a dark filter over the camera . Guest is less successful with his cast . Donlevy is relatively good at playing double crossing mobsters in the likes of THE BIG COMBO but he`s utterly unconvincing as a rocket scientist and it doesn`t help that he keeps pronouncing his name as " Qittermiss ", Margia Dean is utterly appalling as Judith Carroon , but Richard Wordsworth is outstanding as Victor Carroon even if he doesn`t have a single line of dialogue.
The BBC serial of THE QUATERMASS EXPERIMENT shocked the viewers of Britain when it was broadcast and in its own way the film version is almost as groundbreaking , it was a big hit at the UK box office which led to Hammer Films to concentrate solely on horror films something they would excell at for the next 10-15 years .
Trivia point 1 - The montage scenes of soldiers searching for Carroon at night time are actually culled from another British SF flick - SEVEN DAYS TO NOON
Trivia point 2- The last four episodes of the BBC serial were shown live on television but because of an industrial dispute they weren`t - unlike the first two episodes - recorded onto film which means no one will ever see the complete BBC QUATERMASS EXPERIMENT
Director Val Guest treats THE QUATERMASS EXPERIMENT as SF film noir and brings in a heavy dose of mood and atmosphere especially during the night time zoo sequence. Unlike QUATERMASS 2 there`s no feeling that the night scenes were achieved by sticking a dark filter over the camera . Guest is less successful with his cast . Donlevy is relatively good at playing double crossing mobsters in the likes of THE BIG COMBO but he`s utterly unconvincing as a rocket scientist and it doesn`t help that he keeps pronouncing his name as " Qittermiss ", Margia Dean is utterly appalling as Judith Carroon , but Richard Wordsworth is outstanding as Victor Carroon even if he doesn`t have a single line of dialogue.
The BBC serial of THE QUATERMASS EXPERIMENT shocked the viewers of Britain when it was broadcast and in its own way the film version is almost as groundbreaking , it was a big hit at the UK box office which led to Hammer Films to concentrate solely on horror films something they would excell at for the next 10-15 years .
Trivia point 1 - The montage scenes of soldiers searching for Carroon at night time are actually culled from another British SF flick - SEVEN DAYS TO NOON
Trivia point 2- The last four episodes of the BBC serial were shown live on television but because of an industrial dispute they weren`t - unlike the first two episodes - recorded onto film which means no one will ever see the complete BBC QUATERMASS EXPERIMENT
- Theo Robertson
- Aug 12, 2002
- Permalink
In the countryside of London, a rocket crashes on a farm and Professor Bernard Quatermass (Brian Donlevy) and Scotland Yard Inspector Lomax (Jack Warner) arrive in the spot. The rocket was launched by Prof. Quatermass with the astronauts Victor Carroon (Richard Wordsworth), Greene and Reichebheim; however only Carroon is found very sick in the cabin. He is transported to a private clinic to stay under observation despite the protests of his wife Mrs. Judith Carroon (Margia Dean). She bribes a nurse to bring Carroon to her and she finds that he is transforming into a monster. Carroon escapes killing people and animals during his metamorphosis while the Scotland Yard is hunting him down and Dr. Quatermass discovers that his process is an alien invasion.
"The Quatermass Xperiment" is an early sci-fi from Hammer with a creepy alien invasion. Despite the low-budget, the screenplay is very well written and the film entertains, specially fans of sci-fi from the 50's. My vote is six.
Title (Brazil): "Terror que Mata" ("Terror that Kills")
Note: On 12 Dec 2019, I saw this film again.
"The Quatermass Xperiment" is an early sci-fi from Hammer with a creepy alien invasion. Despite the low-budget, the screenplay is very well written and the film entertains, specially fans of sci-fi from the 50's. My vote is six.
Title (Brazil): "Terror que Mata" ("Terror that Kills")
Note: On 12 Dec 2019, I saw this film again.
- claudio_carvalho
- May 22, 2015
- Permalink
- Ali_John_Catterall
- Nov 11, 2009
- Permalink
Vintage British sci-fi movie with a fascinating Brian Donlevy as Quatermass from original BBC production that kept millions glued to their TV screens in a serial formed by six episodes of 30 minutes starred by Reginald Tate and directed by Rudolph Cartier . The picture concerns about the events occur when a space aircraft falls on Oakley Green . There arrive Quatermass (Brian Donlevy) , a police official(Jack Warner) and an obstinate scientific . But one astronaut (Richard Wordsworth who brings abominable terror and helplessness to his character) carrying an alien infestation from outer space from destroying Earth . The former pilot is now possessed by a strange malignant force . Not long after a terrible thing stalks the street of the town .The plot is developed for continuous discovery leading a spooky and astounding finale set at Westminster Abbey.
This chiller is an outstanding adaptation of TV serial exhibited in BBC (1953) by Nigel Kneagle . An elderly and bleak Brian Donlevy is very good as Quatermass, he gives a tremendously powerful acting as rough scientist . Extraordinary performance of Richard Wordsworth , he gives an eerie atmosphere , an air of foreboding, an evil that hangs over his amazing role who causes him to turn into a disgusting monster. This bears remarkable resemblance to Frankestein monster , even appears with a little girl played by Jane Asher , future Hammer-star and starring of ¨The masque of red death¨. The great climax film is ,of course, the ending confrontation between the protagonists and the weird entity.
As turns up the Irish Brian Donlevy as starring who repeats role in ¨Quatermass II¨ both directed by Val Guest, the third part is titled ¨Quatermass and the pit¨, this is one of the best science fiction films of the history with Andrew Keir and directed by Roy Ward Baker ; besides John Mills starred the final chapter titled the ¨Conclusion Quatermass¨ directed by Piers Haggard . In the picture appears the usual Hammer technicians, as cameraman Elder Willis creating a riveting cinematography ; Les Bowie who makes some competent special effects , sensational makeup by Philip Leakey ; an awesome production design and musical conductor by James Bernard composing a tense and thrilling score . This successful movie owes a lot to prestigious artist and technician team that encourage its studio Hammer to continue to become Europe's foremost purveyor of terror and mystery . This nail-biting film is well produced by Anthony Hinds and compellingly directed by Val Guest. The movie was firstly exhibited in 1955 in London Pavilion and tiled ¨Quatermass Xperimet¨ and in US titled ¨The creeping unknown¨. The flick will appeal to science fiction movies enthusiasts and Hammer fans .Rating : Above average and well worth watching . Essential and indispensable seeing .
This chiller is an outstanding adaptation of TV serial exhibited in BBC (1953) by Nigel Kneagle . An elderly and bleak Brian Donlevy is very good as Quatermass, he gives a tremendously powerful acting as rough scientist . Extraordinary performance of Richard Wordsworth , he gives an eerie atmosphere , an air of foreboding, an evil that hangs over his amazing role who causes him to turn into a disgusting monster. This bears remarkable resemblance to Frankestein monster , even appears with a little girl played by Jane Asher , future Hammer-star and starring of ¨The masque of red death¨. The great climax film is ,of course, the ending confrontation between the protagonists and the weird entity.
As turns up the Irish Brian Donlevy as starring who repeats role in ¨Quatermass II¨ both directed by Val Guest, the third part is titled ¨Quatermass and the pit¨, this is one of the best science fiction films of the history with Andrew Keir and directed by Roy Ward Baker ; besides John Mills starred the final chapter titled the ¨Conclusion Quatermass¨ directed by Piers Haggard . In the picture appears the usual Hammer technicians, as cameraman Elder Willis creating a riveting cinematography ; Les Bowie who makes some competent special effects , sensational makeup by Philip Leakey ; an awesome production design and musical conductor by James Bernard composing a tense and thrilling score . This successful movie owes a lot to prestigious artist and technician team that encourage its studio Hammer to continue to become Europe's foremost purveyor of terror and mystery . This nail-biting film is well produced by Anthony Hinds and compellingly directed by Val Guest. The movie was firstly exhibited in 1955 in London Pavilion and tiled ¨Quatermass Xperimet¨ and in US titled ¨The creeping unknown¨. The flick will appeal to science fiction movies enthusiasts and Hammer fans .Rating : Above average and well worth watching . Essential and indispensable seeing .
POSSIBLE SPOILERS Government scientist Professor Bernard Quatermass (BRIAN DONLEVY) sends a rocket into space containing three astronauts. Radio contact is lost and later it crash lands in the English countryside. Two of the crew members are missing, but the survivor, Victor Carroon (RICHARD WORDSWORTH) is slowly being taken over by an alien fungus that feeds on the blood of animals and human-beings.
In a bid to win audiences away from their TV sets (something that was a real threat to cinemas at the time), Hammer elected to film the popular BBC serial THE QUATERMASS EXPERIMENT (the E was replaced with X in order to emphasise it's X certificate), which was the creation of writer Nigel Kneale. The gamble payed off and Hammer had a box office hit on their hands in 1955.
Seen today, THE QUATERMASS XPERIMENT is obviously very tame in comparison to modern day sci-fi and horror films, most of it's shock sequences occur off screen with the camera cutting away and harping back on reaction shots. Yet it is a milestone in the development of British horror cinema and along with the company's THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, it spawned this country's horror boom of the 1950's and 60's. Richard Wordsworth's Carroon is one of the most sympathetic monsters in British horror and there is a classic scene at the London docks where the former is hiding out in an abandoned boat and is awakened by a little girl who is having a pretend picnic with her dolly. Unaware of the true horror that's going on, the little girl naively asks Carroon if he wants to join them. One can see that Carroon is fully aware of what would happen if the girl touches him and runs away accidentally breaking her dolly.
Wordsworth is brilliant as Carroon and so is Brian Donlevy as Quatermass while director Val Guest's documentary approach gives the picture a sense of conviction.
In a bid to win audiences away from their TV sets (something that was a real threat to cinemas at the time), Hammer elected to film the popular BBC serial THE QUATERMASS EXPERIMENT (the E was replaced with X in order to emphasise it's X certificate), which was the creation of writer Nigel Kneale. The gamble payed off and Hammer had a box office hit on their hands in 1955.
Seen today, THE QUATERMASS XPERIMENT is obviously very tame in comparison to modern day sci-fi and horror films, most of it's shock sequences occur off screen with the camera cutting away and harping back on reaction shots. Yet it is a milestone in the development of British horror cinema and along with the company's THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, it spawned this country's horror boom of the 1950's and 60's. Richard Wordsworth's Carroon is one of the most sympathetic monsters in British horror and there is a classic scene at the London docks where the former is hiding out in an abandoned boat and is awakened by a little girl who is having a pretend picnic with her dolly. Unaware of the true horror that's going on, the little girl naively asks Carroon if he wants to join them. One can see that Carroon is fully aware of what would happen if the girl touches him and runs away accidentally breaking her dolly.
Wordsworth is brilliant as Carroon and so is Brian Donlevy as Quatermass while director Val Guest's documentary approach gives the picture a sense of conviction.
- jamesraeburn2003
- Dec 22, 2004
- Permalink
- BaronBl00d
- Dec 25, 1999
- Permalink
Britain's answer to the rash of mid 50's "it came from outer space" sci-fi movies coming from Hollywood, indeed brings a very British slant to the genre. "The Quatermass Experiment" rather has the look of a TV show of the time with its modest production values and population by a host of soon to be constant British TV character actors - including a very young Gordon Jackson, Thora Hird, Sam Kydd and even taking in old "Evening All" himself Jack Warner.
That said, it's still a good little thriller and creates suspense throughout by holding back the sight of the mutated monster which of course threatens the very existence of the world itself. Unfortunately, when we do get a good view of the creature, it is hard not to chuckle at what looks like a badly crumpled carpet, but that only adds to the quaintness of the piece.
Along the way, the plot mixes in an allusion to the Frankenstein monster, even down to its encounter with a little girl. Naturally, unlike every other adult which crosses its path, she emerges unscathed. Looking at the film from today, it's easy to scoff at its failings - there's a ridiculous exposition scene, where from the sight of one dead body, Quatermass and his scientists work out the whole genesis and modus operandi of the creature, while its encounter with the animals at the zoo takes an age to get to the point, killing the suspense with inertia. Throw in old avuncular Warner as the least convincing police commander you'll ever meet and the film certainly has its crosses to bear.
And yet, I was attracted to its black and white picture of Britain in the austere early 50's, with most of the peripheral characters, like Hird's alcoholic vagrant and Kidd's gently sardonic cop making up a lot for the slightly overacted mannerisms of the leads.
No, for me, this bold attempt by a British studio at the sci-fi genre is no embarrassment and holds its own with most of the Hollywood output in the same field.
That said, it's still a good little thriller and creates suspense throughout by holding back the sight of the mutated monster which of course threatens the very existence of the world itself. Unfortunately, when we do get a good view of the creature, it is hard not to chuckle at what looks like a badly crumpled carpet, but that only adds to the quaintness of the piece.
Along the way, the plot mixes in an allusion to the Frankenstein monster, even down to its encounter with a little girl. Naturally, unlike every other adult which crosses its path, she emerges unscathed. Looking at the film from today, it's easy to scoff at its failings - there's a ridiculous exposition scene, where from the sight of one dead body, Quatermass and his scientists work out the whole genesis and modus operandi of the creature, while its encounter with the animals at the zoo takes an age to get to the point, killing the suspense with inertia. Throw in old avuncular Warner as the least convincing police commander you'll ever meet and the film certainly has its crosses to bear.
And yet, I was attracted to its black and white picture of Britain in the austere early 50's, with most of the peripheral characters, like Hird's alcoholic vagrant and Kidd's gently sardonic cop making up a lot for the slightly overacted mannerisms of the leads.
No, for me, this bold attempt by a British studio at the sci-fi genre is no embarrassment and holds its own with most of the Hollywood output in the same field.
- rmax304823
- Feb 9, 2009
- Permalink
You can't even begin to describe how essential (and quintessential) this legendary Hammer-movie in fact is! It was the unexpected success of this movie that single-handedly caused the horror-boom all over Europe! If this adaptation from Nigel Kneale's play hadn't been so popular, Hammer Studios probably never would have started with re-telling other famous franchises, such as "Frankenstein", "Dracula" or "The Mummy". It was "The Quatermass Xperiment" that all of a sudden showed that the audience's hunger for morbid Sci-Fi and fantasy tales is insatiable and Hammer cleverly exploited this given bit by bit. The film itself is about 50 years old now, but it definitely still stands as one of the uncanniest and mesmerizing Sci-Fi films ever made. With its uniquely tense atmosphere, the astonishing performance by Richard Wordsworth and the intelligent script, this movie is an experience that'll keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time. Quatermass is the name of a brilliant (but slightly obnoxious) scientist who apparently without permission of the legal authorities launched a rocket with a 3-headed crew into space, to travel distances no other space-mission ever reached. The movie opens when a catastrophe already took place and the rocket crashes just outside London. Two crew members seemly vanished into thin air while the other (Wordsworth) is "possessed" with something. The unfortunate astronaut inexplicably turns into a monster that threatens to extinguish the entire world
The premise of alien-intelligence invading earth through an unfortunate space-mission is extremely stereotyped by today's standards, but "The Quatermass Xperiment" is one of the only oldies in the genre that still feels genuine and original. A form of criticism I often encountered while browsing through other users' comments is that this production supposedly hasn't dated well and that it's nowhere near scary. Frankly, I don't share this opinion at all. First and foremost because the film suggests more terror rather than showing it explicitly! I am aware that few people nowadays appreciate horror film if it doesn't contain graphic violence and tons of blood, but it really is the unsettling atmosphere what makes this film so brilliant. And besides, I do think that the special and make-up effects are staggering although half a century old. The images of Wordsworth mutating arm wrapped in a filthy overcoat and his facial metamorphose are still definitely creepy! To wrap it all up: "The Quatermass Xperiment" is an exhilarating and trend-setting genre film that should be viewed by every fan of fantasy-flicks. Giant thumbs up for director Val Guest who also made another Hammer classic, "The Abominable Snowman"
The premise of alien-intelligence invading earth through an unfortunate space-mission is extremely stereotyped by today's standards, but "The Quatermass Xperiment" is one of the only oldies in the genre that still feels genuine and original. A form of criticism I often encountered while browsing through other users' comments is that this production supposedly hasn't dated well and that it's nowhere near scary. Frankly, I don't share this opinion at all. First and foremost because the film suggests more terror rather than showing it explicitly! I am aware that few people nowadays appreciate horror film if it doesn't contain graphic violence and tons of blood, but it really is the unsettling atmosphere what makes this film so brilliant. And besides, I do think that the special and make-up effects are staggering although half a century old. The images of Wordsworth mutating arm wrapped in a filthy overcoat and his facial metamorphose are still definitely creepy! To wrap it all up: "The Quatermass Xperiment" is an exhilarating and trend-setting genre film that should be viewed by every fan of fantasy-flicks. Giant thumbs up for director Val Guest who also made another Hammer classic, "The Abominable Snowman"
The Quatermass series both inspired and paved the way for many sci-fi greats that would follow it, from shows such as 'Doctor Who' to 'Alien'. Indeed both of these examples successfully blended horror with sci-fi just as Quatermass did right in its very first outing - 'The Quatermass Experiment'. The horror element no doubt also inspired Hammer Films to do this remake only two years after the original series, and they do it well.
Pre-dating Gagarin's successful trip into space, the story involves the first successfully-manned rocket returning from its maiden voyage. The program is headed by professor Bernard Quatermass of the British Rocket Group - a man extremely determined to push the frontiers of science - even if it means sacrificing lives. There's more than a touch of Jules Verne's science-is-the-beginning-and-the-ending about this man. Unfortunately, upon the rocket's return, where there were once three men there is now but one. To top it off, he doesn't seem to be feeling especially well - and it isn't travel sickness.
In 'Xperiment', Quatermass is portrayed by American Brian Donlevy, no doubt to broaden the film's potential market. Donlevy gives his version absolute conviction - this is a man who will not be stopped by any setbacks, convinced as he is that humans must become an interplanetary species. We really need people like him today. Other well-known actors of the day round out the strong cast, but I'd also like to give special mention to Richard Wordsworth, as the troubled sole-surviving astronaut Victor Caroon. Wordsworth could convey so much with just his face that he has presence without uttering a word.
The film also capitalises on the way space - particularly then, is a great unknown, where anything nice or nasty could happen simply by being there. As a result of the rocket's return, something wicked this way does come, and Hammer show their great skill not only in realising it effectively, but in creating wonderfully suspenseful moods in between. Doubtless the monochrome provides many more helpful dark shadows in this endeavour, but the production values really are more than good enough to convince even today.
So with a fascinating story by creator Nigel Kneale, well-chosen actors, and an excellent big-screen realisation, 'The Quatermass Xperiment' still shows why it pioneered what was to come. But more than that, it's still excellent in its own right.
Pre-dating Gagarin's successful trip into space, the story involves the first successfully-manned rocket returning from its maiden voyage. The program is headed by professor Bernard Quatermass of the British Rocket Group - a man extremely determined to push the frontiers of science - even if it means sacrificing lives. There's more than a touch of Jules Verne's science-is-the-beginning-and-the-ending about this man. Unfortunately, upon the rocket's return, where there were once three men there is now but one. To top it off, he doesn't seem to be feeling especially well - and it isn't travel sickness.
In 'Xperiment', Quatermass is portrayed by American Brian Donlevy, no doubt to broaden the film's potential market. Donlevy gives his version absolute conviction - this is a man who will not be stopped by any setbacks, convinced as he is that humans must become an interplanetary species. We really need people like him today. Other well-known actors of the day round out the strong cast, but I'd also like to give special mention to Richard Wordsworth, as the troubled sole-surviving astronaut Victor Caroon. Wordsworth could convey so much with just his face that he has presence without uttering a word.
The film also capitalises on the way space - particularly then, is a great unknown, where anything nice or nasty could happen simply by being there. As a result of the rocket's return, something wicked this way does come, and Hammer show their great skill not only in realising it effectively, but in creating wonderfully suspenseful moods in between. Doubtless the monochrome provides many more helpful dark shadows in this endeavour, but the production values really are more than good enough to convince even today.
So with a fascinating story by creator Nigel Kneale, well-chosen actors, and an excellent big-screen realisation, 'The Quatermass Xperiment' still shows why it pioneered what was to come. But more than that, it's still excellent in its own right.
The Creeping Unknown is probably the best title for this movie - as compared to UK's 'The Quatermass Xperiment'. In 1955 this was about creepy as it got, but by today's standards it's rather a standard early Si-Fi entry - if not pretty tame. While well made for its time and budget, the scientific details are now left quite wanting. Some scenes still hold up but others have been overtaken and now depend on how far you're prepared to let your imagination go. If looking to revisit or see this for the first time, be prepared to leave your expectations of believable situations elsewhere and enjoy it for some good B/W photography, music score, certain performances (especially the infected man) and to observe the development of mid-to-vintage cinema. Other than that, it has not really held up all that well. The DVD re-mastering quality is excellent.
- BJJManchester
- Aug 24, 2007
- Permalink
Beware of "THE CREEPING UNKNOWN!"
I love sci-fi movies, but let's face it, the vast majority of science fiction movies are trash. Older sci-fi films have an even greater burden: Not only are most of them bad, but they have dated badly, making them even worse. You have to take this into account when watching old sci-fi movies. So I was pleasantly surprised to discover that The Quatermass Xperiment, despite being dated scientifically, culturally and cinematically, has held up remarkably well after 65 years.
The film is based on a British science fiction serial broadcast by BBC Television in 1953 (and re-staged by BBC Four in 2005). The Quatermass films were made by that packager of potboilers, Hammer Films when the studio was in its "prime." The idea of a life form just floating in space that somehow gets into a spacecraft and infects an astronaut, gradually transforming him into a different organism, may not be as credible as it may have been back then, but it's still a decent premise. The support systems necessary to launch a rocket into space, and the design of the rocket itself, are absurdly simplistic compared to what came later in reality, but that was true of all other space movies of the period as well. The process of transformation of the astronaut into a monster today seems almost amateurish compared to later special effects, but it isn't utterly ridiculous. The props are reasonably good. And most importantly, the characters actually act logically. There are no Idiot Plot devices to move the action forward. You WILL notice the very dated, very stiff and mannered British comic relief that is regularly injected into what is otherwise a deadly serious plot.
This was the first of two Quatermass movies that starred American actor Brian Donlevy as Bernard Quatermass, head of the British-American Rocket Group, which launches its first manned rocket into outer space. Quatermass was originally British, played by Reginald Tate in the BBC TV series; why they changed him to American may have had something to do with financial backing, but that's just a guess. Throughout the film, Donlevy never smiles once. His Quatermass is so humorless and imperious that it's ultimately irritating. Donlevy was about two-thirds of the way through his career; he would go on to appear in many TV shows and, unfortunately, more B-list than A-list movies. The same thing happened to the gorgeous Margia Dean, who plays the wife of the American astronaut Victor Carroon. Carroon was played by British actor Richard Wordsworth, but he got away with it because the character never speaks an intelligible word. Nevertheless, Wordsworth achieves the most powerful portrayal of individual suffering I've ever seen on screen. Carroon is in terrible pain and distress at what he is becoming, but is compelled by the alien organism that has taken over his body to infect others and kill to protect himself. Other familiar faces include a young Lionel Jeffries and a very young Gordon Jackson, who sounds less Scottish than he did later in his career, as well as an uncredited Jane Asher playing a young girl with a sickeningly snooty British accent. It is best watched in a restored version in order to appreciate fully the beautiful black-and-white cinematography.
I love sci-fi movies, but let's face it, the vast majority of science fiction movies are trash. Older sci-fi films have an even greater burden: Not only are most of them bad, but they have dated badly, making them even worse. You have to take this into account when watching old sci-fi movies. So I was pleasantly surprised to discover that The Quatermass Xperiment, despite being dated scientifically, culturally and cinematically, has held up remarkably well after 65 years.
The film is based on a British science fiction serial broadcast by BBC Television in 1953 (and re-staged by BBC Four in 2005). The Quatermass films were made by that packager of potboilers, Hammer Films when the studio was in its "prime." The idea of a life form just floating in space that somehow gets into a spacecraft and infects an astronaut, gradually transforming him into a different organism, may not be as credible as it may have been back then, but it's still a decent premise. The support systems necessary to launch a rocket into space, and the design of the rocket itself, are absurdly simplistic compared to what came later in reality, but that was true of all other space movies of the period as well. The process of transformation of the astronaut into a monster today seems almost amateurish compared to later special effects, but it isn't utterly ridiculous. The props are reasonably good. And most importantly, the characters actually act logically. There are no Idiot Plot devices to move the action forward. You WILL notice the very dated, very stiff and mannered British comic relief that is regularly injected into what is otherwise a deadly serious plot.
This was the first of two Quatermass movies that starred American actor Brian Donlevy as Bernard Quatermass, head of the British-American Rocket Group, which launches its first manned rocket into outer space. Quatermass was originally British, played by Reginald Tate in the BBC TV series; why they changed him to American may have had something to do with financial backing, but that's just a guess. Throughout the film, Donlevy never smiles once. His Quatermass is so humorless and imperious that it's ultimately irritating. Donlevy was about two-thirds of the way through his career; he would go on to appear in many TV shows and, unfortunately, more B-list than A-list movies. The same thing happened to the gorgeous Margia Dean, who plays the wife of the American astronaut Victor Carroon. Carroon was played by British actor Richard Wordsworth, but he got away with it because the character never speaks an intelligible word. Nevertheless, Wordsworth achieves the most powerful portrayal of individual suffering I've ever seen on screen. Carroon is in terrible pain and distress at what he is becoming, but is compelled by the alien organism that has taken over his body to infect others and kill to protect himself. Other familiar faces include a young Lionel Jeffries and a very young Gordon Jackson, who sounds less Scottish than he did later in his career, as well as an uncredited Jane Asher playing a young girl with a sickeningly snooty British accent. It is best watched in a restored version in order to appreciate fully the beautiful black-and-white cinematography.
- Deep-Thought
- May 28, 2021
- Permalink
Before a little British company called Hammer became famous for Dracula and Frankenstein, there were the adventures of Professor Bernard Quatermass. Based on the live BBC serial from 1953, The Quatermass Xperiment put Hammer on the film world map. How that happened it obvious from this tense, realistic, and gritty science fiction classic.
The film is immensely helped by an excellent cast. Brian Donlevy's Quatermass is the archetype science fiction film scientist: a scientist obsessed with their quest for science before turning having to deal with the consequences of that quest. Donlevy plays Quatermass to perfection as a scientist who is both horrified and fascinated by the events he has set in motion. It's a strong performance filled with realism. fascination and horror. The cast also includes terrific performances from Jack Warner as Scotland Yard's Inspector Lomax, Margia Dean who takes the potentially clichéd Judith Carroon and puts flesh and blood on the character, and David King-Wood as Quatermass's fellow scientist Doctor Briscoe. The best performance of the film may well be from the character who never speaks: Richard Wordsworth as Victor Carroon. Wordsworth perfectly plays both the horror of the lone surviving astronaut and also sympathy as the worst off victim of the Quatermass experiment. This is especially true in a scene where Caroon finds himself at a dock where a little girl approaches him with her doll. It reminds one of the scene from the Universal Frankensein where the seemingly innocent takes on a darker meaning. Overall, the film has a terrific cast of actors bringing it to life.
At a time when science fiction films were defined by the clichéd and outrageous monster and alien invasion films, this film (and its TV counterpart) went in the exact opposite direction. Director Val Guest choose to do the film not in the style of the time but in a near documentary style. That's why the film work's fifty years later: it seems real in that it is a product of its time are place. If Britian had started the space race in the mid-1950's, one feels this is how it would have been.
The film is also helped by two very strong elements: the black and white cinematography and the music score. Doing the film in black and white adds atmosphere to a film that is part alien invasion and part manhunt. It helps especially in the film's fiery finale. The music score by James Bernard is terrific in adding to the atmosphere of the film and it never intrudes, but just helps to bring one a little bit closer to the edge of one's seat. The film wouldn't be the same without either one of these two elements.
Yet as much as I would like to call this film perfect, it isn't. There is one thing that the film hits and misses on: special effects. The downside of the film being so much a product of its time is that when the special effects are looked back at from a distance, they look primitive. That's not to say that the special effects are bad. The prosthetics work in particular looks good even by today's standards as far as I'm concerned. The finale of the film is the most obvious spot where the special effects are a bit of a let down by modern standards. Then again, it is hard to compare special effects from one era to another so this is an issue for the viewer to decide on.
While the special effects may hamper the film for some, one must admit that The Quatermass Xperiment is a classic of the genre. From the terrific performance (espeically of Donlevy and Wordsworth), to the realistic style and tone, to the excellent cinematography, to the dark score by Jame Bernard, The Quatermass Xperiment is a tour de force for the more intelligent and less action based science fiction films. If you can put aside the mid-1950's special effects, you're going to find a tense, realistic, and gritty science fiction classic.
The film is immensely helped by an excellent cast. Brian Donlevy's Quatermass is the archetype science fiction film scientist: a scientist obsessed with their quest for science before turning having to deal with the consequences of that quest. Donlevy plays Quatermass to perfection as a scientist who is both horrified and fascinated by the events he has set in motion. It's a strong performance filled with realism. fascination and horror. The cast also includes terrific performances from Jack Warner as Scotland Yard's Inspector Lomax, Margia Dean who takes the potentially clichéd Judith Carroon and puts flesh and blood on the character, and David King-Wood as Quatermass's fellow scientist Doctor Briscoe. The best performance of the film may well be from the character who never speaks: Richard Wordsworth as Victor Carroon. Wordsworth perfectly plays both the horror of the lone surviving astronaut and also sympathy as the worst off victim of the Quatermass experiment. This is especially true in a scene where Caroon finds himself at a dock where a little girl approaches him with her doll. It reminds one of the scene from the Universal Frankensein where the seemingly innocent takes on a darker meaning. Overall, the film has a terrific cast of actors bringing it to life.
At a time when science fiction films were defined by the clichéd and outrageous monster and alien invasion films, this film (and its TV counterpart) went in the exact opposite direction. Director Val Guest choose to do the film not in the style of the time but in a near documentary style. That's why the film work's fifty years later: it seems real in that it is a product of its time are place. If Britian had started the space race in the mid-1950's, one feels this is how it would have been.
The film is also helped by two very strong elements: the black and white cinematography and the music score. Doing the film in black and white adds atmosphere to a film that is part alien invasion and part manhunt. It helps especially in the film's fiery finale. The music score by James Bernard is terrific in adding to the atmosphere of the film and it never intrudes, but just helps to bring one a little bit closer to the edge of one's seat. The film wouldn't be the same without either one of these two elements.
Yet as much as I would like to call this film perfect, it isn't. There is one thing that the film hits and misses on: special effects. The downside of the film being so much a product of its time is that when the special effects are looked back at from a distance, they look primitive. That's not to say that the special effects are bad. The prosthetics work in particular looks good even by today's standards as far as I'm concerned. The finale of the film is the most obvious spot where the special effects are a bit of a let down by modern standards. Then again, it is hard to compare special effects from one era to another so this is an issue for the viewer to decide on.
While the special effects may hamper the film for some, one must admit that The Quatermass Xperiment is a classic of the genre. From the terrific performance (espeically of Donlevy and Wordsworth), to the realistic style and tone, to the excellent cinematography, to the dark score by Jame Bernard, The Quatermass Xperiment is a tour de force for the more intelligent and less action based science fiction films. If you can put aside the mid-1950's special effects, you're going to find a tense, realistic, and gritty science fiction classic.
- timdalton007
- May 20, 2008
- Permalink
This movie is also known under it's US title 'The Creeping Unknown'. The Quatermass Xperiment is quite an interesting film especially the beginning of it (which is really the best part of the movie to me). I enjoyed the mystery of not knowing what happened to the astronauts - the wondering. Once it became clear as to what happened to the astronauts, the movie really became more of a stereo typical sci-fi horror of the 1950's, a creature feature if you will.
I quite like this movie - and I think that quite a few sci-fi and horror fans would enjoy it.
I will agree with some that has reviewed this movie that Prof. Bernard Quatermass is very much of a business man but he is also a scientist. What he found in this Xperiment is quite an interesting discovery - one that I will not mention because I will not spoil the movie for those that have not seen the film.
7/10
I quite like this movie - and I think that quite a few sci-fi and horror fans would enjoy it.
I will agree with some that has reviewed this movie that Prof. Bernard Quatermass is very much of a business man but he is also a scientist. What he found in this Xperiment is quite an interesting discovery - one that I will not mention because I will not spoil the movie for those that have not seen the film.
7/10
- Rainey-Dawn
- Dec 11, 2014
- Permalink
A fine example of British filmed science fiction at its best. This Hammer production intelligently condenses Nigel Kneale's teleplay into a moody and fascinating thriller.
Yes, the special effects are dated, as is the production design (the very 50's style rocket ship with its big fins and riveted bulkheads is very quaint). And in comparison to the other four Quatermass features, is the least ambitious in scope (especially compared to the superbly outre Quatermass and the Pit) and has the weakest of the Professor Quatermass actors (Brian Donlevy always struck me as a bit too stiff and, well, American).
Yet, the film does what all good science fiction does: take a concept, then play out the various scenarios and consequences that result. In this case, man encounters an unknown organism from space - an entity that is capable of absorbing any living matter, taking on its mass and characteristics.
Parts of the film resemble the standard "monster on the loose" or "it came from outer space" flicks that dominated drive-ins at the time, but Kneale's script is wisely constructed like a police procedural, and Val Guest directs it like a film noir mystery.
See it. It's definitely worth your time.
Yes, the special effects are dated, as is the production design (the very 50's style rocket ship with its big fins and riveted bulkheads is very quaint). And in comparison to the other four Quatermass features, is the least ambitious in scope (especially compared to the superbly outre Quatermass and the Pit) and has the weakest of the Professor Quatermass actors (Brian Donlevy always struck me as a bit too stiff and, well, American).
Yet, the film does what all good science fiction does: take a concept, then play out the various scenarios and consequences that result. In this case, man encounters an unknown organism from space - an entity that is capable of absorbing any living matter, taking on its mass and characteristics.
Parts of the film resemble the standard "monster on the loose" or "it came from outer space" flicks that dominated drive-ins at the time, but Kneale's script is wisely constructed like a police procedural, and Val Guest directs it like a film noir mystery.
See it. It's definitely worth your time.
I remember once when back in the day there was some consideration of making an incarnation of Doctor Who an American. The British protested and rightly so. The show is so quintessentially British that the idea was quickly dropped and it would have been a disaster.
The Quatermass Experiment isn't a disaster, but I'm not certain getting an American actor, even as good a one as Brian Donlevy to play Doctor Quatermass was a good thing. Donlevy doesn't even attempt to imitate an English accent, probably because he knew he'd be laughed at.
At this point in the unnamed future, the British are experimenting in space and a rocket sent up with three astronauts is lost in space and then reappears and crashes on the English countryside. Only one man out of the three is still there and he's in a catatonic state.
Some really dumb decisions are made by Quatermass and the man's wife and he's on the loose. It turns out that Richard Wordsworth is a carrier for an alien energy creature who absorbs the life it comes in contact with.
The Quatermass Xperiment uses some script ideas borrowed from Frankenstein and from Godzilla which was out in Japan, but not yet released in America.
Seen today it's an earnest effort, but the only other Quatermass I've seen is Andrew Keir and he's far more suited to the role than Donlevy.
The Quatermass Experiment isn't a disaster, but I'm not certain getting an American actor, even as good a one as Brian Donlevy to play Doctor Quatermass was a good thing. Donlevy doesn't even attempt to imitate an English accent, probably because he knew he'd be laughed at.
At this point in the unnamed future, the British are experimenting in space and a rocket sent up with three astronauts is lost in space and then reappears and crashes on the English countryside. Only one man out of the three is still there and he's in a catatonic state.
Some really dumb decisions are made by Quatermass and the man's wife and he's on the loose. It turns out that Richard Wordsworth is a carrier for an alien energy creature who absorbs the life it comes in contact with.
The Quatermass Xperiment uses some script ideas borrowed from Frankenstein and from Godzilla which was out in Japan, but not yet released in America.
Seen today it's an earnest effort, but the only other Quatermass I've seen is Andrew Keir and he's far more suited to the role than Donlevy.
- bkoganbing
- Apr 24, 2008
- Permalink
A secret rocket expedition to Space unexpectedly crashes back to Earth. One lone astronaut is found to have survived only he's disheveled, not quite himself as he seems to be on the verge of some bizarre transformation! And what happened to the other two astronauts on board - all that seems to be left of them is two empty spacesuits?! How and why? What and when? A mystery that needs unraveling, a strange journey into unknown previously unexplored territory and a scientist hero named Quatermass whose methods the viewing audience are not always going to be inclined to agree with even if he is in essence correct in his line of thinking on many levels. A likely inspiration for many later film and TV works including THE BLOB, THE FLY, "The X-Files" and much more. Science fiction does not get much better than this film which grips you with its terrific suspense as we see Victor Caroon (played as a tragic and terrifying figure all at once in a terrific performance from Richard Wordsworth) go where no man has gone before in more ways than one might imagine.
- Space_Mafune
- Jul 4, 2003
- Permalink
Science-fiction movies from the '50's are obviously not known for being subtle or their brilliantness. Many people would often think about Ed Wood- and Ed Wood type of Z-movies when mentioning '50's science-fiction. This movie tries to be different by putting in thriller elements, that work out effective and make this a successful and enjoyable movie to watch.
The movie and its story is obviously inspired (too much) by the horror/science-fiction movie "The Thing from Another World". Both movies show more than a few similarities and even the main plot line is comparable. Both feature plant like aliens that have come to Earth and of course cause mayhem. So no, "The Quatermass Xperiment" isn't exactly the most original movie but nevertheless the movie is good enough and still offers plenty of original genre elements to consider this a good and certainly enjoyable early science-fiction from the Hammer Studio's.
The story however features a bit too many implausibilities and clumsiness's to take the movie and its story very serious. For instance why exactly does the wife of Carroon wants to take her husband home, knowing the strange condition that he is in? There are a couple of more moments in the movie that don't exactly help to make this the most credible or clever movie around.
The movie has an overall good tension and atmosphere. Especially the mystery of the movie is well build up and constructed. The movie takes its time and does a good job to let the story and its mystery and suspense develop. It provides the movie with some great moments and a satisfying finale.
The movie is atmospherically shot in black & white, with the atmospheric London as the backdrop for the movie and the movie has some good enough early effects and make-up.
Richard Wordsworth has great physical looks for the movie its 'monster'. None of the other actors however really impress, which is sort of OK and suiting for a genre movie like this one.
It all in all is a good and well constructed and enjoyable early refreshing science-fiction thriller.
7/10
http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/
The movie and its story is obviously inspired (too much) by the horror/science-fiction movie "The Thing from Another World". Both movies show more than a few similarities and even the main plot line is comparable. Both feature plant like aliens that have come to Earth and of course cause mayhem. So no, "The Quatermass Xperiment" isn't exactly the most original movie but nevertheless the movie is good enough and still offers plenty of original genre elements to consider this a good and certainly enjoyable early science-fiction from the Hammer Studio's.
The story however features a bit too many implausibilities and clumsiness's to take the movie and its story very serious. For instance why exactly does the wife of Carroon wants to take her husband home, knowing the strange condition that he is in? There are a couple of more moments in the movie that don't exactly help to make this the most credible or clever movie around.
The movie has an overall good tension and atmosphere. Especially the mystery of the movie is well build up and constructed. The movie takes its time and does a good job to let the story and its mystery and suspense develop. It provides the movie with some great moments and a satisfying finale.
The movie is atmospherically shot in black & white, with the atmospheric London as the backdrop for the movie and the movie has some good enough early effects and make-up.
Richard Wordsworth has great physical looks for the movie its 'monster'. None of the other actors however really impress, which is sort of OK and suiting for a genre movie like this one.
It all in all is a good and well constructed and enjoyable early refreshing science-fiction thriller.
7/10
http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/
- Boba_Fett1138
- Feb 25, 2007
- Permalink