For those who have seen only the 1967 Hammer movie adaptation, the original 1958 BBC television serial may come as a surprise. The story unfolds at a leisurely pace, with many comic moments amid the spooky drama. Andre Morell is a thoughtful and sophisticated Quatermass, with a wry humor and a low key charm. He's a delight to watch as he battles the rigid and humorless Colonel Breen, and contends with the meddling journalist Fullalove. Brief bits by almost unknown British character actors create unforgettable moments, such as the policeman, who reminisces about he and his childhood pals daring each other to visit the allegedly haunted house near the excavation; the old lady who stubbornly refuses to leave the decaying building, announcing with determination that she and her husband are the rightful occupants, "...and we don't leave for builders, bombs or nothing else!" Cec Linder is amusing as the dedicated paleontologist Dr. Roney, almost stealing the whole show with his excitable, eccentric personality, bubbling over with enthusiasm about the strange discoveries in the pit.
The sets are very convincing and the music eerily effective in helping to create the mood of mounting suspense. The acting and writing are both uniformly good, with a slightly rough, naturalistic quality that helps to make the outlandish story believable. The skeptical, anti-establishment views of the main characters are somewhat surprising for a story from the Fifties, with a strong anti military theme. The scenes of Quatermass arguing with government officials, about their plans for establishing military bases on Mars and other planets, are gripping and believable, and have lost none of their sense of urgency in fifty years. If anything, the film seems startlingly up to date.
The effects and the overall look of the film are a bit primitive, but the story is so fascinating that minor details are swept aside by the enthralling drama. This is science fiction at its best, and with a uniquely English feel to it. Highly recommended.
The sets are very convincing and the music eerily effective in helping to create the mood of mounting suspense. The acting and writing are both uniformly good, with a slightly rough, naturalistic quality that helps to make the outlandish story believable. The skeptical, anti-establishment views of the main characters are somewhat surprising for a story from the Fifties, with a strong anti military theme. The scenes of Quatermass arguing with government officials, about their plans for establishing military bases on Mars and other planets, are gripping and believable, and have lost none of their sense of urgency in fifty years. If anything, the film seems startlingly up to date.
The effects and the overall look of the film are a bit primitive, but the story is so fascinating that minor details are swept aside by the enthralling drama. This is science fiction at its best, and with a uniquely English feel to it. Highly recommended.