The Quatermass Experiment
by Val Guest
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Canada
DVD details
Actor: Brian Donlevy, Gordon Jackson, Jack Warner, Margia Dean, Thora HirdDirector: Val Guest
Cinematographer: Walter J. Harvey
Writer: Val Guest
Editor: James Needs
Producer: Anthony Hinds
Producer: Robert L. Lippert
Writer: Nigel Kneale
Writer: Richard H. Landau
DVD: Region Code 2
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: PAL
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 78 minutes
Audience Rating: Unrated
DVD Reviews of The Quatermass Experiment
DVD Review: A British "Plan 9 From Outer Space"
Summary: 3 Stars
"The Quatermass Xperiment"(1956) is another of those early "Atomic Age" films that questions the wisdom of allowing scientists free rein to unlock secrets that might ultimately harm the world. Its premise is much like that of "The Thing from Another World " with an alien attempting to reproduce and take over the earth. In both films science is shown as reckless about the long-term consequences of its experiments.
An experimental rocket built by Professor Bernard Quatermass (Brian Donlevy) is brought back from space by remote control after contact is lost with the three crewmen. When Quartermass and his assistant enter the rocket they find just one of the crew, all that remains of the other two crewmen are two very silly looking space suits.
Victor Carroon (Richard Wordsworth), the surviving crewman, is very sick and cannot provide any useful information. Fortunately a camera on board the rocket has recorded a strange phenomenon. This and a strange residue inside the ship provide some clues about what happened during the flight. Meanwhile Carroon's condition worsens until he eventually escapes from the hospital and goes on a rampage.
There is one great scene where the conflicted Carroon rips the head off a little girl's doll, he walks away and they cut to a wide shot of the shocked girl holding the broken doll. The girl is played by Jane Asher who would be the inspirational muse for many of the Beatles' songs in the 60's.
"The Quatermass Xperiment" was quite popular at the time of its release. The premise is interesting and Wordsworth is very good in what is almost a non-speaking role. But don't expect anything elaborate like "Forbidden Planet", "Destination Moon" or even "Them". The budget limitations are compounded by the absence of a resourceful production design staff. So the sets look bad even by low budget standards.
Fortunately things are so bad that it provides the same campy amusement value found in "Plan 9 From Outer Space". The radio station set is a folding table with a microphone and features the same wall sconces found in several other the film's interior sets. It will remind you of Ed Wood's airplane cockpit.
The rocket ship is as lame as the one featured in "The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra" (itself a satire of movies like "The Quatermass Xperiment"). The space suits are identical to the uniforms worn by the Sheriff of Nottingham's men on 1950's "Robin Hood" television show.
Perhaps most amusing is the early VW bus driven by the Quatermass group to the crash site. Once parked they open up the rear engine compartment to reveal a radio and remote control system that looks suspiciously like a VW engine with a couple knobs and gauges added to the outside. This actually fooled people in 1956 because a rear engine vehicle was unknown to most of the viewers.
Fans of campy 1950's sci-fi and horror should find "The Quatermass Xperiment" both entertaining and amusing.
Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.
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