The Quatermass Experiment is a 1955 British science fiction film, directed by Val Guest and based on a screenplay by Nigel Kneale.
The film tells the story of Professor Bernard Quatermass, played by Brian Donlevy, who leads a space project to send three astronauts into space. However, when the astronauts return to Earth, one of them is missing and the other two appear to have been infected by a mysterious alien life form.
The film explores the themes of science, technology, space exploration and alien threat. It is considered a classic of the sci-fi genre and has influenced many subsequent films and television series.
The film was a huge box office success and received many positive reviews from critics. It was followed by two sequels, Quatermass 2 and Quatermass and the Pit, and inspired a 1953 television series called The Quatermass Experiment, also written by Kneale.
Plot
The film The Quatermass Experiment follows Professor Bernard Quatermass, an expert in space technology, who leads a project to send three astronauts into orbit around the Earth. When the astronauts return to Earth, Quatermass discovers that one of them is missing and the other two appear to have been infected by a mysterious alien life form.
Quatermass tries to study the alien virus which seems to have a destructive power on the human psyche. One of the two infected astronauts dies during the exam, while the other, Captain John Dillon, escapes from the hospital and begins wreaking havoc on the city.
Quatermass discovers that the alien virus is actually an extraterrestrial life form trying to colonize Earth. After tracking Dillon, Quatermass manages to find the aliens’ mothership and destroy it, thus saving Earth from invasion.
The film explores topics such as science, technology, space exploration and the alien menace, creating an atmosphere of tension and mystery culminating in a battle between man and alien for control of our planet.
Characters
Here are the main characters of the film The Quatermass Experiment:
Professor Bernard Quatermass: The protagonist of the film, played by Brian Donlevy, is an expert in space technology who leads the project to send three astronauts into orbit around the Earth. When he discovers that the astronauts have been infected by a mysterious alien life form, he sets out to study it and find a way to defeat it.
Captain John Dillon: played by John Longden, he is one of the astronauts sent to space. Return to Earth infected with the alien virus and try to spread it among the population.
Judith Carroon: played by Margia Dean, she is the wife of one of the astronauts who disappeared in space. She joins Quatermass in their search for the truth about her husband’s disappearance and the alien menace.
Victor Carroon: played by Richard Wordsworth, he is the astronaut who disappeared in space. He returns to Earth infected with the alien virus and undergoes a physical mutation that makes him a bloodthirsty monster.
Lomax: played by Jack Warner, he is the police chief who tries to stop Dillon and to protect the population from the alien menace.
These characters are the main ones in the film, but there are also other minor characters who contribute to the plot and the atmosphere of tension and mystery of the film.
Film Production
The film The Quatermass Experiment was produced by Hammer Film Productions and directed by Val Guest. The screenplay was written by Nigel Kneale, who had previously created the character of Bernard Quatermass for a 1953 television series called The Quatermass Experiment.
The film was shot at Pinewood Studios near London and was released in the UK in 1955. The film’s budget was relatively low, but the box office success led to the production of two sequels, Quatermass 2 in 1957 and Quatermass and the Pit in 1967.
The cast of the film included Brian Donlevy in the title role Bernard Quatermass, while the other main actors were John Longden, Margia Dean, Richard Wordsworth and Jack Warner.
The film was very successful at the box office and received positive reviews from critics. It was particularly appreciated for the atmosphere of tension and mystery it was able to create, as well as for the science and science fiction themes it tackled.
The film’s success led to Hammer Film Productions producing a number of other science fiction and horror films, cementing its reputation as one of the leading film production houses of the genre in the UK.
Distribution and Reception
The Quatermass Experiment was released in the United Kingdom by Hammer Film Productions on 26 August 1955. The film was a great success with audiences and critics, becoming a science fiction cult favorite and helping to solidify Hammer’s reputation as a of the major genre film production houses.
The film was particularly praised for its gripping storyline, atmosphere of tension and mystery, and the science-fiction and science-fiction themes it tackled. In particular, critics praised Brian Donlevy’s performance as the title character Bernard Quatermass, calling it “energetic” and “convincing”.
The film was also quite successful outside the UK, being released in several countries, including the US, where it was retitled The Creeping Unknown. The film was later broadcast on television as well, becoming a science fiction cult favorite and inspiring several other films and television series.
Overall, The Quatermass Experiment achieved great success with audiences and critics, becoming one of the most influential and innovative science fiction films of the 1950s, as well as one of the masterpieces of Hammer Film Productions.
Movie Style
The Quatermass Experiment was one of the first science fiction films produced by Hammer Film Productions, and is notable for its innovative and experimental style for the time.
Firstly, the film was one of the first to use television technology in a creative way, thanks to the presence of the character of Bernard Quatermass, who had already starred in a 1953 television series. The plot of the film, in fact, is a continuation of the adventures of the character in the television series, and this allowed to create an atmosphere of continuity and audience involvement.
Furthermore, the film uses very effective black and white photography to create an atmosphere of mystery and tension. Scenes shot in open spaces, in particular, use natural light of day or night to create a sense of isolation and loneliness.
Finally, the film is distinguished by the use of innovative special effects for the time, which make it possible to make the scenes of mutation and transformation of the characters infected by the alien virus credible. The use of make-up and masks in particular was very effective in creating a sense of horror and unease in the audience.
Overall, The Quatermass Experiment represents an example of how Hammer Film Productions has been able to innovate the science fiction genre, using television, photography and special effects in an experimental and creative way.
Director
The director of The Quatermass Experiment is Val Guest, born in 1911 in London and died in 2006. Guest was an English director of great talent and versatility, who worked in various genres, including thriller, he black, the comedy and science fiction.
Guest began his film career as a screenwriter and assistant director, working with directors such as Alfred Hitchcock and Carol Reed. In 1949 he directed his first film, the thriller The House Across the Lake, and subsequently worked on several other successful films, such as 1960’s Hell Is a City and 1961’s The Day the Earth Caught Fire.
The collaboration with Hammer Film Productions, for which he directed The Quatermass Experiment, allowed him to express his passion for science fiction, a genre that allowed him to explore profound themes and create atmospheres of tension and mystery .
Guest was a highly respected and critically acclaimed director, who praised his innovative style and ability to direct highly talented actors. His influence has been felt in many other directors, who have drawn inspiration from his works and his approach to cinema.
