"The Quatermass Experiment" (1953) TV series

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

18 July 1953 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Sci-Fi | Horror | Thriller

Plot:

Professor Bernard Quatermass, Director General of the British Experimental Rocket Group, launches the first manned space flight from Australia...

Plot Keywords:

Rocket | Scotland Yard | Professor | Spacesuit | Reporter

Cast

Reginald Tate	...	Professor Bernard Quatermass (6 episodes, 1953)
Isabel Dean	...	Judith Carroon (6 episodes, 1953)
Hugh Kelly	...	John Paterson (6 episodes, 1953)
Paul Whitsun-Jones	...	James Fullalove (6 episodes, 1953)
Duncan Lamont	...	Victor Carroon (6 episodes, 1953)
John Glen	...	Dr. Gordon Briscoe (5 episodes, 1953)
Ian Colin	...	Detective-Inspector Lomax (5 episodes, 1953)
Frank Hawkins	...	Detective-Sergeant Best (5 episodes, 1953)
Oliver Johnston	...	News Editor (3 episodes, 1953)
Katie Johnson	...	Miss Wilde (3 episodes, 1953)
Christopher Rhodes	...	Dr. Ludwig Reichenheim (3 episodes, 1953)
Peter Bathurst	...	Charles Greene (3 episodes, 1953)
Moray Watson	...	Peter Marsh (2 episodes, 1953)
Philip Vickers	...	American Reporter (2 episodes, 1953)
Richard Cuthbert	...	Chemist (2 episodes, 1953)
Anthony Green	...	Boy (2 episodes, 1953)
Tony Van Bridge	...	Producer (2 episodes, 1953)
Eugene Leahy	...	Police Inspector (2 episodes, 1953)
Lewis Wilson	...	Walters (2 episodes, 1953)
Neal Arden	...	Commentator (2 episodes, 1953)
Josephine Crombie	...	Secretary (2 episodes, 1953)
Neil Wilson	...	Policeman / ... (2 episodes, 1953)
Patrick Westwood	...	First Journalist / ... (2 episodes, 1953)
Bernadette Milnes	...	Usherette (2 episodes, 1953)
John Kidd	...	Sir Vernon Dodds (2 episodes, 1953)
Dominic Le Foe	...	Second Journalist / ... (2 episodes, 1953)
Sheldon Allan	...	Abbey Crowd / ... (2 episodes, 1953)
Halstan Crimmins	...	Journalist (2 episodes, 1953)
George Dudley	...	Journalist (2 episodes, 1953)
Mary Malcolm	...	Herself - Television Announcer (2 episodes, 1953)
Paddy Russell	...	Comet Passenger / ... (2 episodes, 1953)
Nickola Sterne	...	Abbey Crowd / ... (2 episodes, 1953)

Also Known As:

Bring Something Back (UK) (working title)
The Unbegotten (UK) (working title)

Runtime:

30 min (6 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Studio A, BBC Alexandra Palace, Muswell Hill, London, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Nigel Kneale picked the name Quatermass out of a contemporary London phone directory. The professor's first name was a reference to astronomer Professor Sir Bernard Lovell, the creator of the Jodrell Bank observatory.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: In an unusual illustration of the problems encountered with early live broadcasts, the telerecording of the second episode ("Persons Reported Missing") is obscured by an insect which landed on one of the cameras during the broadcast.

Quotes:

John Paterson: What went on here?! What did it do to them?!

Movie Connections:

Remade as The Quatermass Experiment (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

The Planets: Mars, Bringer of War

Haunting Sci fi

I was so impressed that this movie has stayed somewhere in the back of my mind for over 45 years. I was still at school and probably alone at home to be able/allowed to watch it. It took me quite some time to recover, even for a science fiction fan.

I have never seen it again, did not remember the title (for me it was just "the monster"), nor the actors, only that a spaceship came back with two of the crew dead, and the third one being contaminated by...what?

Since I recently discovered this great site, I decided to spend an hour trying to find it back, and I did. I have no idea how I would react seeing it again today but I would love to try. rd