The Quatermass Xperiment (Original title)Shock!! (Alternative title)The Quatermass Experiment (Alternative title)The Creeping Unknown (Alternative title)
Dates: 1955 (Copyright), 28 November 1955 (Release)Countries: United Kingdom, USADirected by: Val Guest
Synopsis: Hunt in London for the survivor of a rocket ship who is being transmuted from a human being into a monster capable of reproducing itself at such a rate that in a short time the whole nation could be destroyed.
Genres: Horror, Science Fiction
Subjects: Astronauts, Aliens, Scientists
Releases
Date: 1955Country: United KingdomRelease type: TheatricalFormat: 35mm Film - Black and White - SoundRuntime: 82 mins Length: 7372 FeetDialogue (original): EnglishDistributor: Exclusive
Title: Retrospective: the quatermass experimentAuthor: MAXFORD, Howard Article type: InterviewLanguage: English
Description: Val Guest, director of The QUATERMASS EXPERIMENT, composer James Bernard and Nigel Kneale, writer of the original scripts for the TV series all discuss the finance, casting and special effects for the 1955 UK science-fiction movie.
In: StarBurst n299 May 2003 Page: 64
Title: The Quatermass XperimentAuthor: VINCENT-RUDZKI, Jan Article type: DVD ReviewLanguage: English
In: Sight and Sound v13 n8 August 2003 Page: 69
Title: Home movies: reviewsAuthor: MACNAB, Geoffrey Article type: DVD ReviewLanguage: English
In: Filmfax n61 Jun/Jul 1997 Page: 54,55
Title: The Quatermass XperimentAuthor: EKSTEDT, Richard A. Article type: CreditsLanguage: English
In: The House that Hammer Built n1 February 1997 Pages: 26-31
Title: The Quatermass ExperimentArticle type: CreditsLanguage: English
Description: Extended feature on The QUATERMASS EXPERIMENT, including original reviews, credits and synopsis
In: Dark Terrors n12 June 1996 Page: 30
Title: No terror like the Quatermass ExperimentArticle type: TranscriptLanguage: English
Description: From the original publicity for The QUATERMASS EXPERIMENT
In: Dark Terrors n8 April 1994 Pages: 20-33
Title: QuatermassAuthor: MURPHY, Mike Article type: Prod. ReportLanguage: English
Description: On the making of the The QUATERMASS EXPERIMENT, QUATERMASS II, and QUATERMASS AND THE PIT
In: Today's Cinema v85 n7336 23 Aug 1955 Page: 8
Title: [Today's Cinema - v85 n7336 23 Aug 1955: no known title]Language: English
In: Monthly Film Bulletin v22 n261 October 1955 Page: 150
Title: [Monthly Film Bulletin - v22 n261 October 1955: no known title]Language: English
In: Variety 7 Sep 1955 Page: 6
Title: [Variety - 7 Sep 1955: no known title]Language: English
In: Page: 19
Title: [ - : no known title]
Author: MURRAY, Andy Pages: 335 pages
Title: Into the unknown: the fantastic life of Nigel Kneale
Author: MURRAY, Andy Pages: 191 p.
Title: British science fiction television: a hitchhiker's guide
Author: COOK, John R Pages: viii, 296 p.
Title: Telefantasy
Author: JOHNSON, Catherine Pages: 181 p.
Title: Small screens, big ideas: television in the 1950s
Author: THUMIM, Janet Pages: viii, 262p.
Title: "Why can't you scientists leave things alone?" Science questioned in British films of the post-war period (1945-1970)
Author: JONES, Robert A. Pages: p.
Title: The Quatermass experiment
Author: KNEALE, Nigel Pages: 190p
Description: First published: Penguin Books, 1959.
Title: The Quatermass experiment; a play for television in six parts
Author: KNEALE, Nigel Pages: 191, [1]p.
Film, Video or Digital materials held in BFI National Archive(4)
Video materials(1)
Description: Digital BetacamBFI identifier: N-376845
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved videotape
Film materials(3)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedBFI identifier: C-964884
Status: Status pending - Material requires inspection to determine preservation or access status
Description: 35mm Duplicating PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedLength: 100 FeetStock date: 1955BFI identifier: C-139835
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm Duplicating PositiveBase: CTASound: CombinedLength: 486 FeetBFI identifier: C-139836
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Dates: 1955 (Copyright), 28 November 1955 (Release)Countries: United Kingdom, USADirected by: Val Guest
Synopsis: Hunt in London for the survivor of a rocket ship who is being transmuted from a human being into a monster capable of reproducing itself at such a rate that in a short time the whole nation could be destroyed.
Genres: Horror, Science Fiction
Subjects: Astronauts, Aliens, Scientists
Releases
Date: 1955Country: United KingdomRelease type: TheatricalFormat: 35mm Film - Black and White - SoundRuntime: 82 mins Length: 7372 FeetDialogue (original): EnglishDistributor: Exclusive
Credits
(47)
©/Presents: Exclusive Films, [Production Company]: Hammer Film Productions, [Production Company]: Concanen Productions, Lippert Productions, Produced by: Anthony Hinds, Production Manager: T.S. Lyndon-Haynes, Production Secretary: Dora Thomas, [2nd Unit Director]: Jimmy Sangster, Assistant Director: Bill Shore, [Assistant Director (2nd)]: Aida Young, [Assistant Director (3rd)]: John Pitcher, Continuity: Renee Glynne, Screenplay by: Richard Landau, Val Guest, Based on the B.B.C. Television Play by: Nigel Kneale, Director of Photography: Walter Harvey, Camera Operator: Len Harris, [2nd Camera Operator]: Richard Leatherbarrow, [Focus Puller]: Harry Oakes, [Clapper Loader]: Tom Friswell, [Stills]: John Jay, Special Effects: Les Bowie, [Special Effects]: Bowie Margutti, [Special Effects]: Roy Field, Ray Caple, Editor: James Needs, [Assistant Editor]: Henry Richardson, Art Director: J. Elder Wills, Wardrobe: Molly Arbuthnot, Make-up: Phil Leakey, Hairdresser: Monica Hustler, Music Composed by: James Bernard, [Music] Conducted by: John Hollingsworth, Recordist: H.C. Pearson, [Sound Camera Operator]: Don Alton, [Sound Maintenance]: John Woodiwiss, [Boom Operator]: Percy Britten, [Dubbing]: Ken Cameron, Thanked in credits: BBC Television Service, Thanked in credits: The Air Ministry, Thanked in credits: Marconi Wireless Telegraph Co, Thanked in credits: British Interplanetary Society, Thanked in credits: Port of London Authority, General Radiological Limited, [Studio]: Bray Film Studios, [Special Effects Studio]: Stoke Court
Cast
(39)
Brian Donlevy (Professor Bernard Quatermass), Jack Warner (Chief Inspector Lomax), Margia Dean (Judith Carroon), Thora Hird (Rosemary 'Rosie' Rigley), Gordon Jackson (TV producer), David King-Wood (Dr Gordon Briscoe), Harold Lang (Christie), Lionel Jeffries (Blake), Sam Kydd (station sergeant), Richard Wordsworth (Victor Carroon), Maurice Kaufmann ([Marsh]), Gron Davies ([Charles Green]), Stanley van Beers ([Ludwig Reichenheim]), Frank R. Phillips ([BBC announcer]), Arthur Lovegrove ([Sergeant Bromley]), John Stirling ([major]), Margaret Anderson ([Maggie]), Eric Corrie ([young man with Maggie]), Henry Longhurst ([George, Maggie's father]), Michael Godfrey ([fireman]), Fred Johnson ([inspector]), George Roderick ([local policeman]), Ernest Hare ([fire chief]), John Kerr ([laboratory assistant]), John Wynn ([Best]), Toke Townley ([chemist]), Bartlett Mullins ([zoo keeper]), Mollie Glessing ([mother at zoo]), Mayne Lynton ([zoo official]), Harry Brunning ([Alf, hospital night porter]), Barry Lowe ([Tucker, the night nurse]), Jane Aird ([Mrs Lomax]), Arthur Gross ([floor boy]), James Drake ([sound engineer]), Edward Dane ([station policeman]), Basil Dignam ([Sir Lionel Dean]), Betty Impey ([first nurse]), Marianne Stone ([second nurse]), Jane Asher ([little girl with doll])
Articles held in BFI Reuben Library
(11)
In: Film Review vSpec. n53 Alien v Predator Pages: 64-68Title: Retrospective: the quatermass experimentAuthor: MAXFORD, Howard Article type: InterviewLanguage: English
Description: Val Guest, director of The QUATERMASS EXPERIMENT, composer James Bernard and Nigel Kneale, writer of the original scripts for the TV series all discuss the finance, casting and special effects for the 1955 UK science-fiction movie.
In: StarBurst n299 May 2003 Page: 64
Title: The Quatermass XperimentAuthor: VINCENT-RUDZKI, Jan Article type: DVD ReviewLanguage: English
In: Sight and Sound v13 n8 August 2003 Page: 69
Title: Home movies: reviewsAuthor: MACNAB, Geoffrey Article type: DVD ReviewLanguage: English
In: Filmfax n61 Jun/Jul 1997 Page: 54,55
Title: The Quatermass XperimentAuthor: EKSTEDT, Richard A. Article type: CreditsLanguage: English
In: The House that Hammer Built n1 February 1997 Pages: 26-31
Title: The Quatermass ExperimentArticle type: CreditsLanguage: English
Description: Extended feature on The QUATERMASS EXPERIMENT, including original reviews, credits and synopsis
In: Dark Terrors n12 June 1996 Page: 30
Title: No terror like the Quatermass ExperimentArticle type: TranscriptLanguage: English
Description: From the original publicity for The QUATERMASS EXPERIMENT
In: Dark Terrors n8 April 1994 Pages: 20-33
Title: QuatermassAuthor: MURPHY, Mike Article type: Prod. ReportLanguage: English
Description: On the making of the The QUATERMASS EXPERIMENT, QUATERMASS II, and QUATERMASS AND THE PIT
In: Today's Cinema v85 n7336 23 Aug 1955 Page: 8
Title: [Today's Cinema - v85 n7336 23 Aug 1955: no known title]Language: English
In: Monthly Film Bulletin v22 n261 October 1955 Page: 150
Title: [Monthly Film Bulletin - v22 n261 October 1955: no known title]Language: English
In: Variety 7 Sep 1955 Page: 6
Title: [Variety - 7 Sep 1955: no known title]Language: English
In: Page: 19
Title: [ - : no known title]
Books held in BFI Reuben Library
(8)
Title: Into the unknown: the fantastic life of Nigel KnealeAuthor: MURRAY, Andy Pages: 335 pages
Title: Into the unknown: the fantastic life of Nigel Kneale
Author: MURRAY, Andy Pages: 191 p.
Title: British science fiction television: a hitchhiker's guide
Author: COOK, John R Pages: viii, 296 p.
Title: Telefantasy
Author: JOHNSON, Catherine Pages: 181 p.
Title: Small screens, big ideas: television in the 1950s
Author: THUMIM, Janet Pages: viii, 262p.
Title: "Why can't you scientists leave things alone?" Science questioned in British films of the post-war period (1945-1970)
Author: JONES, Robert A. Pages: p.
Title: The Quatermass experiment
Author: KNEALE, Nigel Pages: 190p
Description: First published: Penguin Books, 1959.
Title: The Quatermass experiment; a play for television in six parts
Author: KNEALE, Nigel Pages: 191, [1]p.
Film, Video or Digital materials held in BFI National Archive(4)
Video materials(1)
Description: Digital BetacamBFI identifier: N-376845
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved videotape
Film materials(3)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedBFI identifier: C-964884
Status: Status pending - Material requires inspection to determine preservation or access status
Description: 35mm Duplicating PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedLength: 100 FeetStock date: 1955BFI identifier: C-139835
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm Duplicating PositiveBase: CTASound: CombinedLength: 486 FeetBFI identifier: C-139836
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film