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First broadcast by BBC4 on 2 April 2005, this acclaimed remake was BBC television's first live drama for over 20 years.The British Experimental Rocket Group launches a manned space ship but the rocket crash lands and only Victor emerges, clearly afflicted with a debilitating illness. Dr Gordon Briscoe (David Tennant) joins Quatermass in trying to diagnose Carroon's strange contamination.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By P. D. gray
If you read the notes in the accompanying booklet it talks of 2 or 3 stumbles in this live broadcast, and says that for this DVD release they have edited them out and replaced them with scenes from a taped rehearsal. WHY! I mean, the whole point of the production was it was LIVE and so why not just stick the live version on dvd without these edits. This is one of those mad decisions that makes me scream.
In one scene for instance, the reporter...stumbling over his lines has to be helped back to the script with the help of the actor playing the editor, seeing a sort of understandable trip like that just shows the immediacy of it all, the tension etc...so why not leave it in, no its replaced with a recorded scene from a rehearsal. Also theres a loud crash as someone knocks over some glass and one of the actors reacts to it and loses concentration for a short while, this also is removed. One scene in which David Tennant is running around he slips and ALMOSTS falls over, now I cant recall if this has been left in the production, I think it is...certainly is in the MAKING OFF documentary but if he had not regained his balance Im sure this dvd release would have replaced it.
Still, a brave production...fascinating...just the dvd release made this silly error of judgment.
In one scene for instance, the reporter...stumbling over his lines has to be helped back to the script with the help of the actor playing the editor, seeing a sort of understandable trip like that just shows the immediacy of it all, the tension etc...so why not leave it in, no its replaced with a recorded scene from a rehearsal. Also theres a loud crash as someone knocks over some glass and one of the actors reacts to it and loses concentration for a short while, this also is removed. One scene in which David Tennant is running around he slips and ALMOSTS falls over, now I cant recall if this has been left in the production, I think it is...certainly is in the MAKING OFF documentary but if he had not regained his balance Im sure this dvd release would have replaced it.
Still, a brave production...fascinating...just the dvd release made this silly error of judgment.
30 of 32 people found the following review helpful
I've never seen the original Quatermass so can't really compare the two versions. What I am able to say however is that this particular version, having been transmitted live (an extremely brave thing to do no matter the class of actor and technical people employed) is a triumph. Daved Tennant and Jason Flemyng are excellent in the lead roles, the set is a throwback to the B-movies of the '50's and Hammer horror of the '70's. The sets look decidedly creaky at times but that's all part of the charm of the piece. The dialogue at times also seems disjointed but the actors bring to life an often hammy script with great skill and enthusiasm. Fans of science fiction with a touch of horror will enjoy this.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
What shall I say? I was completely bowled over? I was riveted to the chair? I was intrigued throughout? I held my breath? All of these and more: I was profoundly impressed by the theatrical qualities of this mysterious and astonishing play and the powerful performances of its actors. This is definitely one for the culturally spoilt!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By NEO
This is a very well made and groundbreaking live adaption of the now classic Quatermass Experiment. Movie actor Jason flemyng stars as a very youthful professor Quatermass previously played by middle aged actors. Due to the production being made live there are some limitations with the locations and filming. And some of the action and diologue is on occasion miss-timed and limited in scope which also limits the special effects. This relies more on what you don't see and the tension of the unseen monster stalking London. There are some overtones of the 50's with fashion and hair styles which looks very odd indeed as it's set in the present day. New Doctor Who David Tennant puts in a good performance as a scientist but doesn't get many lines. Of the Dvd there are some extras with interviews from the cast and writers that's a nice touch.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Jon Thompson
I have been a fan of the Quatermass universe since the early 1960's which I first saw the second feature film (Hammer production of "Quatermass II", also titled "Enemy From Space") on television and got the bejeezus scared out of me. The character is the creation of Nigel Kneal and the two original theatrical releases ("The Creeping Unknown"...theatrical title of the "Quatermass Experiment" story in the US and "Quatermass II: Enemy From Space") were brilliantly directed by Val Guest, despite the limitations of special effects of the 1950's and the obviously limited production budgets.
Recently I obtained the original television versions of those two stories as well as the original 1950's television version of the third Quatermass story (released in a theatrical version in the late 1960's under the title "Twenty Million Years To Earth", but originally titled "Quatermass and the Pit" and produced in the 1950's as a limited run series.) I was quite amazed to see the vast differences in the storylines of the tv mini-series versions and the compressed theatrical versions. Generally the tv versions are considerably looser, slower and sometimes tend to go in inexplicable directions, defects nicely corrected in the shorter theatrical versions, most likely for budgetary and running time reasons.
I am also a fan of David Tennant, having completely absorbed his entire Doctor Who canon (you will be missed, David).
If you wish to make a comparison of the way the same story can be approached in what are essentially two very different media (television vs. theatrical film) I would enourage you to obtain not only this release but also the 1956 Hammer Films version of it titled "Creeping Unknown" and starring Brian Donlevy as a very American Quatermass.... Read more ›
Recently I obtained the original television versions of those two stories as well as the original 1950's television version of the third Quatermass story (released in a theatrical version in the late 1960's under the title "Twenty Million Years To Earth", but originally titled "Quatermass and the Pit" and produced in the 1950's as a limited run series.) I was quite amazed to see the vast differences in the storylines of the tv mini-series versions and the compressed theatrical versions. Generally the tv versions are considerably looser, slower and sometimes tend to go in inexplicable directions, defects nicely corrected in the shorter theatrical versions, most likely for budgetary and running time reasons.
I am also a fan of David Tennant, having completely absorbed his entire Doctor Who canon (you will be missed, David).
If you wish to make a comparison of the way the same story can be approached in what are essentially two very different media (television vs. theatrical film) I would enourage you to obtain not only this release but also the 1956 Hammer Films version of it titled "Creeping Unknown" and starring Brian Donlevy as a very American Quatermass.... Read more ›
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Andrew Baker
Amazon Verified Purchase
It was hard to watch this live in 2005 without anxiety for the horrors of a live production. Looking at it again in November 2006 it is remarkably impressive. The acting is first rate and the direction is very much more subtle and sophisticated than any old 50s 0r 60s live shows. The cutting, angles, close ups are very well timed and must have added even more pressure on the cast.
Seeing it again I wasn't worried by the absence of a creature at the end - which had been a very succesful feature in 1953 but would be hard to get right now.
The look of the production is deliberately kharki green and it al lhas a very distinctive feel given a smooth pacing by the live production. The oddest side of it is the retro look. It is, after all, an adaptation (often word for word) of the 1953 script and it can't be brought completely up to date. It's not clear in this alternative reality if there has been other space exploration. The point of this trip is that it has gone far further than people have ever travelled- no one has gone further than the moon even now.
Full credit for producing something so unusual, seriously made and with its own strange beauty.
Seeing it again I wasn't worried by the absence of a creature at the end - which had been a very succesful feature in 1953 but would be hard to get right now.
The look of the production is deliberately kharki green and it al lhas a very distinctive feel given a smooth pacing by the live production. The oddest side of it is the retro look. It is, after all, an adaptation (often word for word) of the 1953 script and it can't be brought completely up to date. It's not clear in this alternative reality if there has been other space exploration. The point of this trip is that it has gone far further than people have ever travelled- no one has gone further than the moon even now.
Full credit for producing something so unusual, seriously made and with its own strange beauty.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
dt fan
i thoroughly enjoyed this film didnt know i could still get till i saw it on amazon and a friend recommended
Published 24 days ago by J. A. Joyce
2.0 out of 5 stars
the bbc quatermass experiment
disapointed with this as a remake could have been a lot better did not think it lived up to the rest of the quatermass series
Published 5 months ago by anthony douglas bennett
1.0 out of 5 stars
GET READY FOR A LET DOWN
if you are big fan of the movie version you will not be a fan of this one. you are tantlized with glimpses of the creature......but no creeping beast at the end.
Published 9 months ago by mark belles
2.0 out of 5 stars
Sorry but it is not a patch on the original.
I really am sorry but this is not a patch on the original. The original had a Hitchcock atmosphere that left you hiding behind the sofa, the acting was exceptional too. Read more
Published on 4 Feb 2010 by Mrs. M. L. Butler
1.0 out of 5 stars
Not Good
I saw it, hoping for a descent remake of the original, At least an attempt. The BBC seal was reassuring, but at the end of the movie I wondered what they were thinking. Read more
Published on 17 Nov 2009 by Karastratis Apostolos
4.0 out of 5 stars
sci-fi programme
not yet watched all of dvd but is like original series from sixties.
great newsreader!!
great newsreader!!
Published on 12 Nov 2009 by Big D
2.0 out of 5 stars
disappointed
I bought this DVD only because there was David Tennant playing in it, otherwise I don't think it's a good movie. I'll only keep it for David, that's all. Read more
Published on 10 Sep 2009 by Bernabe
3.0 out of 5 stars
A botch
The gimmick of a live telecast meant that the producers cut so much of the script it was less detailed than the feature film, which cut huge sections of the original television... Read more
Published on 9 Sep 2009 by John Ellis
4.0 out of 5 stars
very good experience
This is based on old sci-fi, yet it definitely is entertaining in it own way. The acting is excellent. All the actors were very very good. Read more
Published on 11 July 2009 by Nancy Smythe
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not the Real Quatermass
OK, so we've proven that you can't do it over and you can't do Nigel Kneale without Nigel Kneale. Still, I've become enough of a Kneale fan that I had to see it.
Published on 18 Feb 2009 by Roger Gay
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