Quatermass 2 (1957)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Val Guest

Writers:

Nigel Kneale (story)
Nigel Kneale (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

September 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Horror

Tagline:

A horrible enemy from the unknown strikes terror across the earth!

Plot:

Professor Quatermass, still shook up from London's refusal to proceed with his project to colonize the Moon...

Plot Keywords:

Factory | Rocket | Meteor | London | Conspiracy

Cast

Brian Donlevy	...	Prof. Bernard Quatermass
John Longden	...	Lomax (as John Longdon)
Sid James	...	Jimmy Hall (as Sydney James)
Bryan Forbes	...	Marsh
William Franklyn	...	Brand
Vera Day	...	Sheila
Charles Lloyd Pack	...	Dawson
Tom Chatto	...	Broadhead
John Van Eyssen	...	The P.R.O.
Percy Herbert	...	Gorman
Michael Ripper	...	Ernie
John Rae	...	McLeod
Marianne Stone	...	Secretary
Ronald Wilson	...	Young Man
Jane Aird	...	Mrs. McLeod

Also Known As:

Enemy from Space (USA)
Quatermass II: Enemy from Space (USA)

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

UK:12 | Finland:K-16

Filming Locations:

Canvey Island, Essex, England, UK

Company:

Hammer Film Productions

Trivia:

The Shell Haven Refinery location used in the television serial was revisited for the film, which was able to make greater use of the location.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The asteroid could not orbit as said. Short distance orbit implies several revolutions per day, while staying in Earth's shadow implies to revolve once per year, thus orbit about as far as the sun.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Svengoolie: Enemy from Space" (1996)

Well made and still pertinent

This movie sees Brian Donleavy reprise the role of Bernard Quatermass,who when the movie opens is not a happy man,the British government having turned down his plans for a Moon colony.Distraction arrives in the form of objects from outer space landing in northern England .On going to investigate he finds a site looking more than a little like the moon project mock up,and to complicate matters his assistant(played by future author/director Bryan Forbes,then in his stalwart character actor mode)is stricken by on coming into contact with the alien substance and is carted away by the guards on the project

Quatermass gains entry to the plant as part of a parliamentary study group who are assured it is a project to manufacture synthetic food.Naturally ,they are being economical with the truth and the plant is the front for an alien invasion

How the intrepid if permanently bad tempered scientist tackles the problem is the root of the movie which still has resonance today in its suggestion of cover up and conspiracy,aliens having infiltrated the government and police(This would explain why British politicians seem determined that we shall be ruled by aliens--the EC!)

The movie makes good use of locations and the alien plant is an old utilities generation plant that looks chilling and strangely futuristic.Donleavy is too much on one note as,but Sid James is effective in a rare straight role as a hard drinking journalist and the rest of the cast are adequate

Special effects are antiquated.What still works are its atmosphere and sense of paranoia regarding our political lords and masters.