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Posted by Kenneth Morgan Which leads us to our subject for today: “Quatermass 2” (or “Enemy from Space”, to use its American-release title), made by Hammer Films in 1957. Later, at his rocket base, Quatermass is in a foul mood (in fact, he always seems to be in a foul mood). He reports to his assistant Dr. Brand (William Franklyn) that the funding has been cut to their moonbase project, and that their atomic-powered rocket is still not cleared for safe use. Quatermass is ready to fight for the project following more research, when Brand informs him of an odd occurrence: groups of meteorites have been landing in the area of Winterdon Flat, a nearby village. Remembering the incident with the couple, Quatermass has samples of the mysterious rock analyzed and learns that it is part of one of the meteorites, and is definitely alien in origin. Accompanied by Marsh (Bryan Forbes), another assistant, Quatermass goes to Winterdon Flat and makes a shocking discovery: the village is gone, replaced by a huge installation that looks a lot like his proposed moonbase, including storage tanks and a huge pressure dome. He also finds more of the meteorites, including several that are intact. When Marsh examines one, it opens up, releasing something that burns his face and knocks him senseless. Before Quatermass can get him medical help, a group of armed guards from the complex arrest Marsh and brutally send Quatermass on his way. As he leaves, Quatermass notices that the guards have familiar-looking facial burns. Quatermass makes inquiries, first with the community of workers for the complex, then with the police. He gets no help or information from either, except that the entire set-up is a Top Secret government project. He then checks with Scotland Yard Inspector Lomax (John Longden), an ally from an earlier incident (recounted in the first Quatermass movie). Lomax knows that the heavily-guarded complex supposedly makes synthetic food, and has top-level support. Lomax sends Quatermass to Sir Vincent Broadhead (Tom Chatto), a Member of Parliament who also wants more information about the project. It seems all of his questions are being ignored, and that those who go to Winterdon Flat to investigate come back speaking very well of the place; far too well, in fact. This time, though, Quatermass, Broadhead, and some other M.P.’s are going to see for themselves what’s going on. At first, things seem quite normal during their visit. Then, Quatermass finds that missing Marsh is not at the nearby infirmary, and that his questions are not being answered. Sensing imminent danger, he narrowly escapes imprisonment (and who knows what else), then sees Broadhead suffer a terrible fate for his unwelcome interest. Quatermass gets away from the complex and hooks up with Lomax and sympathetic reporter Jimmy Hall (Sydney James). Quatermass knows that something horrible is happening at Winterdon Flat, that a hostile alien force is behind it all, and that they must let the world know what’s going on before it’s too late. Unfortunately, Quatermass still doesn’t know the full story behind the complex, or who he can trust as he searches for answers… This movie was the third of the three Quatermass theatrical features, after “The Quatermass Experiment” (a.k.a. “The Creeping Unknown”) and before “Quatermass and the Pit” (a.k.a. “Five Million Years to Earth”). Like the others, it’s pretty much a compressed version the earlier BBC-TV serials. It’s also one of Hammer Films’ earlier science fiction efforts, made around the time they started work on their classic series of Gothic horror movies. And it’s a very good flick. Directed by Val Guest, with a screenplay co-written by Guest and Nigel Kneale (who wrote the original serials), the story starts a bit slow, but then gets to the goods quite fast. The script stays away from unbelievable action, sticking more with intelligent suspense and paranoia. The acting is good by the cast, with Donlevy (cast to appeal to the American market) making a big impression as the bull-headed, no-nonsense Quatermass. There’s also good work from Longdon as the smart and down-to-earth Lomax. The movie really has only one Hammer-style shock moment, but that’s made up for by some real tension and some pretty good action scenes, especially near the end. There’s also some very effective cinematography by Gerald Gibbs, including some gloomy, overcast shots near the beginning, some good night and day-for-night footage, and some great work around the Winterdon Flat complex (actually a Shell refinery in Essex). The musical score from Hammer regular James Bernard is OK, though not as powerful as his other works. Finally, the visual effects include some great matte shots of the complex’s dome, and some passable work at the finish. It’s not ILM quality, but it’s fine given the time it was made and the budget. (According to the DVD commentary by Guest and Kneale, the movie only cost about ₤90,000, not too much I’d figure.) All in all, I recommend “Quatermass 2”. It’s a great SF movie from the House of Hammer. You might even want to check out the other two Quatermass movies, as well. (I haven’t seen the TV follow-up, “Quatermass” a.k.a. “The Quatermass Conclusion”, so I can’t offer an opinion.) Oh, and don’t worry. I may be a fan of British items, but I’m not about to abandon my American roots. I mean, everybody knows the last letter of the alphabet is pronounced “zee”, right? TRIVIA NOTE: It is believed by some that this was the first movie sequel to use a number, in this case “2”, as part of the official title. Apparently, Francis Ford Coppola had claimed that “Godfather, Part II” held that distinction, but this movie beat him by more than 15 years. If there’s an earlier example, I’m not aware of it. CONNECTIONS NOTE: Tom Chatto (Broadhead) appeared in the previously-reviewed “The Frozen Dead”. Beyond that, there are a lot of Hammer connections. John Van Eyssen, who plays a creepy PR man, appeared in the previously-reviewed “The Four-Sided Triangle”. Executive Producer Michael Carreras also produced “The Mummy”, “Spaceways”, “Four-Sided Triangle”, and the MSTed “Moon Zero Two”. Producer Anthony Hinds, under a pseudonym, wrote the screenplay for “Night Creatures”. Editor James Needs and Art Director Bernard Robinson both worked on “Night Creatures” and “The Mummy”. And Michael Ripper, who plays barman Ernie, appeared in nearly every Hammer movie ever made, as well as the MSTed “Deadly Bees”. NOTE TO DEXTER: The cast also includes Percy Herbert, who appeared in the movie you previously reviewed, “The Mysterious Island”. Should I be keeping track of this stuff, too?
on 3/31/2006, 7:57 pm
Today, Kenneth Morgan reviews another movie from Britain’s legendary House of Horror, but without Cushing or Lee.
*****
I’ve been a bit of an Anglophile for many years, starting back in the Seventies when I was watching Python on PBS. I’ve developed an appreciation for British movies and TV, particularly British science fiction, most notably the “Doctor Who” series. (Yes, I’ve seen the new episodes; I’ll let you know my opinion on them later.) One other series I’ve seen is the lesser-known but highly-regarded adventures of rocket scientist Professor Quatermass, who was originally introduced in a group of serials broadcast on the BBC in the Fifties. I haven’t caught those originals yet, but I have seen the movies that were inspired by them.
As the movie opens, a car speeds down the road. Inside the car are a young man, who is delirious and has a burned face, and his girlfriend. By chance, they almost crash into another car, this one driven by Prof. Quatermass (Brian Donlevy), an American scientist who, oddly enough, is in charge of the British rocket program. Assisting the couple, Quatermass learns that the man was injured when, somehow, a strange piece of rock he found nearby caused his facial burns.
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