Quatermass Chronology
This is an attempt to list everything that has been released officially in the Quatermass franchise so far. Please note that I have only listed the first publication of each item. As for titles, I have used the UK ones as the main ones and the American ones as the secondary ditto. I have tried to provide samples of everything, within reason. Please let me know if you have any corrections and additional material, or if anything here infringes your copyright.
-- Kristian
1953
The Quatermass Experiment
The franchise began with this serial, of which only the first two episodes remain. Reginald Tate seems to do well in the title role, and it’s quite a shame that the BBC managed to lose two thirds of the show.
The remaining hour is worth a watch, though. Make no mistake: this is early fifties television and somewhat stiff, but there is plenty of creepy ambience. Also of note is the brilliant use of Mars, the Bringer of War as the intro music, even though the piece was over forty years old at the time (and probably cheap to use) it’s nice and metallic with what sounds like morse code built in, perfect for a show that is on some levels about communication …
♦ Script sample
♦ Promotional material
♦ IMDb link
1955
The Quatermass Xperiment
This is where the franchise first gained international exposure. Also, it was one the first Hammer films to be a smash hit and make the company realize that good money could be made in horror and science fiction. Much has been said about Donlevy’s performance, and while he is certainly far from what Kneale envisioned, I like his almost villanous portrayal quite a bit. The best performance in the film may be the pantomime of Wordsworth, though – it is absolutely gripping, and rightly famed.
♦ Contemporary US review
♦ Promotional material
♦ IMDb link
1955
Quatermass II
Once you get used to the booming, british, actorly delivery of star Robinson, this is good stuff. Although made only a couple of years after the first serial, Quatermass II comes across as much more polished and the production values are obviously higher. A classic, and worth seeking out.
It has been suggested that this story is an allegory for the Holocaust, and I think that makes all kinds of sense, although Kneale later said that it was about the spies of the Cold War.
♦ To A New Wilderness – Promotional text by Kneale
♦ The Anglicisation of Outer Space – Article by David Sylvester
♦ Promotional material
♦ IMDb link
1955
Quatermass 2
To the best of my knowledge, this has never been reprinted.
♦ Sample
1957
Quatermass 2
A brisk, entertaining adaptation of the second serial, this film is not as loved as its predecessor but pretty good nonetheless.
♦ Script sample
♦ Behind the scenes
♦ Contemporary US review
♦ Promotional material
♦ IMDb link
1958-59
Quatermass and the Pit
The last BBC serial is by many considered to be the best. Morell is certainly good as the beleaguered professor who uncovers a tremendously dark secret.
♦ Promotional material
♦ IMDb link
1959
The Quatermass Experiment
♦ Cover
1960
Quatermass II
Cover by Bryan Kneale, Nigel’s broter.
♦ Cover
1960
Quatermass and the Pit
Cover once more by Bryan Kneale.
♦ Cover
♦ Sample
1967
Quatermass and the Pit
This is probably the most loved entry, and the first time we se the professor – now played by Andrew Keir – in color. This is also the first time we see Quatermass portrayed as the kind, flawed man Kneale envisioned.
♦ Behind the scenes
♦ Promotional material
♦ IMDb link
1977
The Quatermass Xperiment
This comic has been reprinted numerous times.
♦ Sample
1978
Quatermass II
Adaptation of the second film. The artist was David Lloyd, who famously went on to work with Alan Moore on V for Vendetta. It seems this comic has never been reprinted.
♦ Sample
1979
Quatermass
This is a very good book, but few people are aware of it. The story is as much about age and youth as it is about (the obligatory) alien attack. I warmly recommend it, and have included a longer-than-usual sample below in the hope that it will get more readers.
♦ Cover
♦ Sample
1979
Quatermass
♦ Quatermass: On the streets of fear – Promotional text by Kneale
♦ Promotional material
♦ IMDb link
1979
The Quatermass Conclusion
This one is better than you have heard. While the hippies seem out of place on the brink of the eighties, Mills gives a solid performance and the production values are good enough to make this feel like a real movie, instead of something that was stitched together.
♦ IMDb link
1996
The Quatermass Memoirs
This blend of new material, clips from the old BBC serials, and newsreel recordings is pleasant but does not add much new. The most interesting part is probably the commentary by Kneale, in which he talks about his political views. They were a bit surprising, at least to me.
To clear up any confusion, this entry takes place between the third and fourth serial. Quatermass has retired to the Scottish Highlands and is visited by a journalist who manages to make him tell the story of his life. This means that this is mainly a retelling of the first three serials.
Also released on a double CD.
♦ Cover
♦ Promotional material
♦ Sample
1997
Quatermass and the Pit
Approved by Kneale, and thus included here. From the defunct website of the production company:
August 1997 saw the unprecedented location hypertheatre event Quatermass & The Pit sponsored by BT. Over a period of 10 nights, Creation Productions brought to a gigantic disused quarry pit in Nottinghamshire the thrilling science fiction classic written by Nigel Kneale. Over 5 thousand people flocked to the site to see live video projections onto the cliff face, a giant buried spaceship gradually unearthed by JCB diggers, dazzling lights and pyrotechnics which complemented the specially composed music. It was the first ever theatrical adaptation of the Science fiction classic and the special effects could be seen for miles each evening. Creation built roads, pumped out the quarry, moved thousands of tonnes of earth, buried miles of cables deep underground, and constructed a bridge that could support 40 tonne articulated lorries.
I am currently trying to dig up info on this production, which seems to have been a blast!
2005
The Quatermass Experiment
A condensed remake of the very first serial. Also available on DVD.
This is pretty good. Flemyng offers a fresh, masculine take on the doctor and is supported well by Varma, Tennant and well-known Quatermass nut Gatiss. We’ll probably never have the original back, but this is a more than decent replacement.
♦ Production website on Archive.org
♦ Website on Archive.org
♦ Promotional material
♦ IMDb link
If anyone is keeping track, the total is:
- 4 Television serials
- 4 Films (one of them pieced together from a TV serial)
- 3 Script books
- 2 Comic book stories
- 1 Novel
- 1 Radio play
- 1 Newspaper serial
- 1 Stage play