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The Quartermass Xperiment (aka Creeping Unknown)
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Genre | Science Fiction & Fantasy |
Format | NTSC |
Contributor | Robert L. Lippert, Brian Donlevy, Val Guest, Anthony Hinds, Jack Warner, Margia Dean, Richard Wordsworth, Nigel Kneale, Richard H. Landau See more |
Language | English |
Number Of Discs | 1 |
Frequently bought together
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From the manufacturer
About Us
Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) was formed in April 1924 by theater magnate Marcus Loew, who orchestrated the merger of Metro Pictures Goldwyn Pictures and Louis B. Mayer Productions. With visionary Louis B. Mayer and production genius Irving Thalberg at the helm, MGM, with its roaring lion logo, was a powerhouse of prolific artistry and filmmaking expertise. During a golden three decades from 1924 to 1954, the Culver City-based studio dominated the movie business, famously attracting "more stars than are in the heavens" and creating a Best Picture nominee at the Academy Awards every year for two straight decades. Historically, in 1939 two of MGM's most iconic films, Gone With the Wind and The Wizard of Oz, were both nominated for Best Picture.
Product Description
A spacecraft returns to earth with only one terrified passenger left aboard...and a creeping monster.
Product details
- Aspect Ratio : 1.33:1
- Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
- MPAA rating : NR (Not Rated)
- Product Dimensions : 7.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches; 2.72 ounces
- Director : Val Guest
- Media Format : NTSC
- Run time : 1 hour and 22 minutes
- Release date : October 6, 2011
- Actors : Brian Donlevy, Margia Dean, Jack Warner, Richard Wordsworth
- Producers : Anthony Hinds, Robert L. Lippert
- Studio : MGM
- ASIN : B005HIBWBG
- Writers : Richard H. Landau, Val Guest, Nigel Kneale
- Country of Origin : USA
- Number of discs : 1
- Best Sellers Rank: #33,368 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
- #706 in Science Fiction DVDs
- Customer Reviews:
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It's a short film, at about 82 minutes, but it packs in a lot of story. An ill-fated rocket carrying a crew of three men soars to an altitude of 1,500 miles and, after a 57-hour flight, crashes back to Earth outside of London. The sole surviving astronaut inexorably mutates into a horrible creature that absorbs any kind of living organism (plant, animal or human) and grows to enormous size as it satisfies its insatiable appetites. It's a simple concept, but it's presented extremely well. The special effects are great for their day, especially the eerie scenes of the rocket poking up like a giant lawn dart from an English field, and the quality of the DVD itself is excellent. The picture is crisp, sharp and stable, with excellent contrast, and the sound track is clear and distinct. In a couple of spots near the end, the music slightly overwhelms the dialogue, but I suspect that's intentional. Also, the characters sometimes talk very fast, which means American ears may have trouble picking out every word of the Queen's English. This does not detract from the excellence of the production.
I've seen "The Quatermass Xperiment" probably about four times over the last several decades, and each time I pick up something new or an additional nuance. The film has layers of complexity and detail that you may not notice on first viewing. But, if you watch it again, you'll have a couple of "Aha!" moments. These make it the best kind of classic science fiction movie--one worth re-watching every five years or so.
This brings me to my only concern. The recent trend of studios producing DVDs "to order" makes me wonder about the lifetime of these products (plus it seems that they should be cheaper, and they're not, but that's another issue). Googling doesn't really help--I've seen seemingly authoritative estimates that these kinds of DVDs last anywhere from five to 30 years before they become unplayable. So will "The Quatermass Xperiment" still work the next time I want to watch it--or the time after that, or after that? I don't know. Perhaps some knowledgeable techie can weigh in with the facts. In the meantime, though, this release is a superb version of this classic movie, and it would make a great addition to the collection of any fan of the genre.
I just wish Quatermass and the Pit would be released as a Region 1 Blu Ray. If there is a region free edition out there can someone please tell me? If I was going to spend $70 for an old dvd I'd just invest in a Region free player (which isn't much more than that).
Kneale wrote a number of TV programs that were eventually adapted to film. However, he will always remain famous for Quatermass. The movies would parallel a series of TV productions: Quatermass II (1955) and Quatermass and the Pit (1958-9). Kneale would conclude the series with Quatermass/The Quatermass Conclusion (1979).
The UK theatrical remake of The Quatermass Experiment (1955) was directed by Val Guest and the screenplay was written by Val Guest and Richard Landau. The part of Professor Bernard Quatermass was played by Brian Donlevy. Donlevy was chosen because it was thought an American in the role would give the film more box office appeal in the U.S. However, in hindsight, it was a little like giving the role of Doctor Who to an obvious Texan or person from the Bronx. Sometimes accents are important. Donlevy did a professional job, although a few cast members complained that he had a drinking problem.
The experimental rocket Q1 crashes in England. Quatermass, the somewhat reckless creator of the ship races to the site. Only one of the three astronauts is found alive, Victor Carroon (played by Richard Wordsworth). The other men have vanished.
This mystery drives the first part of the film. Later it becomes clear that Carroon is not only sick but dangerous. Something has come back with him, something that absorbs the flesh of living creatures and appropriates it into itself. The second half of this film is a somewhat typical man turned into monster drama.
It grows and goes on a rampage of destruction. Can it be caught? How will they stop it?
This early Hammer Film, and their first international success, was filmed in black-and-white. While the film has been released as one of MGM's Midnight Movies, it is only available on VHS. This is quite unfortunate given the fact that the later films are available on DVD. However, the transfer to video is excellent.
Would you believe that this film was given a British "X" rating certificate? There are no sexual situations, no romance, and no nudity. The language is fairly tame. Even the supposedly horrific scenes of mayhem from the monster are a mild PG by today's standards.
While it lacks some of the intensity of the later films, it is a good story. I would recommend it for fans of science fiction, British or not.
Top reviews from other countries
Absolut einmalig und Supertoll, die Doku "World of Hammer -Science Fiction".
Diese Doku beinhaltet die Science Fiction Filme der Hammer-Studios.
Und, ebenso Wichtig für jeden Fan, meiner Meinung nach, ist noch (anscheinend mit einer Privat-Kamera gefilmt) das Life-Intervieuw mit Val Guest, auf einer Veranstaltung von 2000, wo der 90jährige aus seinem Leben erzählt und wie er zum Film kam.
Alleine diese zwei Dinge würde ich mindestens genauso wichtig einschätzen wie den Film.
Alleine das Bonusmaterial würde schon den Kauf der DVD begründen.