Television Reviews - "The Quatermass Experiment"

Storyline

Professor Quatermass of the British Experimental Rocket Group sends Britain's first privately funded and manned rocket into space on a scientific mission. The crew consists of navigation expert Dr. Charles Green, astrophysicist Dr. Ludwig Reichenheim and communications expert Victor Caroon. Caroon's wife Judith is a mathematician who is working on the project and she is concerned about the safety of the mission. However the rocket actually does go off course and subsequently they lose contact with the crew. The team then become able to track it again as it lands but only Victor Caroon emerges from the otherwise empty capsule. He is alive and conscious but what has become of the others is a mystery. Moreover he seems to be physically and mentally altered since his return and has to be kept under close medical supervision. This poses a problem of loyalty for Judith Caroon as she is now romantically involved with the medical officer Dr. Gordon Briscoe and was about to tell Victor that she was going to leave him before the mission departed but lacked the courage to do so.

Caroon escapes from the aeronautic facility and a nationwide search is initiated creating a series of dilemmas for the scientific team, the police and the media respectively. Reporters have been unwilling to accept the public explanation of events offered by Quatermass and have been trying to get to the truth about the outcome of the mission.

Several strange occurances eventually reveal that Caroon's cellular structure is transforming into that of some kind of plant/animal hybrid which seems to contain the consciousness' of all three astronauts. Quatermass and Briscoe ascertain through scientific methods that if this process is not stopped then all life on the planet will become thus transformed and destroyed within a very short space of time. The creature that was/is Caroon is tracked into the huge space of the Modern Art Gallery in London and the defense department is called in to surround it. A military strike on the location is delayed while Quatermass attempts to communicate with the remaining human aspect of the alien entity - but can he succeed in time?

This low budget sci-fi thriller is notable particularly because it is the first live drama broadcast done by the BBC in over twenty years and the adrenaline fired urgency of its live performance gives it a unique quality. If viewed as being in the same stable as the Dr. Who series for instance, one can appreciate how limitations of budget, time and space can sometimes bring out the integral strengths of the actors. In particular Jason Flemyng's portrayal of Quatermass transcends any logistical limits of production and the performances of the all the cast members are extremely strong throughout. I think it is superbly casted.

This particular production of The Quatermass Experiment is based on the original 1953 scripts by Nigel Kneale and was adapted for a 21st century audience by Richard Fell. Charmingly it maintains a few 'nods' to its 1950's roots - a hairstyle here, a character there, etc.

I think that this experiment - which I like to call 'The Quatermass Experiment experiment'! - definately succeeded in bringing the dimension of a live performance into the living rooms of the general public via their television sets.

BRAVO TO ALL THE CAST AND CREW!!

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A documentary was made about this version of the Quatermass Experiment entitled:

"Bring Something Back: The Making of The Quatermass Experiment" 2005

which features interviews with Mr. Tiernan himself, and co-stars David Tennant, Mark Gatiss and Indira Varma.

It is available on DVD format, and runs for 48 mins. It was released in the UK in October 2005.

Andy's Character

Andy's Content Rating

Five Stars - Andy stars in this!

Additional Photos

© 2005