Quatermass Experiment/Quatermass II

DD Home Entertainment, 149 minutes, PG

Region 2 DVD L20.42 (US$37.81)

This double set is the Hammer film versions of the Quatermass serials reviewed above.

Having watched all three TV serials I tore into this set mostly to see the ending of the Quatermass Experiment which is missing in the TV serials. It is obvious that the films were aimed at an American audience with the casting of American actor Brian Donlevy in the part of Professor Quatermass. Director Val Guest also faced the problem of condensing three hours of TV serial into a 90 minute film so there is none of the calm thoughtful deliberation on choices. Instead, Donlevy’s Quatermass strides briskly from scene to scene with an assurance that seems arrogant after the Quatermass of the TV serials.

While entertaining enough on their own they do not stack up favorably when compared to the TV versions. Strangely enough, while the TV serial collection included subtitles the movie versions offer neither subtitles or closed captions which would have been helpful in several scenes where the sound is not as clear as it could be.

Recommended for the serious collector. - Stephanie L Bannon