The Quatermass Experiment [1953]

Country of Origin: UK
Date(s) of Broadcast: 18 July 1953 - 22 August 1953
Number of Seasons: 1
Total Number of Episodes: 6
Average Episode Running Times: 34 mins
Format: black and white     broadcast live
Sound: mono

PRODUCTION
Production Company: BBC
Production: Rudolph Cartier

SCRIPT
Script: Nigel Kneale

DIRECTION
Director: Rudolph Cartier

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Settings: Richard R. Greenough, Stewart Marshall

LOCATIONS
Locations: Alexandra Palace (Studio A), London

CAST
Reginald Tate [Professor Bernard Quatermass]
Isabel Dean [Judith Carroon]
Duncan Lamont [Victor Carroon]
Hugh Kelly [John Paterson]
Moray Watson [Peter Marsh]
W. Thorp Devereux [Blaker]
Van Boolen [Len Matthews]
Iris Ballard [Mrs Matthews]
Neil Wilson [policeman]
Katie Johnson [Miss Wilde]
Oliver Johnston [news editor of Daily Gazette]
Paul Whitsun-Jones [James Fullalove]
Colyn Davies [fireman]
Patrick Westwood [1st journalist]
Dominic Le Foe [2nd journalist]
Eugene Leahy [police inspector]
Pat McGrath [BBC reporter]
Denis Wyndham [reveller]
Macgregor Urquhart [sandwichman]
John Glen [Dr Gordon Briscoe]
Ian Colin [Chief Inspector Lomax]
Frank Hawkins [Detective Sergeant Best]
Christopher Rhodes [Dr Ludwig Reichenheim]
Peter Bathurst [Charles Greene]
Enid Lindsay [Louisa Greene]
Stella Richman [hospital sister]
Neil Wilson [policeman at Wimbledon]
Maurice Durant [policeman at Scotland Yard]
Philip Vickers [American reporter]
Edward David [Indian reporter]
Lewis Wilson [Walters]
Darrell Runey [photographer]
Jack Rodney [Ramsay]
Anthony Green [boy]
Richard Cuthbert [chemist]
Lee Fox [cinema manager]
Janet Joye [cinema-goer]
Bernadette Milnes [usherette]
Keith Herrington [Space Lieutenant]
Pauline Johnson [space girl]
Christie Humphrey [Janet]
John Stone [Ted]
Frank Atkinson [park keeper]
Reginald Hearne [Police Inspector]
Wilfred Brambell [a drunk]
John Kidd [Sir Vernon Dodd]
Tony Van Bridge [producer]
Neil Arden [commentator]
Josephine Crombie [secretary]
Keith Pyott [cabinet minister]
Arnold Diamond [man in bowler hat]
Kenneth Midwood [policeman]
Andrew Laurence [Major]

Britain's first space mission ends when the rocket crash lands in the English countryside. Project leader Professor Bernard Quatermass finds that only one of his astronauts has returned - and that he is infected with an alien organism that is slowly taking over over his body.

Though most of this seminal TV drama has long since been lost [it was broadcast live and only episodes 1 and 2 still survive] its influence is still widely felt even now. It famously emptied streets as the British viewing public flocked around whatever TV sets were available to follow the brilliantly crafted Nigel Kneale script to its gripping conclusion. A landmark in television history.

EPISODES

Contact Has Been Established [18 July 1953] - 32 mins 30 secs
Persons Reported Missing [25 July 1953] - 35 mins
Very Special Knowledge [1 August 1953] - 33 mins
Believed To Be Suffering [aka: Police Are Anxious To Interview] [8 August 1953] - 32 mins
State Of Emergency [15 August 1953] - 36 mins
Grave Situation Exists [22 August 1953]

1953
July
18: Contact Has Been Established - UK television broadcast
25: Persons Reported Missing - UK television broadcast

August
1: Very Special Knowledge - UK television broadcast
8: Believed To Be Suffering - UK television broadcast
15: State Of Emergency - UK television broadcast
22: Grave Situation Exists - UK television broadcast

2003
August
13: UK - episodes 1 and 2 shown at the National Film Theatre 1 as part of the TV Sci-Fi season

The Unbegotten - early title
Bring Something Back - early title

SEQUELS
Quatermass 2 [1955]
Quatermass and the Pit [1958 - 1959]
Quatermass [1978]

REMAKE
The Quatermass Experiment [1955]

SEE ALSO
Quatermass II [1955]
Quatermass and the Pit [1958 - 1959]

MAGAZINES

Epi-Log 16 pp.35-37 [USA]
episode guide, credit

Film Review Special no.53 pp.64-68 [UK]
illustrated interview

Journal of Popular Film and Television vol.30 no.3 [Autumn 2002] pp.158-165 [USA]
illustrated bibliography, article ["Bring something back" - The strange career of Professor Quatermass by Dave Robinson and Nick Cooper]

Playback Special Collector's Edition [1995] p.38 [UK]
illustrated short article

Starburst no.58 [June 1983] p.40 [UK]
illustrated article with Nigel Kneale [TV Zone by Richard Hollis]

Time Screen no.7 [revised] p.22 [UK]
note

TV Zone Special no.25 p.10 [UK]
illustrated article

TV Zone no.106 pp.38-43 [UK]
illustrated article

BOOKS

The Complete Directory to Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Television Series p.635
episode, credits

The Encyclopedia of TV Science Fiction [3rd edition] pp.352-354
episode guide, credits, short article

Serials on British Television 1950 - 1994 p.10
episode guide, credits

OTHER SOURCES

National Film Theatre Prgramme August 2003 p.28 [UK]
illustrated note

KEYWORDS

aliens, space travel, transformations, westminster abbey, london, astronauts, scientists

Last Updated: 6 March, 2007