Quatermass II

Quatermass II is a British television science-fiction serial, the second in the popular and influential Quatermass series written by Nigel Kneale. It was first transmitted on BBC Television in the autumn of 1955, and is the first of the Quatermass serials to survive in its entirety in the BBC archives.

Cast & Crew

The role of Quatermass was originally to have been played by its originator, actor Reginald Tate, but sadly Tate died only shortly before production was due to begin. He was replaced at short notice by John Robinson, who was an experienced actor and veteran of many small and character parts in a variety of films and television programmes. His performance is somewhat more detached and officious than Tate's, and he is often regarded as the weakest of the five actors to have played the part on television.

Related Topics:
Reginald Tate - John Robinson

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There were no other characters re-appearing from the first serial aside from Quatermass himself, although the character of Lomax may have been intended to feature, as Quatermass attempts to seek the policeman's help during the serial and is told he no longer works at Scotland Yard. Thus another similar character is used instead, probably as the original actor who played Lomax, Ian Colin, was unavailable. This is supported by the fact that the character does re-appear in the feature film version, which was scripted by Kneale.

Related Topics:
Scotland Yard - Feature film version

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Three actors who would later go on to become extremely familiar faces on British television feature in small roles in the serial: Roger Delgado, who found fame in the 1970s as The Master in Doctor Who, played a journalist who helps Quatermass before falling victim to 'the mark' (in episode 4); Wilfrid Brambell, later star of Steptoe and Son and The Beatles' movie A Hard Day's Night appeared as a tramp, and Melvyn Hayes, who here plays the small part of Frankie, became one of the stars of the hugely popular 1970s sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum.

Related Topics:
Roger Delgado - 1970s - The Master - Doctor Who - Wilfrid Brambell - Steptoe and Son - The Beatles - A Hard Day's Night - Melvyn Hayes - Sitcom - It Ain't Half Hot Mum

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As with all of the three 1950s Quatermass serials, Quatermass II was directed by Rudolph Cartier, the BBC's most esteemed director of the day, who worked with the writer Nigel Kneale on a variety of successful programmes during the decade. These included literary adaptations such as Wuthering Heights and Nineteen Eighty-Four and other original written for television pieces such as The Creature.

Related Topics:
1950s - Rudolph Cartier - Nigel Kneale - Wuthering Heights - Nineteen Eighty-Four

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