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.

Film, sequels and DVD

As before, the film rights to Quatermass II were bought by Hammer Films, who released the feature film version Quatermass 2 in 1957. The film again starred Brian Donlevy and was directed by Val Guest. In America, it went under the title Enemy From Space.

Related Topics:
Hammer Films - Quatermass 2 - 1957 - Brian Donlevy - Val Guest - America

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It was to be three years before the Professor returned to action again, when the third serial Quatermass and the Pit began showing on the BBC. After that there would be a twenty-year break on television before he returned in a final serial, this time for Thames Television and transmitted on ITV, in 1979. Simply titled Quatermass, the character was played then by John Mills.

Related Topics:
Quatermass and the Pit - Thames Television - ITV - 1979 - Quatermass - John Mills

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The television scripts for Quatermass II were released as a book by Penguin Books in 1959, with a selection of stills from the production also included. The book was re-released in 1979 to tie-in with the transmission of the final Quatermass serial on ITV.

Related Topics:
Penguin Books - 1959 - 1979 - ITV

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In April 2005, BBC Worldwide released a boxed set of all their existing Quatermass material on DVD, containing digitally restored versions of all six episodes of Quatermass II, as well as the two existing episodes of The Quatermass Experiment and all of Quatermass and the Pit, along with various extra material.

Related Topics:
2005 - BBC Worldwide - DVD - The Quatermass Experiment - Quatermass and the Pit

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The 1970 Doctor Who serial Spearhead from Space by Robert Holmes contains elements inspired by the plot of Quatermass II, including meteorites bringing aliens to Earth, invasion by imitation and stealth, and a creature growing in a tank. Supporting evidence comes from the programme's script-editor, Terrance Dicks, who has often repeated a quote from his former writing partner Malcolm Hulke: "A good television script requires just one good idea. It doesn't necessarily have to be your idea." Nigel Kneale has often been highly scathing of Doctor Who, and has been known to accuse the series in interviews of having copied storylines from his Quatermass serials.

Related Topics:
1970 - Doctor Who - Spearhead from Space - Robert Holmes - Terrance Dicks - Malcolm Hulke

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