Need British Sci-Fi Film DVD recommendations

[s20076037]

Recently got into sci-fi, and I'm making my way through British sci-fi movies. I'm looking for recommendations for British sci-fi films that are available on Region 2 DVD.

Checked the sci-fi list on the Britmovie website, so looking for DVDs out there of other British sci-fi films.

If anyone has any suggestions for titles out on DVD, that would be cool. And if some have been deleted, please tell me, so I can try and track them down.

Any help is appreciated, thanks.

[ddock54]

Village of the Damned./Children of theDamned..

[batman]

I have all of these on R2 DVD.

The Quatermass series .... and their unofficial companion X-The Unknown. Also, Fiend Without a Face and Day of the Triffids.

Not really sci-fi but Nigel Kneale's The Abominable Snowman and his TV production The Year Of The Sex Olympics are also worth a look.

Bats.

[Lord Brett]

Doppelganger (aka Journey to the Far Side of the Sun) is well worth a look. The script is a bit dated and the ending is a real downer, but the production and effects are stunning - it was nominated for a Special Effects Oscar in 1969, and it was a scandal that it lost out to a lesser, but American production (either Marooned or Countdown, I forget which).

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by Lord Brett Doppelganger (aka Journey to the Far Side of the Sun) is well worth a look. The script is a bit dated and the ending is a real downer, but the production and effects are stunning - it was nominated for a Special Effects Oscar in 1969, and it was a scandal that it lost out to a lesser, but American production (either Marooned or Countdown, I forget which).

Also, it's a very clever idea for a story and is very well carried out

It was never actually nominated for an Oscar.
Marooned won, but the only other nominee was Krakatoa, East of Java (1969)
(See the Academy's own page. They called it "Visual Effects" back then)

Steve

[Lord Brett]

Originally Posted by Steve Crook Also, it's a very clever idea for a story and is very well carried out Steve

Unfortunatley, Gerry Anderson showed his inexperience in dealing with actors by hiring the cream of British drinking talent - Patrick Wymark and Ian Hendry, neither of whom were capable of much work in the afternoon. Shame, as both were extremeley talented.

[ddock54]

The Man who fell to Earth....

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by s20076037 Recently got into sci-fi, and I'm making my way through British sci-fi movies. I'm looking for recommendations for British sci-fi films that are available on Region 2 DVD. Checked the sci-fi list on the Britmovie website, so looking for DVDs out there of other British sci-fi films. If anyone has any suggestions for titles out on DVD, that would be cool. And if some have been deleted, please tell me, so I can try and track them down. Any help is appreciated, thanks.

The term "Sci-Fi" covers a broad spectrum. Here are a few that could be said to fall within it.

Also, the definition of what is a "British" film is always open to dispute. The ones in this list are British or have a strong British element

1984 (1956)
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
28 Days Later... (2002)
Alien (1979)
Blackadder Back & Forth (1999)
Brazil (1985)
The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961)
Fahrenheit 451 (1966)
A Grand Day Out (1992)
The Man in the White Suit (1951)
Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984)
Quatermass and the Pit (1967)
Superman (1978)
Village of the Damned (1960)

Steve

[batman]

How could I forget The Day The Earth Caught Fire .... .... a rare Brit sci-fi 'classic'.

Bats.

[ddock54]

Night of the Big Heat....

[DB7]

Unearthly Stranger
Invasion
The Earth Dies Screaming

[Dave Rattigan]

I second Quatermass and the Pit - one of the best British sci-fis, and certainly one of the finest Hammer films.

I also really like Terence Fisher's sci-fis: Night of the Big Heat and Island of Terror, both for Planet films; and The Earth Dies Screaming, for some studio whose name I can't recall. Whether you like them will probably depend somewhat on your devotion to British horror, as much of their appeal rests on the familiar names and faces, such as Peter Cushing, Christopher, Patrick Allen, Eddie Byrne, Sam Kydd, Sarah Lawson, Thomas Heathcote, Edward Judd etc. Some of the effects are a bit ropey, but it's all great fun.

[christoph404]

Zardoz
Demon Seed ( British Director British Star, Julie Christie)
No Blade of Grass
The Final Programme
Rollerball (shot in the UK, Pinewood and Munich)

[s20076037]

ddock54, I'd forgotten Village of The Damned & Children of The Damned were out on a double-DVD, so I'll have to pick them up soon. The Man Who Fell To Eath, I've heard is very weird. Night of The Big Heat sounds like a good concept, and anything by Terence Fisher is always good.

batman, I've seen the Hammer Quatermass films - a long time ago, though Quatermass And The Pit stays firmly in my memory. I love Andrew Keir in that, he's really great.

X-The Unknown, Fiend Without A Face, The Abominable Snowman, and The Year of The Sex Olympics I haven't seen! I wil check them out.

Lord Brett, Journey To The Far Side of The Sun I was fortunate enough to download off the net a while back. I've heard that the Region 1 DVD is out of print and goes for a ridiculous amount of money! :O Haven't watched it all, but I did watch the beginning and was astounded at the production values and the miniatures - which just looked so real. Herbert Lom taking out his glass eyes that is in fact a miniature camera ... well, that just totally blew me away! I must get around to watching it eventually.

Steve Crook, thanks for the list. I've seen a few on there, but have yet to see the '56 version of 1984. I like Edmond O' Brien, so will buy that soon.

The Day The Earth Caught Fire I saw once, long ago on the now defunct Carlton Cinema. Brilliant use of Widescreen. Another I will have to buy!

DB7, I've not seen Invasion or Unearthly Stranger. I don't think either are out on DVD. The Earth Dies Screaming I saw a while back, and reminded me a lot of Night of The Living Dead.

Dave Rattigan, Island of Terror - yet another Fisher film to see!

christop404, Zardoz I've heard is really bad, lol. Demon Seed I've seen and is great. No Blade of Grass I've been fortunate to see and absolutely loved it. Very different. The Final Programme ... not heard of that one! And I had no idea Rollerball was shot in England!

Thank you everyone for taking the time to reccomend some Brit sci-fi films. It's great to have a list of films to see.

Cheers!

[DB7]

Originally Posted by Dave Rattigan Some of the effects are a bit ropey, but it's all great fun.

Especially those blancmanges on wheels in Island of Terror.