Stever

Hi all, I'm a new member here, so please bear with me while I catch up with most of the forums and threads. I have chosen Hammer Films 1957 movie 'Quatermass 2' as my favourite film because it scared me so much as a kid. I saw it when I was about 10 years old as part of the BBC2 Horror Double bills season - I think it was around 1975.
It absolutely horrified me, and the scene with Tom Chatto's character 'Broadhead' covered in black goo stayed with my dreams/nightmares for many months after and still gives me a shiver even now, as the film approaches 50 years old.

Best wishes

Steve

Steve

smudge

I have to agree Steve -
There's a thread going on at the moment about our most watched movies. Whilst I can't produce a particular film, I have to say that I can go back to Q2 time and time again. It has a marvellous atmosphere of 'brave new world', Britain rebuilding after the war (literally, with the setting of the new town development) but that sinister something lurking just beneath.

I think the weird town could be re-filmed now, as a great analogy for Blair's Britain...

Like yourself I was haunted from the first time I saw it by Tom Chatto's scenes as the hapless and helpless Broadhead. One of the most convincing and startling scenes of its type ever in a British film, I think. The film even manages to raise itself above Donlevy's mediocre performing and it's rather cheap looking monster effects.

Cracking stuff !

SMUDGE

Welcome to my house. Enter freely, and of your own will...

mysteriesofedgarwallace

Count me in, too. I love the Quatermass films. Althought, I find it very hard to pick between them.

Iain1962

Hi there.

Along with another Val Guest picture The Day the Earth Caught Fire I think that Quatermass 2 probably represents the highpoint of British science fiction cinema. The second wave of British sci-fi initiated by Wolf Rilla's Village of the Damned is particularly impressive with titles like Unearthly Stranger and Invasion as well as the Wyndham sequel and easily on par with anything coming out of Hollywood in the early 60s. Surprisingly I didn't like Joseph Losey's The Damned although critic-wise it is the most highly regarded title form this period.

Cheers.

Iain

Hair in the Gate - reviews of artefacts from the world of B-picture, exploitation and DTV entertainment: www.geocities.com/hairinthegate2005

Bobj

Always had a soft spot for Quatermass 2 as parts of it were filmed in Hemel Hempstead where I live.
One of my favourite scenes is in the social club when the exploding alien "pods" start dropping through the roof and reporter Sid James tries to telephone his paper to alert them.

Rob Compton

That happens every week in Hemel Hempstead.

rgds
Rob

smudge

Isn't there a street named after our Professor there somewheres Bob, to mark the estate on which they did the shoot ?

SMUDGE

Welcome to my house. Enter freely, and of your own will...

Stever

Some great replies there, thanks for the welcome. I actually visited the Shell Refinery where they filmed Q2, it is also the location of the BBC seriel version. A friend who lives in Stanford-le-hope tells me the place is now knocked down to make way for a frieght yard for the Channel Tunnel or something. I took photos of my visit there although, I could only photograph from the road.

Hi Smudge,
There is a Quartermass Road & a Quartermass Close - maybe they spelled it wrong?

Best wishes
Steve

Steve

mysteriesofedgarwallace

Some quality titles mentioned here. I would also add 'X The Unknown'.
However, The Day the Earth Caught Fire, is, for me, the Rolls-Royce of SF.
The DVD has a lovely interview with Leo McKern.
It's a shame that Edward Judd wasn't interviewed about it as well.

Stever

DTECF is a firm fave in my books too - I love that ending, which could swing either way, very bleak and yet with a tinge of optimism too - cracking stuff! I also love the Boulting's classic 'Seven Days to Noon', that is a real edge of the seat job, wish it would get a DVD release.

Steve