Quatermass (1979)

[Phoenix Lazarus]

Saw it at the time aged ten.  Watched it again a few years ago.  The one thing I'd recalled from my original viewing was fighting between two groups of paramilitaries, which, on rewatch, was really only one scene incidental to the story only in showing how society had broken down.

[Norton Canes]

Enjoyed this weeks - episode 2 - bleak ending

Completely forgot to watch it. Will have to dig out the DVD.

[Johnny Yesno]

Quatermass and the Pit is top notch. Personally I prefer the TV version, but the film is undeniably great.

Same. IIRC, the ending felt a bit rushed in the film.

Cheers for the headsup, Sheepy. I've not seen this series so it'll be good to finally catch up with it.

[A Hat Like That]

The extended scene in the TV studio has not dated well even with the comically large banana.

[Blumf]

As a society, we have, somehow, regressed away from Pan's People.

[kaprisky]

The reactionary comment seems to apply to episode three. The old people in the scrapyard complaining about how the young already have it all and want it all. Also check out the pictures of the monarchy on the walls. And that TV show being what was once called a "family show". And the army fella scoffing at the show.

[JesusAndYourBush]

And that TV show being what was once called a "family show".

A ridiculous show (what we saw of it), but it wouldn't have looked out of place in an episode of "O.T.T." 3 years later.

[daf]

Was Toyah a bit of stunt casting at the time? She seems to have done nothing so far!

[Absorb the anus burn]

The Titty Bumpity Show?

Now where have I heard that before?

[Norton Canes]

I mentioned it on the last page

[JesusAndYourBush]

Was Toyah a bit of stunt casting at the time? She seems to have done nothing so far!

Yeah she has surprisingly high billing in the credits for an extra, which is what her part amounted to in #3 - being in the edge of the frame in a non-speaking role you'd have easily missed her if you weren't looking out for her.  I think she spoke a few lines in #2, can't remember if she gets more airtime in #4.

[Wentworth Smith]

I didn't even notice she was in it, thank God.

I'm enjoying this but it is getting by on its atmosphere, setting and cast (apart from the American TV presenter/astronaut who's open shirted awfulness was a thing to behold) more than the script. Kneale as well as hating the youth didn't seem to like filling in plot-holes. How did Quatermass twig what was going on? He just seemed to know stuff, like there being a beacon underground, that it was a transport beam etc.

I did find it amusing to think that whenever he watched tele everything appeared to Kneale as the crap TV show. I enjoy the world building such as the old people living under cars, the hints at their meetings with gang members, the sketches of the wider world they live in but it doesn't really hold together as a piece. Perhaps doesn't help that it almost seems like an inverse of reality: the world is really is going to shit but the old are screwing the young.

[kaprisky]

I think the ending worked. Some top quality 'heart attack' acting from Mills there.

The old people stepping up to be scientists. The Planet People treating intellect and knowledge as a 'sin'. Kneale didn't appear to like the youth. Then you have an end scene that looks like something from the Watership Down film.

[Custard]

Up to the final episode, and have really enjoyed this. The Blu-ray picture quality is amazing, too. So clear and crisp

It's absolutely of it's time, but is lovely stuff