Think I’m going to keep going with the films, with ADHD my attention span isn’t always the best, and can struggle to get through serials sometimes
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From the first one, it’s definitely worth a watch!
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Do it!
I know a lot of people just don’t watch or aren’t interested in old telly or movies which is fine. I am. I’ve always loved older movies, we used to get a lot on TV back when I was young (another failing of streamng is the lack of access to a huge history of cinema). I have a fondness for them, especially UK movies as you’d often see the same familar faces appearing in supporting character roles.
If you’ve watched 1960s Doctor Who then going back a few years to these shouldn’t be too jarring an experience. Even if you don’t enjoy them you’ll probably see how influential they were not only to Doctor Who but also sci-fi in general. Some of the ideas & plots may feel very familiar, but this was the 1950s.
The movies may be a better way into them than the tv shows.
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Me too, actually. I’ve been watching movies from the silent era and the black-and-white era just to brush up on my film knowledge. I don’t find all of them very enjoyable but they are fascinating windows into the past - and I’ve especially been enjoying classic horror and sci-fi films.
Yeah, this is the main reason why I think I might enjoy them at least on some level!
Now I just need to find them somewhere and I’ll jump right in!
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I probably will look at the follow ups (the Cornell/Myles podcast that got me to watch the first one have moved on to the next story for their third episode) but definitely more as an ‘intellectual’ exercise than for enjoyment. Maybe I’ll be pleasantly surprised.
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I love love love older SF - I find 50s and 60s SF movies so fascinating and some of them are utterly brilliant. I think it’s why I’m such a big Classic Who fan, I just love it when it’s a bit janky
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Just watch the movies. You may find them more entertaining. The first 2 I feel are better than their tv originals, well we only have 2 surviving episodes of The Quatermass Experiment.
Quatermass & the Pit is great in both its tv & movie version. Nigel Kneale adapted it himself so its interesting to see the way he rewrote a 6 part tv show into a movie. The Blu-Ray release from a few years ago of the TV show is really good, some of the best restoration work I’ve seen. & I include Doctor Who in that!
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Not being able to work today means I got to watch all of Quatermass & the Pit. I’ve seen it a couple times, as well as the movie, but still got caught up in the plot all over again. The finale may be a little quick but overall it’s so well paced, the mystery expertly revealed bit by bit throughout the 6 episodes. I can only imagine how exciting it must have been watching this back in 1958/9. Especially given the central idea which could have been controversial at the time.
The influence on Doctor Who is pretty obvious.The narrative itself, which focuses on both supernatural & religious themes having alien origins & extraterrestrial intervention in human history/evolution - ideas we’ve seen in many Doctor Who stories.
Also during episode 1 in a meeting about military bases & weapons on the Moon, the exacerbated Quatermass replies “…All this means is that from the very start we’ll be going into space with one thought. War. We are on the verge of a new dimension of discovery. It’s the great chance to leave our vices behind us, war first of all. Not to go out there dragging our hatreds and frontiers with us.” You can easily imagine the 3rd Doctor having a similar response during a UNIT meeting. It also highlights how good André Morell is in the lead role.
There are also lovely character moments here & there, not just from the main cast but smaller supporting roles. Not all essential to the plot but that’s why I like them. They really flesh out the world of the story & make it feel lived in & authentic. Nigel Kneale was not only great at sci-fi ideas but also at succinctly establishing characters.
Also of note is that, like the previous 2 stories this was live. There are some pre-filmed scenes, which look the best on the Blu-Ray restoration, but a lot of it was rehearsed in the preceding week & performed live. & all the acting is really good, in fact I’d say better than the rare modern attempts at live drama.
At the risk of overstating things & raising expectations for those unfamiliar with the show, I will say that IMHO Quatermass & the Pit is one of the greatest TV shows of the 20th century.
I’d recommend it to everyone, especially Doctor Who fans.
I would not recommend looking at the wiki page. It immediately spoils the entire plot!
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Another deluxe 4K collectors edition from Hammer.
Extensive special features but pricey. I’m sure there will be a standard edition released later.
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