Quatermass II

''Quatermass II'' is a British science fiction serial, originally broadcast by BBC Television in the autumn of 1955. It is the second in the ''Quatermass'' series by writer Nigel Kneale, and the oldest of those serials to survive in its entirety in the BBC archives.

The serial sees Professor Bernard Quatermass of the British Experimental Rocket Group being asked to examine strange meteorite showers. His investigations lead to his uncovering a conspiracy involving alien infiltration at the highest levels of the British government. As even some of Quatermass's closest colleagues fall victim to the alien influence, he is forced to use his own unsafe rocket prototype, which recently caused a nuclear disaster at an Australian testing range, to prevent the aliens from taking over mankind.

Although sometimes compared unfavourably to the first and third ''Quatermass'' serials, ''Quatermass II'' was praised for its allegorical concerns of the damaging effects of industrialisation and the corruption of governments by big business. It is described on the British Film Institute's Screenonline website as "compulsive viewing."

Casting and crew

Reginald Tate, who had played the title role in ''The Quatermass Experiment'', collapsed and died on 23 August 1955, aged 58. This was less than a month before the shooting of the location filming for ''Quatermass II'' began, and necessitated the casting of a replacement lead actor at short notice; John Robinson was chosen to fill the part.Pixley, p. 18. Robinson was an experienced actor from a range of different films and television programmes since the 1930s, but was uncomfortable about taking over from Tate, and had difficulty in learning some of the technical dialogue he was required to deliver. Robinson's delivery of his lines has been criticised by some later reviewers.

Appearing as Quatermass's chief assistant Dr Leo Pugh was Welsh actor Hugh Griffith. Griffith had been an actor on stage and screen since the 1930s, but gained his highest profile roles after ''Quatermass II''; he went on to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor as Sheikh Ilderim in '' Ben-Hur'' (1959). He also appeared in ''Lucky Jim'' (1957) and ''Oliver!'' (1968).

Monica Grey played Paula Quatermass; she was chosen by BBC management rather than the production team, as she was the wife of the BBC's head of radio drama, Val Gielgud. As Hugh Griffith also had problems with some of his technical dialogue, Grey learned his lines as well as her own, in case she needed to step in and assist him during the live performance.Murray, p. 50. Dillon was played by John Stone; Stone too had a long career as a supporting actor in a range of British television series, and in 1956 had a small role in the film ''X the Unknown'', which Hammer Film Productions had intended as a sequel to their version of ''The Quatermass Experiment'', until Kneale denied them the rights to use the character.Murray, p. 53.

Four actors who each became well known for a particular role on British television had supporting parts in ''Quatermass II''. Rupert Davies who played MP Vincent Broadhead would go on to find fame as Sûreté detective Commissaire Jules Maigret, the title character of 1960s TV series ''Maigret'', based on Georges Simenon's novels. Roger Delgado, who found fame in the 1970s as the Master in ''Doctor Who'' (1971–73), played a journalist who helps Quatermass before falling victim to "the mark" in episode four. Wilfrid Brambell, later star of the sitcom ''Steptoe and Son'' (1962–74), appeared as a tramp. and Melvyn Hayes, who played the small role of Frankie, later worked in several films with Cliff Richard.

Nigel Kneale not only wrote the serial but, previously an actor, had two speaking parts. He played the voice heard over the factory loudspeaker system in episode five, and narrated the recaps at the beginning of episodes two, three, four and six. Kneale went on to write feature film screenplays such as ''Look Back in Anger'' (1958) and ''The First Men in the Moon'' (1964), as well as continuing to write for television, including two further ''Quatermass'' serials, until 1997.

Kneale credited the director Rudolph Cartier with bringing to the screen in ''Quatermass II'', with its ambitious location filming, an expansive style that had not been seen in British television drama beforehand. Cartier worked with Kneale again on the third ''Quatermass'' serial, ''Quatermass and the Pit'', in 1958, and had subsequent successes with plays such as ''Anna Karenina'' (1961), ''Cross of Iron'' (1961) and ''Lee Oswald – Assassin'' (1966). He continued directing for television until the 1970s.

Episodes

Production

On 22 September 1955 the ITV network was launched in the UK, bringing commercial television to Britain for the first time and ending the BBC
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