|
By
FRANK BEHRENS
Lovers of science fiction on
the screen are quite familiar with the first three
films about Prof. Quatermass: "The Quatermass
Xperiment" (aka "The Creeping Unknown," 1956),
"Quatermass II (aka "Enemy from Space," 1957), and
the best of them all, "Quatermass and the Pit"
(aka "Five Million Miles to Earth," 1958). I am
not too sure, however, that the American
Quatermass buffs were aware of a four-part
"Quatermass" television series on the other side
of the Atlantic that was condensed by half and
released as "The Quatermass Conclusion" (1980).
Nevertheless, good old A&E has released in a boxed
set of two DVDs both the original series and the
movie version. The results are low budget but very
interesting, especially with John Mills as an aged
Quatermass. Some power from outer space is causing
to vanish large groups of errant youngsters who
roam the countryside as units in a sort of
widespread hippie cult that is intent on being
transported to "the Planet." Mills is equally
intent on not only finding his long lost
granddaughter but also on solving the mystery of
how (he thinks he knows why) these vanishings are
accomplished and how to prevent any further ones.
The scenes of a London under the control of roving
gangs is too close to reality to be called science
fiction; and the sudden senseless deaths of one of
the main characters is truly shocking. With the
third film still the best, there is a lot to think
about in this "Conclusion."
Just as interesting is a bonus featurette about
Stonehenge taken from the History Channel's "In
Search of History" series. Definitely recommended
for sci-fi fans -- and possibly sociologists. |
