
The Man from Planet X
1951

A horrible enemy from the unknown strikes terror across the earth!
In England, a group of space scientists led by Bernard Quatermass, who have developed plans for the first Moon colony, learn that a secret, ostensibly government-run, complex of identical design has been built in a remote part of England and is the focus of periodic falls of small, hollow "meteorites" originating in outer space. Quatermass determines to investigate and uncovers a terrifying extraterrestrial life form which has already begun action to take over the Earth.

In England, a group of space scientists led by Bernard Quatermass, who have developed plans for the first Moon colony, learn that a secret, ostensibly government-run, complex of identical design has been built in a remote part of England and is the focus of periodic falls of small, hollow "meteorites" originating in outer space. Quatermass determines to investigate and uncovers a terrifying extraterrestrial life form which has already begun action to take over the Earth.
Brian DonlevyProf. Bernard Quatermass
John LongdenChief Inspector Lomax
William FranklynDr. Tom Brand
Bryan ForbesMarsh
Charles Lloyd PackWork Camp Manager Dawson
John Van EyssenThe Plant Tour Guide
Sidney JamesJimmy Hall
Percy HerbertPaddy Gorman
Michael RipperErnie the Bartender
Edwin RichfieldPeterson
Vera DaySheila
Marianne StoneMiss Beal
Michael BalfourHarry
John StuartThe Police Commissioner


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Brian Donlevy sort of grows into his part as the acclaimed scientist "Quatermass" in this quite menacingly put together sequel. He and his colleagues have been developing a plan to put a colony on the moon but when he encounters a man who is very, very, sick and then discovers a supposedly government run facility that is prone to meteor strikes, he begins to smell a rat. That's not all he smells as the place seems to be processing ammonia - but why would a food processing plant need that? Moreover, those exposed to this substance soon appear to assume zombie-like qualities that arouses his suspicions still further. Now allied with his police friend "Lomax" (John Longden), wily journalist "Jimmy" (Sidney James) and his no-nonsense assistant "Sheila" (Vera Day) they attempt to get to the bottom of this heavily militarised secret. This packs quite a lot into not even ninety minutes, and both the pacing and the writing help Donlevy to keep the story moving along rapidly without (thankfully) much reliance on the type of third-rate special effects we've become used to with low budget British sci-fi thrillers. There's also a little more of scientfic substance to an imaginative plot that also illustrates just how post-war British communities were coming to terms with their new society and proves how ineffective government oversight really was when official-looking military projects (our's or anyone else's) are protected by armed guards, barbed wire fences and conspiracy. It's a different sort of film from the "Quatermass Experiment" (1955) and it's really only the character himself who provides any sense of continuity; but it's well worth a look if you want something creepily plausible.

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