Quatermass II similarities to Moonraker novel

BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff
In 1955, a year after the MR novel was written, the BBC broadcast "Quatermass II"- a science-fiction serial in six parts written by Nigel Kneale and a sequel to "The Quatermass Experiment". A Hammer film production was released two years later.

Q2 does not have a lengthy gambling prologue, and MR does not have invading aliens, but both have a rocket being built by a team of scientists with government approval in the SE corner of England which ends up being used in a different way than intended while the protagonist gradually uncovers a sinister plot with an apparently benign cover story.

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aa_old_man_2.jpg *
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The characters are almost completely unalike- there's no Drax figure in Q2 and Quatermass is nothing like 007, although Fleming's minor character Vallance is very similar to Neale's Lomax - and the themes of each story are distinct, but the details are similar enough that watching Q2 is as close as we can get to imagining what a 1950s film of MR would have looked like (B&W, dodgy SFX, and all).
It was directed by Val Guest, of CR67 fame (if that's the right word).


aa_old_man_2.jpg "Don't take me round the world one more time... please."


* This is from the first Quatermass movie.
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Comments

  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,644MI6 Agent
    Very interesting, Barbel. I've just ordered a copy of all of the Quatermass films from Amazon.
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff
    Enjoy, you're in for a good time. The third film "Quatermass And The Pit" was a strong influence on the Dr Who of the 70s.
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,644MI6 Agent
    Barbel wrote:
    Enjoy, you're in for a good time. The third film "Quatermass And The Pit" was a strong influence on the Dr Who of the 70s.

    Yes, looking forward to seeing them.

    Have you ever seen Seven Days to Noon (1950)? I have a feeling that was a possible influence on the MR novel. See here:

    http://www.thebondologistblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/ian-flemings-thrilling-inspiration-for.html
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    I've heard of these Films, but never seen them :) Are they highly recommended?
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff

    Have you ever seen Seven Days to Noon (1950)? I have a feeling that was a possible influence on the MR novel. See here:

    http://www.thebondologistblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/ian-flemings-thrilling-inspiration-for.html

    Interesting article, thanks- only skimmed it so far, I'll go back and take a longer read now. Yes, I watched that film many years ago but I'll need to take another look.
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff
    I've heard of these Films, but never seen them :) Are they highly recommended?

    If you're into that sort of thing*, very much so.

    * You might find them very dated (B&W except for the 3rd, creaky effects, low budget, etc), but for their time they're very well done and the subtleties and themes haven't dated.
  • Charmed & DangerousCharmed & Dangerous Posts: 7,358MI6 Agent
    I'm a huge fan of Quatermass. It was a huge influence on horror and science fiction films and Nigel Kneale's writing, though occasionally seeming somewhat quaint today, was pioneering in the fifties. The original b&w TV shows enthralled audiences in the fifties - if you can get a copy of the originals as well as the Hammer remakes, which are also excellent.

    Interesting point Barbel, I can certainly see the similarities. Quatermass's British Experimental Rocket Group certainly has striking resemblances to Drax's operations in Dover too. -{
    "How was your lamb?" "Skewered. One sympathises."
  • 002002 New ZealandPosts: 558MI6 Agent
    Also, it looks like no one has noticed that Moonraker and Quatermass II both appeared in 1955, only months apart. The OP suggests that Moonraker was published in 1954, which it wasn't.
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    That's me sold :))
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff
    002 wrote:
    The OP suggests that Moonraker was published in 1954, which it wasn't.

    Quite right, I should have said written in 1954. Thanks, 002, I've changed that in the first post.
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff
    Barbel wrote:

    Interesting article, thanks- only skimmed it so far, I'll go back and take a longer read now.

    Nice work, SM, I enjoyed reading that. You must complete the other projected articles, they look interesting too.
  • 002002 New ZealandPosts: 558MI6 Agent
    Barbel wrote:
    002 wrote:
    The OP suggests that Moonraker was published in 1954, which it wasn't.

    Quite right, I should have said written in 1954. Thanks, 002, I've changed that in the first post.

    ;) You're welcome. Just trying to help, never to hinder. -{
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,644MI6 Agent
    Barbel wrote:
    Barbel wrote:

    Interesting article, thanks- only skimmed it so far, I'll go back and take a longer read now.

    Nice work, SM, I enjoyed reading that. You must complete the other projected articles, they look interesting too.

    Thanks very much, Barbel. I really appreciate all feedback. There are a new set of articles coming to the blog soon - currently working on them. :) -{
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    Barbel wrote:
    Barbel wrote:

    Interesting article, thanks- only skimmed it so far, I'll go back and take a longer read now.

    Nice work, SM, I enjoyed reading that. You must complete the other projected articles, they look interesting too.

    Thanks very much, Barbel. I really appreciate all feedback. There are a new set of articles coming to the blog soon - currently working on them. :) -{

    Including the NSF Article? :D
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,644MI6 Agent
    Barbel wrote:

    Nice work, SM, I enjoyed reading that. You must complete the other projected articles, they look interesting too.

    Thanks very much, Barbel. I really appreciate all feedback. There are a new set of articles coming to the blog soon - currently working on them. :) -{

    Including the NSF Article? :D

    Indeed, a lot of it was written years ago (2009) and I've added to it since then. I really must get that one finished at some point. There'll probably be very few interested in that one though to be honest. We'll see. :)) -{
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    Well, I'm looking forward to it {[]
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,644MI6 Agent
    Well, I'm looking forward to it {[]

    Thanks, AOS. At least I'm assured of one reader then! :))
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff
    At least I'm assured of one reader then! :))


    AA_OLD_MAN.jpg
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    :)) :)) :)) , aren't we a clever boy. :D
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff
    Thank you for calling me "boy", makes a change from what you usually call me...


    AA_OLD_MAN.jpg
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    " You know how it is, Old man". ;)
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff
    Ahem, back on topic:

    AA_OLD_MAN.jpg

    I'm not trying to suggest that Q2 and MR are twins, but that if Fleming's novel had been adapted fairly faithfully at the time (and some moves were made in that direction) then some scenes in Q2 resemble what would have been the result.
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,644MI6 Agent
    I must say that I love this sort of topic as Moonraker is my favourite Bond novel. It was the first one I read too. :) -{
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff
    Not novel-related, but the film of Q2 also had a PTS which was very unusual in those days.
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,644MI6 Agent
    Barbel wrote:
    Not novel-related, but the film of Q2 also had a PTS which was very unusual in those days.

    Another interesting connection there. :) -{
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    I must say that I love this sort of topic as Moonraker is my favourite Bond novel. It was the first one I read too. :) -{

    It's always been my faviroute as well -{
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Slightly off topic but keeping the Quatermass idea.
    Any Torchwood fans about. I think the last two series of Torchwood were
    very much in the Quatermass vein. Alien world wide conspiracy, not being
    able to trust your political leaders ? For me they are carrying on the tradition
    of great British Sci-fi, which makes you think as well as entertains.
    Sadly it was cancelled after " Miracle day" but I have read rumours of a possible
    Return. I do hope so. -{
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Having recently re-eatched Quatermass 2, I have a few
    Observations ( I'm certain already mentioned )
    Firstly the Rocket, itself looks as Fleming described the Moonraker
    Although I think this was a General 50s/60s design.
    The idea of a local factory/ installation which is very secret, yet
    Producing a strong loyalty from the locals towards it.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Danvers NettlefoldDanvers Nettlefold Posts: 20MI6 Agent
    Fans of Quatermass 2 may recognise one of the stills used in the old Orson Welles' Moonraker 'What-If?' article from several years ago:

    https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MDB3Tgh61AgFTgc9E6xVhjOEHyU2GixJ/view?usp=sharing
  • CoolHandBondCoolHandBond Mactan IslandPosts: 6,030MI6 Agent
    Quatermass 2 also starred the great Sid James. I always thought he would have been good as a British version of J W Pepper.
    Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
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