Where is the DVD of this? - The Quatermass Xperiment (1956) Discussion

[–] Tryavna 19 years ago

Unfortunately, this is not available at all on region 1 DVD. Since this was originally released by United Artists in America, I'm assuming that MGM/UA owned the video rights. And since MGM/UA have recently been bought out by Sony, who knows when they'll get around to release it? Maybe as part of the ongoing line of Midnite Movies, which Sony seems to want to keep up.

If you invest in a region-free DVD player, however, you can get a copy of the region 2 DVD that has been released in England. IMO, the transfer isn't as good as the sequels that have been released by Anchor Bay, but it's not bad, and it boasts yet another commentary with Val Guest.

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[–] Jasons_Argonaut 19 years ago

Thanks for replying, that was very helpful. It is so annoying when films like this get lost in rights issues. I wish Anchor Bay could obtain the rights if Sony isn't interested in releasing it. I will keep an eye out on the Midnite movie releases.

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[–] onnanob2 16 years ago

I know I'd like to have it on an official DVD!

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[–] Jasons_Argonaut 16 years ago

It amazes me that this hasn't been released to us. Luckily, I caught it on television one night about a year or two ago, though I don't recall what channel it was on!

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[–] onnanob2 16 years ago

I decided to get a region free player due to too many movies I'm interested in not being available for region 1. Region 2's DVD release of "The Quatermass Xperiment" is one of the first titles I used to test the new player. The disc was shipped from the U.K., and it really wasn't expensive (around $21.00 including shipping.) I wish I would have done this 4 or 5 years ago!

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[–] Jasons_Argonaut 16 years ago

I am rather ignorant on the subject, but how does one go about getting a region free DVD player??

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[–] onnanob2 16 years ago

Hey Jasons Argonaut,

I'm not sure if any retail stores carry region free DVD players, but you can find several listings on Amazon.com and ebay. You'll be able to look over the selections on each site, and find something in your price range. Just make sure the player will play NTSC and PAL DVDs on any television, and it should say so in the description.

I bought a lower priced region free DVD player, the Toshiba SD-590KA, and I am greatly enjoying it. You can find this player brand new on Amazon.com for $34.94. Shipping will probably be around $10.50.

The Toshiba SD-590KA is a very easy to use player! All you need to do is put the disc in the tray, and hit "play." The DVD player knows what region the disc is from, and it will play it. It will play DVDs from all regions on any television.

The great thing is once you get a region free DVD player, you can then shop around for hard to find movies and programs. You can look over ebay UK, Amazon UK, ebay Australia, ebay Canada, etc., for many titles. If prices in foreign currency are confusing, bring up a currency converter/calculator in Google. It will then be easy to figure out how much things cost in your own currency.

Sometimes it's even less expensive to buy DVDs from other regions, and have them shipped to your country! A good example would be "Quatermass And the Pit," which is out of print in region 1. The Anchor Bay DVD can now cost anywhere between $60.00 to $300.00. The region 2 DVD (Warner Home Video or Optimum) can be found on Amazon UK for under $20.00, which includes shipping to the US!

Feel free to ask about DVDs if there's something you're looking for. I'd be glad to help you find it.

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[–] hobnob53 15 years ago

Hi Jasons_Argonaut: Thought I'd cut into your thread to tell you and the others that The Quatermass Xperiment has at last become available on Region 1 DVD. I posted a thread on this subject on Oct. 6 '09 but so far apparently no one's seen it, or at least made any reply. Given your interest, I decided I'd post this message for you. For details, and if you want to reply or ask anything, please go onto the thread topic "'TQX' now available on R1 DVD".

Hope this is of use to you.

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[–] BodyDoubleFilms 15 years ago

Awesome!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiUz04P3hRM

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[–] Jasons_Argonaut 15 years ago

Hi hobnob53. Thanks for posting the information about the DVD, as it was indeed of use to me. I just ordered a copy!

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[–] hobnob53 15 years ago

Great! Hope it lives up to expectations!

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[–] Jasons_Argonaut 15 years ago

I received my copy and watched it just now. The film was fun to see again at long last. The DVD-R was good quality and a nice addition to my DVD collection. The Quatermass movie trilogy is now complete in my DVD case! Thanks again!

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[–] hobnob53 15 years ago

My pleasure! Spread the Q word!

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[–] Jasons_Argonaut 15 years ago

I am curious about Quatermass Conclusion, the fourth story to feature Bernard Quatermass. I haven't seen it yet. If you have any thoughts, please share them on the two threads I created on the Quatermass Conclusion page http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0823523/board/threads/.

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[–] hobnob53 15 years ago

I think Conclusion was broadcast only on British TV -- it was not a film like the others, although it's possible it turned up here on cable (the former Sci Fi channel, or BBC America perhaps?). I've never seen it either.

But oddly enough, I just came back from the UK a couple of days ago, and in the Times of London's Sunday magazine the other week, they had an article on various TV remakes or updates of older programs. Among these was a 2005 redo of the original 1953 television version of The Quatermass Experiment (the TV show was spelled correctly), which received terrible reviews. From what little I've heard The Quatermass Conclusion was supposed to have been fairly good, and I also believe it may be available on DVD in the US, though I could be mistaken about this. It definitely would be interesting to see. If I find out anything more, I'd be pleased to go onto the Conclusion site and see your threads there. You obviously are very knowledgeable and appreciative about Professor Quatermass and his assorted sagas!

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[–] Jasons_Argonaut 15 years ago

Among these was a 2005 redo of the original 1953 television version of The Quatermass Experiment (the TV show was spelled correctly), which received terrible reviews. >>> Yes, I've read about the remake of The Quatermass Experiment in 2005. It stars Jason Flemyng and David Tennant (of Doctor Who fame) and is apparently made like a stage play. Terrible reviews? Hmm, I've read some favorable comments from some fans here on IMDb, but I suppose we'd have to see it for ourselves to really know.

From what little I've heard The Quatermass Conclusion was supposed to have been fairly good, and I also believe it may be available on DVD in the US >>> Actually, it is available, under the title "Quatermass 1979"...http://www.amazon.com/Quatermass-John-Mills/dp/B0007TKNOM/ref=wl_it_dp _o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2OS1KNX5JQPG3&colid=3DECALIE49Q4Y. I'm going to order it before it becomes an item that is no longer available! Apparently, this last entry only exists as a mini-series and was never remade into a feature film like the other three serials were. It was released theatrically in a truncated version titles The Quatermass Conclusion. From what Amazon.com says, this DVD Region 1 includes both the 4 episode miniseries AND the theatrical release. If you are a completist interested in all things Quatermass like I am, then I would suggest obtaining this right away.

You obviously are very knowledgeable and appreciative about Professor Quatermass and his assorted sagas! >>> I am still discovering Quatermass, to be honest! Quatermass was burned into my memory as a child when I would see pictures of the film posters in magazines. I also remember seeing the smoking, burned man covered in black slime stumbling down the staircase in some sort of clip show or documentary back when I was a kid during the 1970s. This scene alone stayed with me, even though I had no idea what it was about. When the DVDs came along, I had to own them. I had to know. I am now a huge fan of these films and their original mini-series. I am currently watching Quatermass II the mini-series on Youtube for the first time http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047766/board/nest/154158169?d=154158169#1 54158169. It is fascinating to watch the same story play out, yet everything is so different. The story plays out differently, but to the same overall arc. There are lots of different characters as well. I like the film versions and it is amazing how they rewrote the mini-series to fit into a movie's running length, restructuring and creating new characters while still preserving the essence of the original. Check it out some time if you can!

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[–] hobnob53 15 years ago

My only knowledge about the 2005 TV TQE was from the recent Times of London article I read; from what the reviewer wrote, it seemed that the program was not well received at all. My fiancee, who is English and saw it (and has seen and likes the previous film and TV versions) also thought it was lousy. But obviously, all this is a matter of individual taste. I'd still like to see this, plus the other original television series -- so far I've only seen the films, although I've read a great deal about the differences in the scripts for the first Quatermass (1953/1955) TV show and movie. I know all the original TV shows are available on DVD in the US except (as far as I am aware) Experiment, and will probably get them. I saw that the DVD of Conclusion in a store in the UK the other week, Region 2 of course, but it is obtainable. But I'm not sure whether the very first is on disc even in Britain.

I discovered the good prof back in the early 60s, when they showed the first film, under its American title The Creeping Unknown, a great deal on TV in NYC. But I never knew there was a series of films until years later. I actually saw the third film, Quatermass and the Pit/Five Million Years to Earth, again under its US title, in the late 60s, long before I finally saw Q2, which I never saw until the early 80s, also under its US name, Enemy From Space. Because the name Quatermass isn't in the title of any of the American films, it took a while before I made the connection between The Creeping Unknown and Five Million Years, since I was concentrating on the plot and not the character's name.

But it all bears further investigation -- in true Quatermass fashion!

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[–] Jasons_Argonaut 15 years ago

I just purchased the DVD of the last Quatermass mini-series on DVD. The one I linked earlier that is available from Amazon.com is nearly $30.00, but I found the same thing on Ebay for $4.68 + $3 shipping. The mini-series for Quatermass and the Pit is still available on Ebay in Region 1 for a reasonable price, but I can't find anything for The Quatermass Experiment or Quatermass II serials. There is a Region 2 DVD that collects all three of the mini-series, though. I found it on Ebay for $40 something dollars. It is my understanding that the first mini-series is incomplete, as only the first few episodes have been found and made available. Small clips of the first mini-series can be found on Youtube, as can the complete serial Quatermass II and Quatermass and the Pit from start to finish.

When I receive this newest purchase and watch it, I'll have seen everything Quatermass with exception to the very first serial of The Quatermass Experiment and it's recent remake. Pretty good, eh?

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[–] hobnob53 15 years ago

Hey, not bad at all. I know that Sinister Cinema sells a DVD of the original TV Quatermass II, as well as the TV Quatermass and the Pit, but have no idea as to their quality. (I believe "II" was broadcast the same year the film version of TQX came out.) I will have to pursue this. Let me know how you like them.

Incidentally, is the TV series "Quatermass II" or "2"? The film's title was Roman numeral "2", but then they changed the spelling of "Experiment" on the first one for that movie. Just a trivia question!

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