Quatermass (1979): Ringstone Round

Quatermass is the first of the series to not be made by the BBC. The 35mm film recording certainly gives this serial a different feel to the others.

The different feel is enforced by the setting. Whereas the 1950s serials were roughly contemporary with their time of broadcast, this serial is set in a dystopian future Britain.  Feral gangs of youths roam city streets, armed police are forced to use violence and power cuts are frequent. It's quite possibly a vision of what Jeremy Corbyn's Britain will look like.

The episode begins dramatically with Professor Quatermass returning to the city only to be mugged by the youth gang. He is saved from losing his teeth by Doctor Kapp, a scientist and Jew and taken to a television centre and talk on the new link up between the US and Soviet satellites. The television studio debate is reminiscent of the media focus that Quatermass had in the first and third serial. Quatermass is more interested in finding his grandaughter, who is presumably a daughter of Paula and quite possibly the other soldier from Quatermass II. He gives a moralistic speech int he styleof the ending of he previous serial but it fallson deep ears. The TV crew also refer to the Experiment, when they talk about the first crew.


When the link up goes wrong, he and Doctor Kap return to the country side where a cult of teenagers called the Planet People, are searching for means to leave the Earth.

Kapp takes Quatermass to his home in the country where two satellites are in operation. Quatermass meets the team and family and becomes interested in the dig site that Mrs Kapp found and  following the Planet People who are heading for Ringmans Round.

The episode ends dramatically with the stand-off between he police and the planet people. As Quatermass and Kapp depart, they see a bright light beaming down seemingly leaving nothing behind but white dust. It's an effective cliffhanger.

John Mills' Quatermass reminds me of Andre Morell version, especially with his costume and cap.  Both of those versions of the character are away from the Rocket Group, solving their own problems.. Mills' Quatermass doesn't seem quite as charismatic as the Morell incarnation but he is still good.

So far Doctor Kapp seems to be the equivalent of Doctor Matthew Roney from Pit. The ally who has very strong views and a passion for science and a dislike of the planet people.

Mrs Kapp and the research team are likeable characters. Alison is likeable as well.

The music is very different to the Quatermass, although the electronic music suites the dystopian theme.

While the first episode of the new Quatermass was less focused on horror than he others, it was interesting enough to keep mehooked. Ringstone Round is a good start to Kneale's last original Quatermass serial.