Friday 29 November 2019

Episode 8 – Quatermass 2 (1957) - Part Two


This episode sees the conclusion of Jon and guest James Goss's look at Hammer's Quatermass 2

In a wide-ranging discussion that encompasses everything from Alan Plater to Flesh Gordon, they witnesses the trauma of Sid James being shot in the face (apparently), admire the inventive use of filler text and investigate if this really is the first use of the suffix '2' in a film title. James also tells us about interviewing Nigel Kneale for his student magazine... 
But what we want to know is, is this really Nicholas Courtney? 
Listen to BERGCAST below, via all the usual podcast venues, or the BERGCAST site.

Friday 15 November 2019

Episode 7 – Quatermass 2 (1957) - Part One

Donlevy's back! This episode sees the first of a two-part chat between Jon and producer and writer James Goss as we look at how he first discovered Quatermass and a slightly wider discussion on Nigel Kneale's influence on Doctor Who (including an interesting conspiracy theory concerning The Invisible Enemy), before we make the two-hour trip from London to Carlisle, via
Hemel Hempstead, to begin our look at Hammer's Quatermass 2 and wonder what Donlevy's Quatermass must be like at the Rocket Group's Christmas Party.

On the way we'll look at how conspiracies must seem efficient, and the terror of charm and the fear of Communist colonisation. Oh, and what actually is Broadhead's first name anyway?

Jon also gives a shameless plug to the BFI's Projecting the Archive strand, and in case you were wondering, the name of the actor James was so impressed with is John Van Eyssen, probably best know for playing Jonathan Harker in Hammer's first Dracula film, in 1958.
Listen here, at the BERGCAST site, or on iTunes.

Friday 1 November 2019

Episode 6 – X the Unknown (1956)


In this episode, Jon and Howard are joined by writer and actor Gareth Preston, as they examine Hammer's attempt to do Quatermass without Nigel Kneale, in Jimmy Sangster's attempt at his very own Royston and the Pit...

On the way we look at how the portrayal of radiation in films might depend on which side of the atomic bomb you were at the end of World War II. We examine whether Royston just spends the entire film trying to kill his boss's son, and we witness what might be the birth of Fraser Hines's ego.

All that plus the horrific deaths of the writer of the theme song to Goldfinger and the producer of Month Python.


Well, quite.

As ever, listen here, at iTunes or at the BERGCAST Podbean site.