MovieChat Forums > Quatermass and the Pit (1968) Discussion > Why didn't they bring Brian Donlevy back...

Why didn't they bring Brian Donlevy back?


I've seen the first two Quatermass movies and I think Donlevy did a great job. He perfectly depicted the bitterness and determination of the character and made him one of the most memorable sci-fi character of the 50's.

For this movie however, they apparently have used a different actor. Why? He was perfect.

Does anyone know the reason behind why he didn't come back? And does the new actor manage to live up to Donley's acting?

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Donlevy died in 72, five years after this film was produced. I would guess that he was not in good health. Also, he was never popular, at least as Dr Quatermass, with British audiences, and he was particularly disliked by writer Nigel Kneale, who found Donlevy's characterization far too harsh and pushy (I thought he was just fine)...also I don't think that Kneale and many Brits wanted to see their beloved Bernard Quatermass being played by a Yank.

That said, I feel that Andrew Keir gave one of the greatest performances of his cinematic career, topped only by his work as the stern Scotts father, John Guthrie, in Masterpiece Theater's presentation of Lewis Grassic Gibbon's Sunset Song.


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072570/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_41


He was also memorable as the witty and pragmatic Catholic monk in Hammer's Dracula Prince of Darkness.

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I still would have preferred Brian Donleavy.

Laugh while you can, Monkey Boy!

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