 The same year that he left the BBC , Kneale wrote his first feature film screenplay , adapting Quatermass II for Hammer Film Productions along with producer Anthony Hinds and director Val Guest . Hinds and Guest had overseen the first Quatermass film , upon which Kneale had been unable to work due to his BBC staff contract . Kneale was disappointed that Brian Donlevy also returned in the role of Quatermass . The film premiered at the end of May 1957 , and was reviewed positively in The Times : " The writer of the original story , Mr. Nigel Kneale , and the director , Mr. Val Guest , between them keep things moving at the right speed , without digressions . The film has an air of respect for the issues touched on , and this impression is confirmed by the acting generally . " 1957 also saw the release of another cinematic collaboration between Kneale and Guest , when Kneale adapted his 1955 BBC play The Creature into The Abominable Snowman ; in this case , Hammer retained the star of the BBC version , Peter Cushing . 
