Chimera (British TV series)

1991 British TV miniseries

Chimera

Written by| Stephen Gallagher
Directed by| Lawrence Gordon Clark
Starring| John Lynch
Christine Kavanagh
Kenneth Cranham
Theme music composer| "Róisín Dubh" by Chameleon
Composer| Nigel Hess
Country of origin| United Kingdom
Original language| English
Production
Executive producers| Brenda Reid
Archie Tait
Producer| Nick Gillott
Cinematography| Ken Westbury
Editor| Alan Pattillo
Running time| 4x60 minutes (TV version)
104 minutes (Movie version)
Production companies| Zenith Entertainment
Anglia Films
Original release
Network| ITV
Release| 7 July (1991-07-07) –
28 July 1991 (1991-07-28)

Chimera is a British science-fiction horror drama made by Zenith Productions and Anglia Films for ITV in 1991. It is based on the 1982 novel of the same name about genetic engineering by Stephen Gallagher. Gallagher had previously adapted the novel as a 90 minute dramatised audio drama for BBC Radio 4 in 1985.[1] The theme music of the TV mini-series was "Roisin Dubh" by Nigel Hess and Chameleon.

Although set in rural Cumbria, filming took place in North Yorkshire with the village of Kettlewell providing the outdoor scenes. The setting for The Jenner Clinic was the nearby Malham Tarn Field Studies Centre, a Grade II listed Georgian country house owned by the National Trust. Studio filming took place at Shepperton Studios in Surrey.[2]

The series was later re-edited for release in the United States, and retitled Monkey Boy.

## Plot

[edit]

The story focuses upon Chad, a young half-boy, half-chimp, developed by scientists as part of a top secret government operation. However, Chad becomes aggressive, strong and uncontrollable, with the inability to communicate on a human level, escaping from the lab, brutally killing several nurses and scientists in the process. The hunt is on to find and capture Chad before the public encounters this strange and dangerous creation. During Chad's escape, he wrestles with his natural child tendencies after befriending some local children and trying to control his wild primal inner instincts.

## Cast

[edit]

* John Lynch as Peter Carson
* Christine Kavanagh as Alison Wells
* Kenneth Cranham as Hennessey
* Peter Armitage as Sgt. Crichton
* Emer Gillespie as Nurse Tracy Pickford
* Sarah Winman as Julia
* George Costigan as Schaffer
* Pip Torrens as Windeler
* David Calder as Dr. Jenner
* Douglas Mann as Chad
* Paul O'Grady as Social Worker
* Sebastian Shaw as Dr Liawski
* David Neilson Mr Desmond Gaskell.
* Liza Tarbuck Woman on National Express coach.
* Maggie Lane Hotel Landlady
* Dhirendra Cottrell
* Gary Mavers Forester
* Richard Durden Minister
* Pippa Haywood Diane Rhomer
* Vivien Parry Rental manager
* Douglas Mann Chad Chimera

## Release

[edit]

The series originally aired in Britain on ITV from 7 to 28 July 1991. In the United States, it aired on A&E Television Networks.[3]

A heavily edited version of the series was released on VHS, with the title Monkey Boy, by Prism Entertainment.[4]

The complete series was released on DVD in the United Kingdom by Revelation Films Ltd in July 2010.[5]

The series was run for the first time on Forces TV on the 19 and 20 February 2022.

## See also

[edit]

* First Born (TV serial)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Radio - Chimera, StephenGallagher.com. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
2. ^ Screen - Chimera, StephenGallagher.com. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
3. ^ "Company Credits for Chimera". IMDb. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
4. ^ "Alternate Versions for Chimera". IMDb. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
5. ^ "Chimera". revfilms.co.uk. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2011.

## External links

[edit]

* Chimera at IMDb
* Monkey Boy on MSN Movies

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