Quatermass and the Pit (1967)

Director:

Roy Ward Baker

Writer:

Nigel Kneale (original story and screenplay)

Release Date:

16 February 1968 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Horror

Tagline:

All Earth Stands Helpless! Spawned in the depths of outer space -- a monster so horrible, so vicious, so incredible -- even when you see it you won't believe it could be! (U.S. poster)

Plot:

An ancient Martian spaceship is unearthed in London, and proves to have powerful psychic effects on the people around.

Plot Keywords:

Ancient Astronaut | News Reporter | London | Riot | London England

Cast

James Donald	...	Dr. Mathew Roney
Andrew Keir	...	Prof. Bernard Quatermass
Barbara Shelley	...	Barbara Judd
Julian Glover	...	Colonel Breen
Duncan Lamont	...	Sladden
Bryan Marshall	...	Captain Potter
Peter Copley	...	Howell
Edwin Richfield	...	Minister
Grant Taylor	...	Police Sergeant Ellis
Maurice Good	...	Sergeant Cleghorn
Robert Morris	...	Jerry Watson
Sheila Steafel	...	Journalist
Hugh Futcher	...	Sapper West
Hugh Morton	...	Elderly Journalist
Thomas Heathcote	...	Vicar

Also Known As:

Five Million Years to Earth (USA)
The Mind Benders

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Italy:T | UK:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #21860) | West Germany:16 | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Associated British-Pathé

Trivia:

Duncan Lamont, here playing the tormented drill operator Sladden, played the doomed astronaut Victor Carroon in the very first Quatermass TV series, "The Quatermass Experiment" (1953).

Goofs:

Factual errors: A pattern of seven circles with hexagonal symmetry is twice described as a pentacle.

Quotes:

Professor Bernard Quatermass: The will to survive is an odd phenomenon. Roney, if we found out our own world was doomed, say by climatic changes, what would we do about it?
Dr. Mathew Roney: Nothing, just go on squabbling like usual.
Professor Bernard Quatermass: Yes, but is we weren't men?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Torchwood: End of Days (#1.13)" (2007)

Please Please Watch It!!!

Okay, I know the feeling of many - This is an old horror film, so it can't be all that good anymore. I know the feeling because a lot of horror films from a long time ago tend to age badly, and end up being dull or laughable. I think the problem is that a lot of the horror films before 1970s tended to rely on stupid monsters that were more of a joke, than scary. The horror films of pre-1970s tended to be of things we don't really fear. (i.e - vampires, werewolves, creatures) and so when we watched movies like THE THING, it was mostly just entertainment. Sure there were rare cases like INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS and ROSEMARY'S BABY, but not many. This film is one of the rare cases....

Someone said that its like a cross between War of the Worlds and The Exorcist. I have to agree. And if that hasn't caught your attention, then nothing will. This film has one of the most unique plots I have ever come across. Aliens are found buried in a tunnel in England, and soon the Alien's ghosts start to take over the minds of the people in the city and soon all hell breaks loose! Sorry about my weak summary, but I just urge you to go out and rent this great horror film.

And just in case some of you think the film is dated and laughable, I don't think so. It relies mostly on dialogue and characters rather than aliens walking around in suits. This is a film that will stick with you after you're done watching it. I think it's one of the best horror films England has ever produced.