Quatermass and the Pit (1967)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

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:

London | Martian | Subway | Church | Sequel

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 | UK:12 (re-rating) | USA:Approved (PCA #21860) | West Germany:16 | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Associated British-Pathé

Trivia:

Roney's mental image, seen on a small screen when the apparatus is being calibrated, is a shot from early in Four Sided Triangle (1953), an earlier Hammer science fiction film.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: A minute or so before the end credits roll, as Quatermass is walking away from the devastation, a crew member's hand swings into the right-hand side of the frame and back out again.

Quotes:

Sladden: [Preparing his drill] I did steel armour plating within six inches thick. Swish - just like that. Oh, it was legal. A bloke got shut in a strong room. But I got him out. It was a secret job like this one.
Col. Breen: Then I'm glad you don't talk about it.

Movie Connections:

References The Reptile (1966)

"an attractive female interest"?!?!?!

I usually don't comment on another's comment, but that the film lacked "an attractive female interest" had my jaw dropping. Barbara Shelley NOT attractive? She's beautiful and at 34 when this was made, she made being "middle-aged" look like a great goal.

Other than that, the reviewer is right on the money. Great film. Great acting. Great script. Not bad effects overall. AND Barbara Shelley!