A team of scientists search for the origin and purpose of a mysterious capsule found on a building site.
Top-Rated Episodes
S1.E6
Chaos reigns in the pit and the long-dormant Martian inheritance begins to assert itself in many people in the area - including Quatermass himself - driving them to a new racial purge, The capsule ...
S1.E4
Roney and Quatermass develop their theory about the Martians' visit to Earth, instilling their essence into man's ancestors, Sladden, alone in the pit, flees in terror as strange forces are conjured ...
S1.E5
A brain scanner reveals alien pictures in Barbara Judd's mind of 'the Wild Hunt' -the frenetic purging of the Martian hives. In the pit, a technician is killed as the capsule starts to glow.
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Title: Quatermass and the Pit (1958–1959)
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When a skull is found during building works at Knightsbridge, London, the work is halted in order that a full archaeological dig can proceed. The diggers delve deeper, finding more skulls, but also finding some form of tube-like shell made of a ceramic like material. The Ministry of Defence believe it to be an un-exploded bomb, but when they manage to dig inside the shell, dead insect-like creatures are found. The MOD continue with their story, but Professor Quatermass's theory that the insects are Martians who visited Earth over five million years ago is proved to be correct with drastic consequences. Written by Rhino <rhino@blueyonder.co.uk>
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Second Journalist: What's odd about it?
Third Journalist: I run from one to another.
First Journalist: I take it you're the popular press.
Third Journalist: Evening Gazette. What do you represent?
First Journalist: The Palaeontologist.
Third Journalist: [confused] Pal-?
First Journalist: Ah. Not heard of it. It's a foremost scientific journal. The man you're going to interview is a palaeontologist.
Third Journalist: Oh, this Roney. He's Canadian, isn't he?
First Journalist: Possibly.
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Written and Performed by Trevor Duncan
Courtesy of Conroy Music Library
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Michael Gough was on the shortlist for Captain Potter. The role eventually went to John Stratton. See more »Goofs
During the cliffhanger of Episode Two ("The Ghosts") the interior of the capsule is still streaked with dirt and clay. When this scene is reprised at the start of Episode Three ("Imps and Demons") the capsule is completely clean, even though no time is supposed to have elapsed. See more »Quotes
First Journalist: Odd idea, this, calling a press conference.Second Journalist: What's odd about it?
Third Journalist: I run from one to another.
First Journalist: I take it you're the popular press.
Third Journalist: Evening Gazette. What do you represent?
First Journalist: The Palaeontologist.
Third Journalist: [confused] Pal-?
First Journalist: Ah. Not heard of it. It's a foremost scientific journal. The man you're going to interview is a palaeontologist.
Third Journalist: Oh, this Roney. He's Canadian, isn't he?
First Journalist: Possibly.
See more »
Alternate Versions
All commercial releases prior to the 2004 DVD box set are an edited omnibus version. Several scenes written to allow actors to move between sets during the live broadcast were removed, along with the opening and closing titles. See more »Soundtracks
The KillerWritten and Performed by Trevor Duncan
Courtesy of Conroy Music Library
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Country:
UKLanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
22 December 1958 (UK) See more »Also Known As:
Quatermass and the Pit See more »Edit
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Budget:
GBP17,578 (estimated)Company Credits
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The line above, uttered by Professor Bernard Quatermass in the abandoned and derelict building in Hob's Lane, Knightsbridge, remains one of the most chilling moments of dialog ever uttered on either the television or theatrical screen. I was twelve at the time and came as close to wetting my pants that night as I have since. (with the possible exception of the day I received a letter postmarked R.A.A.C. telling me I had been conscripted into the Australian Army in 1967 - THINK about it!)
So far ahead of its time QUATERMASS AND THE PIT, Nigel Kneale's third installment in the Quatermass series, was a brilliant pot-pourri of horror, sci-fi, mysticism, the occult and just plain scripted genius. It was estimated that more than 3/4 of Britain were tuned-in to the 6th and final episode - the rest we presume, didn't have television!
Distinguised British actor Andre Morell WAS the perfect Quatermass, Senior Government scientist and head of Rocket Research, assigned to an investigation of the presumed 'unexploded bomb' unearthed during a routine archaeological 'dig' at Knightsbridge, subsequent upon the discovery of a human skull during building excavation there. Following the unearthing of the object virtually unmarked, yet located BELOW the skull, since carbon-dated as being at least five million years old, extreme paranormal occurrences are recorded which in 1958 were simply terrifying. Their power can still be seen even in the creaky and grainy old B & W video re-edit that was released some years ago and which I regularly watch, probably as much to re-capture my youth as to be thrilled once again.
This was a cerebral trip, Neve Campbell really wouldn't have slotted in here! It was a DIFFERENT fear back then...cabalistic markings, disturbing sounds, ghosts and demons you couldn't see, but KNEW were there (that awesome utterance in the summary!) and the biggest fright of all - the dead martian as it rustled and slipped through that web of decaying strands that had held it in place all those centuries! The big-screen color re-make FIVE MILLION YEARS TO EARTH was OK but lost all the POWER of the TV original and remains a pale imitation.
To have been able to watch this epic piece of film-making AT THE TIME was a great privilege, I don't think today's audience are going to feel quite the same about Freddy Krueger or Jason Voorhees in 2046. (although I HAVE to say, I rather LIKE these guys...they're almost family now!)