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Five Million Years to Earth (1967)

Quatermass and the Pit (original title)
Approved | | Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi | 16 February 1968 (USA)
Five Million Years to Earth Poster
Trailer
1:02 | Trailer

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A mysterious artifact is unearthed in London, and famous scientist Bernard Quatermass is called into to divine its origins and explain its strange effects on people.

Director:

Roy Ward Baker

Writers:

Nigel Kneale (original story), Nigel Kneale (screenplay)

Stars:

James Donald, Andrew Keir, Barbara Shelley | See full cast & crew »
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Videos

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Photos

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Quatermass and the Pit (TV Mini-Series 1958)
Drama | Sci-Fi | Horror
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 8.1/10 X  

A team of scientists search for the origin and purpose of a mysterious capsule found on a building site.

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The Quatermass Xperiment (1955)
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Enemy from Space (1957)
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Professor Quatermass, trying to gather support for his Lunar colonisation project, is intrigued by mysterious traces that have been showing up.

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Quatermass II (TV Mini-Series 1955)
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Professor Quatermass is trying to perfect a dangerously unstable nuclear-powered rocket engine. After a disastrous test firing in Australia, his soon-to-be son-in-law, Captain John Dillon, ... See full summary »

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The Quatermass Experiment (TV Series 1953)
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A separate screenplay by Nigel Kneale for theaters, parallel to the 1979 Quatermass four part mini-series. The story set in the near future involves influences from outer space that are possessing people. Professor Quatermass must save his granddaughter from the clutches of a popular and sinister cult "Planet People" that "performs raptures".

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Edit

Cast

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

Storyline

While digging a new subway line in London, a construction crew discovers first: a skeleton, then what they think is an old World War II German missile. Upon closer examination the "missile" appears to be not of this earth! This movie examines the age old question of how we came to be on this planet. It is surprisingly scary. Written by KC Hunt <khunt@eng.morgan.edu>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

dream recorder | dream recording | spacecraft | london underground | journalist | See All (50) »

Taglines:

Force more powerful than 1,000 H-Bombs unleashed to devastate Earth! World in panic! Cities in flames! See more »

Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Certificate:

Approved | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
Edit

Details

Official Sites:

Hammer [UK]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 February 1968 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Five Million Years to Earth See more »

Filming Locations:

St Nicholas Church, Chiswick, London, England, UK See more »
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Box Office

Budget:

£275,000 (estimated)
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hammer Films See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Despite not personally connecting with director Roy Ward Baker, Andrew Keir felt that the crew gelled together extremely well as a unit. This can partly be attributed to the fact that - prevented from lensing as planned at a full-up Elstree - the production team enjoyed the luxury of having the entire run of the empty MGM studios. See more »

Goofs

A pattern of seven circles with hexagonal symmetry is twice described as a pentacle. See more »

Quotes

Sladden: Jumping! Leaping! High up into the sky! And I knew I was one!
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Luther: Episode #1.1 (2010) See more »

Soundtracks

Finale and End Credits
Written and Performed by Tristram Cary
See more »

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User Reviews

 
Still scary even today...
21 February 2006 | by Markmainwaring – See all my reviews

I first saw this film when I was about 7. Although we lived in the Central region I saw this on HTV. My memory of it is there for fuzzy. I have seen it again on DVD since.

And this film is great. Unlike many Hammer films story and performance is key here. The story as often been imitated but never topped.

Its a very intelligent horror film which is something we don't get very often anymore. Or at all.

I also recently saw the original BBC TV show and that too is well worth picking up. Its just as good if not better.

This is definitely worth a watch. British cinema at its finest...
34 of 44 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
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