Five Million Years to Earth (1967)

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

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	...	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

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.

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Plot Keywords:

dream recorder | dream recording | spacecraft | london underground | journalist | 

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Taglines:

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)

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Official Sites:

Hammer [UK]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 February 1968 (USA)

Also Known As:

Five Million Years to Earth

Filming Locations:

St Nicholas Church, Chiswick, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

£275,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hammer Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Val Guest, who directed The Quatermass Xperiment (1955) and Enemy from Space (1957), was asked to direct the film but had to turn it down due to other commitments.

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Goofs

When Sladden is being tossed about the martian missile, several tools are tossed about as well. Strings can be seen attached the tools.

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Quotes

Col. Breen: Mars is dead, nothing there but a few scraps of lichen.
Professor Bernard Quatermass: Five million years ago it may have been very different. Suppose at that time there were living beings on it with techniques that let them visit the Earth at a time when the most highly evolved creatures here, our own ancestors, were only a type of Pliocene ape.
Minister of Defense: Go on.
Professor Bernard Quatermass: They may have wanted to found another colony, when their own world was doomed, but couldn't endure our atmosphere, so they experimented.
Minister of Defense: Oh, and the insects were responsible?
Professor Bernard Quatermass:
Col. Breen:
Professor Bernard Quatermass:
Howell:
Professor Bernard Quatermass:
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Luther: Episode #1.1 (2010)

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Soundtracks

Terror
Written and Performed by Tristram Cary

User Reviews

Remarkable late 60s Hammer product

Brilliant writing motivates a suspenseful sci-fi satire with intelligent, but often over the top, acting. Aliens invaded the earth thousands of years ago, and left behind their hatred and evil as a sort of gift to our race. One of the only films to successfully negotiate the fascinating territory between science fiction and the supernatural -- or, science and religion. Good suspense held up by a fast plot that reveals just enough to keep you interested. Poor production values -- the monsters in the film are truly laughable, which may hurt its reception by the younger crowd.