By the time this film was released in America as FIVE MILLION YEARS TO EARTH in 1968, I was a confirmed fan of Hammer Films and tried to see as many of their movies as I could. Somehow I missed this one in the theaters and at the drive-ins so I had to wait 10 years before I caught up with it on television. It quickly became one of my favorite Hammer offerings thanks to a fascinating script by Nigel Kneale, great performances from an ensemble cast and tight, no-nonsense direction from Roy Ward Baker. QUATERMASS AND THE PIT is Hammer Sci-Fi’s finest hour.
The story centers around the finding of a large buried object in the London Underground and the issues and implications that arise from its discovery. Physics professor Bernard Quatermass (the main character of a series of BBC television shows and two previous films) and his colleagues believe the object to be extraterrestrial, the military and the authorities do not. By the time the truth is discovered and fully realized after a series of disturbing incidents, all hell breaks loose (literally) in a way that no one could imagine. The ending is a real stunner.
This is a classic example of intelligent sci-fi that mixes evolution, politics and the origins of spiritual evil. The implications raised by the script are absolutely fascinating and clever beyond words. That’s what keeps me coming back to this film when I get tired of today’s multi-million dollar technical extravaganzas. The film is a major miracle on a minor budget. Unfortunately the Region 1 DVD is out of print. Try renting or downloading it or if you have the proper player get an affordable Region 2 copy. It’s also now available on Blu-Ray. You won’t be disappointed.
The Capsule Critic 