It's the late 1960's London, England. A group of construction workers are working in the Underground section of Hobbs End. One of the worker's finds a skull that's been buried for millions of years. While continuing to work, they discover a skeleton buried into the wall. The news of this causes a press conference to be called to explain the findings. Dr. Matt Roney( James Donald) explains to the press what the findings mean, and take the skeleton back to his institute for further study. A mold of the skeleton is made into clay; it is ape-like with human characteristics. The news halts construction until a further investigation is complete. Roney calls Professor Quartermass in he shows Quartermass the findings and explains the specimen is some 500 million years old.Another press conference is called, making big news. The public gets to see the actual mold of the creature and learn more about the age. When someone discovers a metal structure showing beneath a wall of clay, the military is called in. Quartermass is called into a meeting and there he is greeted, by a Col. Breen ( Julian Glover). Quartermass is told he will have to work with Breen and his men. He is not happy and feels the military will take of the operation. When they return to the Hobb's End location, more of the mysterious object is unearthed. At first, Breen thinks it could be a German V weapon left from World War 2. This creates alarm, and the block is closed. They continue to dig, and discover another skull close to the object. This is strange, because it looks similar to the other one. Once the entire object is unearth, they realize it isn't a bomb/weapon at all. It is a spaceship that has a very hard outer shell, and has a bug like shape.Quartermass then begins to work with Roney's assistant Barbara Judd( Barbara Shelley). The ship is unusual, and try to open the door to see if anything is inside. They take a blow torch to it, and realize they are getting no where. After several attemps they are able to finally get the door open. Once in Quartermass, along with Breen eventually discover Bug- like aliens. These aliens look like locust and appears to have been buried there for 500 million years. There is a connection between the ape and locust like creatures. These aliens are able to communicate by sending powerful signals. Once they contacted one of Breen's men. He described what they looked like, and Breen brushed it off, as nonsense. When Quartmass, Judd, and Roney hear this, they realize they have got to take the specimen's back for further Annalise. The aliens appear that they crash landed on earth 500 million years ago. Aboard there ship were the ape men. Quartermass and Judd what to know more about the area around Hobb's End. They discover that an evil presence & strange spirits surrounded the area a long time ago in the 1920's. They ask a Sgt. Ellis( Maurice Good) about the older area of Hobb's End. They both wonder if these aliens are using some evil like force. The Sgt. takes them to an older area of Hobb's End. He shows them these derelict apartments that have strange markings, and stories of apparitions appearing. These aliens can pick people who are sensitive to telekinetic communication. They have already communicated with the military worker, then they drive a 3 shift Underground worker mad. Barbara will become their main source of communication. On a night when Quartmass, Roney, and his assistant return to the Underground to do an experiment, Barbara is with them. A loud humming and shaking beginning. They realize the creatures are communicating though Barbara. She is able to receive one of their memories. When Breen hears of this he brushes it off as trickery. They are able to get it on film, it is a memory of the cleansing of the martian hive. Once they see it on video they can't believe what they are seeing. At this time reporters want more, so Quartermass, Barbara, and Breen return to the Hobb's End area. There the ship starts to come alive, becoming a powerful force. It starts to come alive. It is so powerful it kills an electrician and eventually Col. Breen. While this is going on transmission is lost and people become possessed. They group up and go after other individuals. It appears that an evil force is controlling individuals and trying to take over Earth. All of a sudden this devilish face appears. Quartermass and Dr. Roney come up with a plan to stop the evil. They will use an iron crane, to stop the madness; and return the area to normalcy. In conclusion, I really thought this movie was cool. It's a sci-fi movie movie that mixes good vs. evil, along with ancient aliens. I'm glad I caught this movie on TCM, because it's a must see.

A construction crew at a London subway dig discovers strange skeletons. Later, a suspected bomb is found but it's unlike anything seen before. Professor Bernard Quatermass joins Colonel Breen to investigate. Soon, it's obvious that there is nothing earthly about the finds. Quatermass has a theory on the origins of the spacecraft and humanity itself.Hammer Film is more known for its B-horrors. They stretched out to make B-sci-fi. The first half is relatively pedestrian until they dig up the slightly-comical creepy insects. They are some creepy rubber insectoids. When the movie finally gets to the action, it's obviously missing an insect invasion. It becomes a convoluted sci-fi theory of an insect invasion of another kind. This is good drive-in fodder.

Like all the best science fiction Quatermass and the Pit begins with a meaningful idea, not just an excuse for special effects and spectacle. This third big screen outing for the iconic Doctor Quatermass has tube tunnel diggers in London uncover a mysterious ship which has been buried under the city for 10 Million Years. The officials begin to panic, fearing a dormant Nazi aircraft but Quatermass has a hunch that the origins of the craft are something far, far more sinister.I did enjoy the theories and questions posed by this movie, and the production design, for the most part, is quite impressive. However I was disappointed by the design of the Martians and the dream sequence set on Mars. The cheapness of these effects really dismantles the film and lessens the overall effect of the premise. There are some great moments though, and the final effect of the giant Martian face over London is quite a striking image.According to Joe Dante, the effects of the TV version (made 9 years earlier and on a lesser budget) are superior, and I would like to see this version to compare. As it is Quatermass and the Pit is a notable sci-fi flick and never once boring. If only they invested more time and effort in those effects...

Based on the 1950's TV mini-series this Hammer film from 1967 is actually really good, it's the third outing for Quartermass under the Hammer studio banner. While I am reviewing it as "Quartermass and the Pit" it's been re-branded as "Five Million Years to Earth". This is directed by Roy Ward Baker and written by Nigel Kneale and runs for about 97 minutes and is well worth it. While digging to make an extension to an underground station in London human bones are unearthed, initially scientists believe these to be prehistoric bones. As well as bones, what looks like a German WW2 Missile is found. The military take over where the scientists leave off to find out of the missile is a threat. Along with the military experts Professor Bernard Quatermass (Andrew Keir) tags along for a look, he sees the 'missle' for what it really is, something unworldly. Quatermass teams up with Dr Roney (James Donald) and his assistant Barbara Judd (Barbara Shelley) to get to the bottom of the truth and what he uncovers helps solve the age old mystery of how humans came to being and how we work on a mental level. Of course the military don't believe him or want to so they stand in his way at every turn but their actions might make it too late for the human race to go on living. Can Quartermass and his colleagues save the world? This isn't your usual run of the mill Hammer House production, while it's branded as Horror it's definitely more Sci-Fi. Although dated now this film still has an eerie suspense to it and may even start you thinking about themes raised in the film. There is a brilliant finale and twist as the film climaxes which even by today's standard is risky but helps put the film on a pedestal as a great. I really like this film and have no issues awarding it 7 out of 10 by today's standards. If I'd have been writing reviews in the late 1960's to early 1970's I'd have probably rated this a 9 because I imagine at the time this was a cinematic masterpiece of a story and scared a lot of people. If you enjoy Hammer films then you have to watch this piece of excellence.