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From Amazon.co.uk
We have met the enemy, and it is us: when a Martian spacecraft with a terrifying link to the origins of humanity is unearthed beneath a London tube station, only the esteemed Professor Bernard Quatermass (a very British--and possibly mad--precursor to Mulder and Scully) can save London's suddenly murderous population from itself. One of the most intelligently paranoid science fiction films ever produced, this pessimistic masterpiece functions as a dark flip side to the relatively optimistic alien-induced evolution theory presented in the later 2001: A Space Odyssey. Nigel Kneale's brilliant script (which posits a surprisingly plausible, otherworldly rationale for the existence of the supernatural) was later appropriated by acknowledged fan John Carpenter for his underrated Prince of Darkness. A must-see for horror and science-fiction aficionados. --Andrew Wright, Amazon.com
Product Description
United Kingdom released, Blu-Ray/Region B DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital Stereo ), English ( Dolby Linear PCM ), English ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.66:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Blu-Ray & DVD Combo, Cast/Crew Interview(s), Commentary, Interactive Menu, Scene Access, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: Hobbs End, Knightsbridge, London. Whilst working on a new subway tunnel for the London Underground a group of construction workers uncover a strangely shaped skull amongst the rubble. Nearby is another discovery: a large, mysterious and impenetrable metal object. Initially mistaken for an unexploded bomb the origins of the object and its strange power are far more horrific and terrifying than anybody could have possibly imagined. Is it of this earth? Could it be the ancestral link to mankind's evolution? Or could it be an ancient link to unleashing ultimate evil? There's only one man capable of unravelling the clues, his name is Professor Bernard Quatermass, a man of science who thrives on the dark mysteries of the world, a man with answers. Written by legendary screenwriter Nigel Kneale, Quatermass and The Pit is a seminal British sci-fi classic. Highly influential, it's renowned for its creepy plot and eerie, disturbing atmosphere. There is nothing else like it. ...Quatermass and the Pit ( Five Million Years to Earth ) ( The Mind Benders (Quarter mass & the Pit) ) (Blu-Ray & DVD Combo) (Blu-Ray)
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
92 of 94 people found the following review helpful
By Sheffielder
Format:DVD
Quatermass finds himself on the scene of an archaeological dig in a London tube station, where a rather unexpected object is found. He soon realises it's a relic from an old colonisation attempt several million years earlier. The invaders are long dead, but a compelling memory still lurks in Hob's Lane...
I first saw this film two decades ago, when I managed to record it off the TV, and soon wore out the video by watching it so often. It's a great example of its genre, and still superb today. The scientists are scientific, the army officer annoying, the plot marvellously constructed, and the effects a strange combination of the superb and the slightly ropey - exactly what you want from a classic sci-fi/Hammer adventure of the sixties. There's not a single scene or pseudo-fact out of place, and no extraneously irrelevant love interest getting in the way either. Even the film loop behind the end-titles is unsettling; to this day I can't decide what sort of ending the film has; "good" has triumphed, but at what cost?
All in all, a great film, and well worth watching. Five stars.
I first saw this film two decades ago, when I managed to record it off the TV, and soon wore out the video by watching it so often. It's a great example of its genre, and still superb today. The scientists are scientific, the army officer annoying, the plot marvellously constructed, and the effects a strange combination of the superb and the slightly ropey - exactly what you want from a classic sci-fi/Hammer adventure of the sixties. There's not a single scene or pseudo-fact out of place, and no extraneously irrelevant love interest getting in the way either. Even the film loop behind the end-titles is unsettling; to this day I can't decide what sort of ending the film has; "good" has triumphed, but at what cost?
All in all, a great film, and well worth watching. Five stars.
50 of 52 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
It makes a change to watch a film free of cgi or cliched phrases such 'we've got to get the hell out of here' etc
I love this film and watch it about once a year. The scene in Hobb's lane, when the policeman is telling Quatermass and his assistant about the strange noises and figures, is just excellent, and so spooky.
I love this film and watch it about once a year. The scene in Hobb's lane, when the policeman is telling Quatermass and his assistant about the strange noises and figures, is just excellent, and so spooky.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Tony Jones
VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Having been scared half to death by this in the 70s when it was on late on New Years Eve (and scared completely some time later by the Stone Tapes) this is something that really pre-dates a lot of the later Dr Who (e.g. Pertwee's the Daemons, Troughton's London underground).
A most for any fan of British classic sci-fi
A most for any fan of British classic sci-fi
56 of 60 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Erich von Daniken, eat your heart out. Nigel Kneale was way ahead of you. In the Fifties he wrote three superb serials (not series), which Hammer filmed. Quatermass and the Pit is the third and best - arguably the best British science fiction movie, so far. Andrew Keir makes a good Quatermass, sharing the credits with James Donald as Dr Roney. As always with old horror/sf, the effects are a bit ropey, but the strength and intelligence of the story carries the viewer along. I agree with those who say the ending is weak and the original TV version was stronger overall. But it was three hours long! Given the constraints of time and budget, this is pretty damn good. It's one of the few genuinely convincing alien invasion movies, presenting it as a fait accompli and leaving it to us to decide exactly what that much-used and abused term 'humanity' really means. It's also an object lesson in storytelling. I still stand (or possibly sit) amazed at how deftly Kneale interweaves Martians, evolution, Cold War militarism and a ghost story. Young trendy media types, please note. (But of course, you won't.)
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
The movie was one of my favourites as a kid, watching it in a late (for my age) night TV show plastered with commercials, in an old black and white TV set. It just gripped me all the same, I still remember how the thrill was slowly but steadily growing inside me as the movie went on. I still think that the pace of the movie is just superb. Now, for the transfer: the best I have seen in a very long time. I never thought a film from the 60' could look this sharp, contrasted, natural...it is just gorgeus. Mind that the original celluloid grains are there, but I just happen to love them, they add more to the purely cinematic experience. There isn't the slightest sign of compression; no DNR has been used, yet the image is extremely detailed, thus showing how artificial looking such digital manipulation is. The sound has been largely improved, with a good spatial distribution and clarity, even bass sounds, for a film this old. If you like this movie, don't hesitate an instant, just go for the blu-ray. You can give the DVD away, you will never want to watch it after the blu-ray.
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By R. Shore
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
Simply put the restoration on this blu-ray edition is astonishing. It easily continues the excellent run of restoration releases that Optimum have done this year. My only minor gripe. It doesn't have the excellent 5.1 soundtrack that was on the 1998 Elite laserdisc. Bar that it's a must buy.
The running commentary is from the 1998 laserdisc but a lot of the extras on this disc are new.
For any fans of Hammer who are keeping a count of Hammer releases on blu-ray, in the past year we've had
1/ PARANOIAC! (UK 2/ Vampire Circus (USA) 3/The Vampire Lovers (Oz) 4/ The Man who could Cheat Death (USA) but Quatermass is easily the best restoration of the bunch and the one to be used as the standard bearer for future releases.
Roger Shore
The running commentary is from the 1998 laserdisc but a lot of the extras on this disc are new.
For any fans of Hammer who are keeping a count of Hammer releases on blu-ray, in the past year we've had
1/ PARANOIAC! (UK 2/ Vampire Circus (USA) 3/The Vampire Lovers (Oz) 4/ The Man who could Cheat Death (USA) but Quatermass is easily the best restoration of the bunch and the one to be used as the standard bearer for future releases.
Roger Shore
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
I must admit that having had previous copies of one of my favourite Hammer films on VHS Video and DVD courtesy of Anchor Bay (this copy also had Quatermass II, another Hammer film) I had to take a risk and purchase this on Blu-Ray.
I sat with fingers crossed, hoping that my purchase would be worth while. After the first ten minutes or so, I breathed a sigh of relief as I was more than pleased with the HD Transfer which is very good indeed. In fact, in some scenes, the clarity was so good, background scenes were more noticeable, especially during the final scenes. The only downside is that the soundtrack is stereo and not 5:1 which would have been nice. Still, it is only a minor quibble, for the stereo soundtrack is more than adequate.
One other quibble is the artwork on the box which has nothing to do with the production whatsoever. Rather silly in fact, it should have been the original artwork first seen during the film's initial release in 1967.
There is no need for me to spell out the plot since it is so well known in any case. I was particularly pleased with the extras, especially the interviews with Julian Glover, Mrs Nigel Kneale who revealed her own personal feelings about the Quatermass productions, and Marcus Hearn, a Hammer historian who gave his own views on Hammer films. There are a few more interviews here worth seeing, and also a trailer.
A very good purchase for any Quatermass and Hammer fan. I have also noticed that Hammer are already re-releasing some of their earlier 1950s/1960s classics on Blu-Ray, and I understand that the 1958 classic Dracula is being released later in the year. I cannot wait for that one!!
I sat with fingers crossed, hoping that my purchase would be worth while. After the first ten minutes or so, I breathed a sigh of relief as I was more than pleased with the HD Transfer which is very good indeed. In fact, in some scenes, the clarity was so good, background scenes were more noticeable, especially during the final scenes. The only downside is that the soundtrack is stereo and not 5:1 which would have been nice. Still, it is only a minor quibble, for the stereo soundtrack is more than adequate.
One other quibble is the artwork on the box which has nothing to do with the production whatsoever. Rather silly in fact, it should have been the original artwork first seen during the film's initial release in 1967.
There is no need for me to spell out the plot since it is so well known in any case. I was particularly pleased with the extras, especially the interviews with Julian Glover, Mrs Nigel Kneale who revealed her own personal feelings about the Quatermass productions, and Marcus Hearn, a Hammer historian who gave his own views on Hammer films. There are a few more interviews here worth seeing, and also a trailer.
A very good purchase for any Quatermass and Hammer fan. I have also noticed that Hammer are already re-releasing some of their earlier 1950s/1960s classics on Blu-Ray, and I understand that the 1958 classic Dracula is being released later in the year. I cannot wait for that one!!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Dual Format but not Double Play
I know others have commented on the fact that the DVD in the Dual Format edition does not contain the extras that are on the Blu-ray, and this raises an interesting question: if... Read more
Published 28 days ago by Buchanan
3.0 out of 5 stars
No Special features on the DVD! If you don't own BLURAY.
The Actual film I'm very fond of. I already have an Anchor Bay edition from several years ago. As a Hammer Nerd; I thought to warn those of who don't own Blu-Ray, Who may already... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Peter Desmond
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Hammer Film Of Them All
This science fiction drama is a masterpiece.The dialogue and characters build the tension
in a way that make it seem more like a documentary. Read more
in a way that make it seem more like a documentary. Read more
Published 1 month ago by showgate
5.0 out of 5 stars
Quintessential Hammer!
This is a beautifully restored blu ray remastering of the classic 1967 Hammer film that successfully blends horror with science fiction.. arrived promptly...thoroughly recommended
Published 2 months ago by ravna
5.0 out of 5 stars
Quatermass and the Pit [DVD]
An oldy but a goody!Ive seen this many times,but always wanted to own it.nostalja is a thing of the past.
Published 2 months ago by James Baldwin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful new makeover of a Hammer classic
This is a clever, scary and very intelligent sci-fi movie, and one of Hammer's best sci- fi films.
The new restoration is truly remarkable, and the film looks brand new. Read more
The new restoration is truly remarkable, and the film looks brand new. Read more
Published 2 months ago by filmboychris
5.0 out of 5 stars
Underated creeky classic
I'm not a big sci-fi or horror fan and if there's a Hammer film on TV I'm not the one determined to watch it. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Charlie Mouse
5.0 out of 5 stars
An epic
From the Hammer House of Horror, with very basic SFX, it just shows that horror and suspense could still be shown without a drop of blood being spilled. Read more
Published 2 months ago by C. Sims
5.0 out of 5 stars
Super-quality release of sci-fi classic
One of the finest and most imaginative science fiction films ever made, QUATERMASS AND THE PIT (aka FIVE MILLION YEARS TO EARTH) has been transferred to blu-ray in a most... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Gary M. Gerani
5.0 out of 5 stars
just as i remember it
Well what can i say a classic of its kind, if you like old British films this is as good as it gets well worth the money
Published 3 months ago by Roy C
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