Professor Quatermass is working on a moonbase project from which the government suddenly and inexplicably withdraws funding. At the same time, instruments at his laboratory pick up a strange shower of meteor-like objects in the area of a village called Winterton Flats.
Quatermass and one of his colleagues, Marsh, set out for the village and to their shock find a gigantic complex of buildings, which bears an uncanny resemblance to his moonbase plans. Then Marsh finds a meteorite still intact and picks it up.
As he examines it, it explodes in his face, leaving a black wound on his cheek. Before the Professor can help him, armed guards, all bearing similar marks, arrive and take Marsh to the complex, a place shrouded in secrecy which the locals are unwilling to discuss. As he investigates further, Quatermass uncovers a terrifying scheme by Martian beings for an imminent invasion of earth…
Production Details
A Hammer film production released by Exclusive films (UK)I and Warner Brothers (USA)
A Hammer production released by United Artists
MPAA Approved Certificate No. 18126
Opening credit;- “The Producers acknowledge the assistance received from the Hemel Hempsted New Town Development Corporation during the Shooting of this film”
Closing credit;-“The Producers Wish to acknowledge with thanks, the facilitie, extended to them by “Shell” Refining arId Marketing Company for the shooting of many scenes, at Shell Haven Refinery, Essex”
RCA Sound Recording
Produced at New EIstree Studios
Black & White 85 mins
Filming Began: 21st May 1956
UK Release: 17th June 1957
Studio:
New Elstree Studios, Elstree Road, Borehamwood. Hertfordshire
Locations:
Chobham Common, Surrey
Shell Haven Refinery, Essex
Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
House of Lords, Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London
Ivinghoe Beacon, The Ridgeway, Buckinghamshire – Winnerden Flats
Parliament Square, Westminster, London
South Downs outside Brighton, East Sussex
Trafalgar Square, St James’s, London
Canvey Island, Essex
Stills from film
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Original Poster
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Footnotes
Versatile actor Bryan Forbes also turned his hand to screenwriting, production and direction. His credits as director include “Whistle down the Wind” (1961), “The L-Shaped Room” (1962), “Seance on a Wet Afternoon” (1964) and “The Wrong Box” (1966). He is married to actress Nanette Newman, who appears in Hammer’s “Man at the Top” (1974).
Charles Lloyd Pack is a fairly regular face in Hammer’s repertory company of actors. Other appearances by him for them include “Dracula” (1958), “The Revenge of Frankenstein” (1958), “The Man Who Could Cheat Death” (1959), “The Reptile” (1966) and “Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell” (1973).