pit film pit title million years earth british science fiction horror film sequel earlier hammer films like predecessors based serial pit written directed stars title role professor replacing played role earlier films appear starring roles plot largely faithful original television production centres discovery mysterious object buried site extension london underground uncovered nearby remains early human ancestors million years old realising object fact ancient spacecraft aliens influenced human evolution development human intelligence spacecraft intelligence uncovered begins exert influence memories instincts buried deep human wrote draft screenplay difficulties attracting interest american meant film production director chosen experience technically demanding productions night remember films directed hammer playing found making film unhappy experience believing baker wanted kenneth play role owing lack space film shot mgm studios hammer usual home time film opened november favourable reviews remains generally regarded plot workers building extension london underground end dig skeletal remains called remnants group million years old ancient previous finds assistants metallic object believing bomb army bomb disposal team professor dismayed learn plans moon taken military gives cold reception assigned join bomb disposal team assistance accompanies site concludes weapon skeleton found inner chamber realise object million years old suspects alien origin certain terrestrial intrigued area recalling old devil working assistant finds historical accounts appearances going centuries events coincided disturbances ground end attempt open sealed chamber drill fails progress moments drill stopped small hole seen drill operator certain created machine hole widens reveal contents corpses legged creatures heads work preserve bodies decay examination creatures physiology suggests came planet mars note similarity appearance creatures devil overcome powerful force missile flees sanctuary church tells saw vision creatures missile believes race memory seeking proof returns end bringing machine working trying replicate circumstances affected notices fallen influence machine able record thoughts presents theory government minister officials occupants missile came dying mars unable survive earth chose preserve race creating colony significantly enhancing intelligence natives descendants evolved modern humans retain influence buried plays recording mind evidence shows engaged interprets racial purge weaker members race offers alternative theory missile nazi propaganda exercise designed fear alien invasion populace minister rejects theory favour decides missile press disaster strikes press event missile apparently draws power broadcasting equipment influence streets london violence affected drawn missile killed falls alien control snapped unaffected men realise small portion population immune psychic energy stronger streets buildings image towers city centred end recalling stories devil defeated iron water alien energy discharged earth climbs building crane swings crane bursts flames energy killing image disappears production origins professor introduced audiences bbc television written rights acquired film adaptations directed starring released respectively went write serial pit bbc broadcast december january hammer interested making film adaptation left bbc working freelance screenwriter completed script intended direct reprise role production commence securing finance new film proved problematic hammer struck deal distribute pictures companies collaborate thirty films columbia interested passed script production went years submitted revised lower budget script columbia time relationship hammer columbia begun sour script rejected hammer entered new distribution deal pit finally entered production writing script pit largely faithful television original plot heavily condensed fit shorter running time film main casualty removal subplot involving journalist appear film adaptation climax altered slightly cinematic crane short influence television version merely throws metal chain pit setting pit changed building site london underground closing scene television version pleads humanity prevent earth second dead planet dropped favour shot sitting amid devastation wrought spacecraft script sent december replied film require raised concerns sound vibrations alien ship scenes massacre scenes destruction panic influence takes hold image devil casting doctor came prominence playing lust life going play string roles world war prisoner war films bridge river great escape playing title role accorded billing status professor long highly critical interpretation lobbied role recast arguing time passed audiences resist change actor number actors considered including played television version pit interested role played producers eventually settled scottish actor appeared supporting roles number hammer productions including pirates blood river devil ship pirates prince darkness found shoot unhappy experience later recalled director didn want role wanted kenneth unhappy shoot normally enjoy going work day seven half weeks sheer hell denied wanted kenneth felt nice role saying idea unhappy shooting performance absolutely right detail presenting star picture interfered went appear hammer viking queen blood tomb reprised role memoirs making actor play role regular leading lady hammer having appeared shadow cat secret blood island prince darkness pit film company subsequently worked television theatre particularly taken leading lady telling mad sense love set great love affair lieutenant colonel met directed episode crowd baker said performance turned tremendous character forceful recalled role think young think played right straightforward bit stereotype actors appearing film include previously appeared playing appeared original bbc production key role astronaut pit features early film role makes brief appearance journalist near start movie filming time pit finally entered production occupied casino directing duties went instead baker film october man best known got away night remember following failure left feet moved television directing episodes human jungle saint producer chose baker director felt experience films night remember gave technical expertise handle film significant special effects requirements baker felt background fact based dramas night remember got away enabled pit air realism needed convincing audiences impressed screenplay feeling script exciting intriguing story excellent narrative drive needed work cast shoot impressed lean set having working major studios thousands time employees surprised find hammer core operation consisted people enjoyed decision making process fast simple pit film director credited having previously credited change avoid confusion sound editor baker later regretted making change people assumed new director filming took place february april budget time hammer operating lack space meant production relocated nearby studio productions working time crew access facilities studio particularly pleased able use mgm extensive underground station production team included hammer regulars including production designer joke incorporated poster dressing set end station hammer regular special effects supervisor recalled row believed film entirely special effects picture tried run pre production conference contribution film included massacre scene achieved mixture live model sequences london destruction including climatic scene crane swinging music chosen provide score pit developed interest electronic music serving royal_navy electronics expert working radar second world war professional composer working film theatre radio television credits including said assignment mad film hammer wanted masses electronic material great deal orchestral music kids fee paying schools needed penny recalled main use electronics think violent shaking sound thing tunnel gave terribly challenging sound played loud didn want destroy speakers hopes destroying cinema systems happened carey went write score hammer film blood tomb orchestral electronic cues film released compilation titled reception pit premiered november went general release double bill november released title million years earth march critical reception generally positive writing times found beginning shows deficiencies acting direction things start mysterious missile like object discovered london excavation proves prehistoric attempt successful earth development situation worked film genuinely gripping real test finally shown glowing outline spectacle rule likely provoke horror evening standard described film view echoed evening news described film entertaining imaginative ending slightly critical view espoused observer said nonsense makes good film photographed performed totally lacks imagination legacy film success hammer quickly announced writing new story script went discussions eventually write fourth story broadcast serial titled itv television edited version given limited cinema release title pit marked return directing cinema went direct films anniversary legend golden vampires hammer directed asylum screaming starts hammer rival pit continues generally regarded critics notes cinema baker crisp thriller tough interesting film moments pure terror effective drill operator driven spaceship mysterious power caught fills excavation mass flying papers writing scream found condensed version serial film fine old black white version places inferior effects works surprisingly having time build disturbing atmosphere watching skies said ambition storyline contained constructed mystery carefully clearly mixed feelings end result said happy eventually chose happy film things bother special effects hammer films home media release region release pit includes commentary trailers instalment documentary called worlds hammer devoted hammer science fiction blu ray release film released followed releases germany australia italy
Quatermass and the Pit (film)