Five Million Years to Earth (1968)

Image courtesy Heritage Auction Galleries

Director Roy Ward Baker and 20th Century-Fox brought Five Million Years to Earth to American movie theaters in 1968. James Donald and Andrew Keir play scientists trying to unravel the alien mystery, with beautiful Barbara Shelley as Donald’s redheaded assistant.

Nigel Kneale Writes Five Million Years to Earth

Nigel Kneale penned the screenplay based on his original 1958 BBC Television script, Quatermass and the Pit. That British serial had previously spawned two feature movies from Hammer Films: The Quatermass Xperiment (1955) and Quatermass 2 (1957). The latter two pictures were subsequently released in the United States under the titles The Creeping Unknown (1956) and Enemy from Space (1957), respectively.

Roy Ward Baker (A Night to Remember, Scars of Dracula) directed. Tristram Cary created the eerie music score.

Five Million Years to Earth Cast

James Donald (Dr. Mathew Roney), Andrew Keir (Professor Bernard Quatermass) and Barbara Shelley (Barbara Judd) head the cast. Other players include Julian Glover (Colonel Breen), Duncan Lamont (Sladden), Bryan Marshall (Captain Potter), Peter Copley (Howell), Edwin Richfield (Minister), Grant Taylor (Police Sergeant Ellis), Maurice Good (Sergeant Cleghorn), Robert Morris (Jerry Watson) and Sheila Steafel (Journalist).

Filmed in England

Five Million Years to Earth was filmed on location in London. MGM British Studios in Borehamwood served as the film’s in-house production facility.

The movie’s fine special effects were done at minimal cost, with hordes of dead locust serving as the decaying Martians.

Alien Remains Uncovered in London

While building an extension to the London subway, workmen begin to uncover assorted bones and skeletons. Immediately called in are archaeologist Mathew Roney and his assistant Miss Judd from the Natural History Research Institute.

In addition to the skeletal remains, a strange missile is also unearthed. Professor Bernard Quatermass and military expert Colonel Breen initially believe that the missile may be some type of Nazi wonder weapon from World War II.

In time, Dr. Roney and company discover that the “missile” is in fact an ancient Martian spaceship. And although the original alien astronauts have long since passed into history, a demonic, extraterrestrial force remains in the buried pit.

Five Million Years to Earth Release, Reviews

Five Million Years to Earth was originally released in the United Kingdom as Quatermass and the Pit on November 9, 1967. It later opened in the United States on February 16, 1968.

“A long-dormant tribe from Mars, accidentally liberated by a London excavation, forms a good story peg but routine, somewhat distended development blunts impact of this British-made programmer,” reported Variety.

Film Analysis 

Five Million Years to Earth is a wild sci-fi film, one combining elements of Alien (1979) and The Exorcist (1973). This is not your standard monster invasion picture, but a slickly executed effort from the scary blokes at British-based Hammer Films.

The storyline is downright creepy, with subway construction workers uncovering old bones dating back some five million years ago. But the real treasure is the ancient spaceship, whose intact hull holds the preserved remains of the insect-like Martians.

James Donald (The Bridge on the River Kwai, The Great Escape) is excellent as the hero archaeologist. Also turning in a good performance is the fetching Barbara Shelley, whose upturned skirt provided the sex appeal for the film’s promotional material.

Five Million Years to Earth remains a darned good science fiction movie. One of the best scenes takes place near the end, where an alien apparition comes to life and psychically takes control of the onlookers’ minds.

Five Million Years to Earth DVD, Movie Memorabilia

• Five Million Years to Earth – under its original British title Quatermass and the Pit – is available on DVD (Anchor Bay, 1998).
• Auction results for original Five Million Years to Earth movie memorabilia, courtesy Heritage Auction Galleries, Dallas, Texas: one sheet poster ($60.95), lobby card set of eight ($191.20), insert poster ($25), window card ($15), French Grande poster ($35).