Quatermass and The Pit The Classic 195859 BBC Television Version Starring Andre Morell

black and white-1958-1959. This is it, the original 6 part science fiction serial. Professor Bernard Quatermass, played brilliantly by Andre Morell, joins a team of scientists investigating strange artifacts unearthed during excavation at Knightsbridge, London. First a fossilized skull is found, and determined to be from an early ancestor of modern man about five million years old. Soon, more remains are discovered. Then, deeper in the pit a large cylinder is found. It's first thought to be an unexploded bomb dropped by the Germans during World War 2. But this theory is soon squashed by Professor Quatermass as the missile was found below the 5 million year old primitive man remains. This leads to the conclusion that the cylinder must be at least that old. Colonel Breen, who is also involved in the project, finds this theory unacceptable. As the missile is meticulously uncovered, the mystery deepens. Odd symbols, including one that resembles a pentacle, which was used in the practice of magic, are etched inside. One of the workers sees a ghost of a small creature, leading Quatermass to investigate some of the many accounts that the immediate area has been haunted for years. Finally, the sealed compartment at the nose of the cylinder is opened to reveal the perfectly preserved bodies of ancient Martians which resemble large insects. Could these creatures have some connection to the psychic disturbances and the fossilized bones? The answer will astound in this well made and believable sci-fi classic.