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1957 British (Hammer Production) Film with Brian Donlevy, Sidney James, John Longdon, Brian Forbes, Vera Day, and William Franklyn. Directed by Val Guest.

One of the early black and white Hammer Films' more pure science fiction efforts. Actually Hammer films made a series of Quatermass films. Quatermass is a space/rocket scientist character that often finds himself investigating some unusual phenomenon. And of course, in 1950's thinking, these phenomenon tend to turn out to be some form of menace from space. Unlike so many other films from past (and present) eras the Hammer ones tend to be more creative than a simple monster in a rubber suit or a minimal special effects body snatcher plot.

This story begins with Dr. Quartermass returning disgruntled from a high level parliamentary meeting (remember its a British flick) where his request for funds to finish his moon base project has been denied. He is told of a peculiar meteor shower that his scientists just witnessed with their specialized radar equipment. We are shown a table model of the prospective moon base.

The next day Quatermass is riding with his comrade when the make a wrong turn on an obscure mountain road only to discover a group of demolished houses overlooking a valley. Down in the valley is an industrial complex that suspiciously resembles the moon base table model we saw in the previous scene. They park on the hillside to take a longer look when they also notice the ground littered with rocks. Quatermass's friend begins to examine one of the rocks more closely when it releases a puff of gas whereas he immediately collapses. Strangely garbed men arrive and seize both of them. Quatermass's friend is taken back to the complex for "medial treatment" where as Quatermass himself is released and strongly advised to go home. Upon leaving he finds himself in a small town where the inhabitants, although friendly, evade his queries about the nearby facility.

During the next few days Quatermass tries to use is government connections only to discover that this strange complex is part of an agriculture project more secret than his own. After some farther prying he is informed that the complex is part of a super secret "synthetic food" production facility. After further probing he is invited along on a official tour of the facility.

He joins the tour and we see the facility up close with its acres of large industrial plumbing and huge, glass mat painted, stadium sized storage tanks. (Somehow I think such a large facility would be hard to hide and keep secret, even if nestled in a valley.) Quatermass sneaks away from the tour group and finds evidence the facility is not what it is claimed to be. Needless to say that the harder he tries to uncover the truth the more trouble he brings upon himself and those who help him.

I will leave the remaining of the story to discovered by the reader. As of this writing this movie has been re-released and it available at well stocked video tape stores.

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