philip hindley

The Hammer film versions of the THE QUATERMASS XPERIMENT/ QUATERMASS II/ QUATERMASS AND THE PIT were pretty popular in the USA I understand. They changed the titles to THE CREEPING UNKNOWN/ ENEMY FROM SPACE/ FIVE MILLION YEARS TO EARTH. OK some people dont like these title changes, what I would like to know is if they went under these titles in the USA how come I have never been able to get copies with these titles? I have tried for years, the USA trailers with these titles have been around for years, so why are the full length films so hard to get hold of ?

TimR

Five Million Years to Earth was released here on VHS, but it is very difficult to find - and very expensive. I have seen it on sale for close to $100, which is a bit rich for me. It shows up on Amazon sometimes.

I have never seen it on a Region 1 DVD. I have not seen the other two on video or DVD under the old US titles.

When the Qatermass films are shown on US television, the original titles are used. I have no idea why. Also - they are rarely shown at all, although they do have a following.

Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep; and in his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be fear'd: 'tis much he dares;
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety

TimR

I just checked the US Amazon site and found The Quatermass Xperiment on sale at a low price in a US edition. The cover says The Quatermass Xperiment in large print followed by .....The Creeping Unknown.

Those lurid titles from the 50s and 60s were so commonplace for American horror films (flicks ) that they became a joke even at the time, and now they are usually a clue that a film is second or third rate. Occasionally they go back to the original title. The Qatermass films are known by that name here among those who like them.

Also, I found that to be the the case with the excellent Night of the Demon. It was shown here on TCM early in 2007, and the original title was used. Also, there was a note at the beginning saying that some footage deleted for the US release had been restored.

Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep; and in his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be fear'd: 'tis much he dares;
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety