X the Unknown (1956)
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- Approved
- 1h 21min
- Horror, Sci-Fi
- May 1957 (USA)
- Movie
A radioactive, mud-like creature terrorizes a Scottish village.
Directors:
Writers:
Stars:
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Dean Jagger | ... |
Dr. Adam Royston
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| Edward Chapman | ... |
John Elliott
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| Leo McKern | ... |
Insp. 'Mac' McGill
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| Anthony Newley | ... |
LCpl. 'Spider' Webb
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| Jameson Clark | ... |
Jack Harding
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| William Lucas | ... |
Peter Elliott
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| Peter Hammond | ... |
Lt. Bannerman
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Marianne Brauns | ... |
Zena, the Nurse
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Ian MacNaughton | ... |
Haggis
(as Ian McNaughton)
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| Michael Ripper | ... |
Sgt. Harry Grimsdyke
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John Harvey | ... |
Maj. Cartwright
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| Edwin Richfield | ... |
Soldier Burned on Back
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Jane Aird | ... |
Vi Harding
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| Norman MacOwan | ... |
Old Tom
(as Norman Macowan)
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| Neil Hallett | ... |
Unwin
(as Neil Hallet)
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| Kenneth Cope | ... |
Sapper Lansing
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Michael Brooke | ... |
Willie Harding
(as Michael Brook)
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| Frazer Hines | ... |
Ian Osborn
(as Fraser Hines)
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Alan Beaton | ... |
Technician at Research Centre (uncredited)
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Max Brimmell | ... |
Hospital Director (uncredited)
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| Robert Bruce | ... |
Dr. Kelly (uncredited)
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Angela Crow | ... |
Bit Part (uncredited)
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| Brown Derby | ... |
Vicar (uncredited)
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Raymond Dudley | ... |
Bit Part (uncredited)
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| Archie Duncan | ... |
Sgt. Yeardye (uncredited)
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Roy Everson | ... |
Technician at Research Centre (uncredited)
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Patrick Halpin | ... |
Hospital Porter (uncredited)
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Arthur Howell | ... |
Jeep Driver (uncredited)
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Lawrence James | ... |
Gerard (uncredited)
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| Edward Judd | ... |
2nd Soldier (uncredited)
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Stella Kemball | ... |
Willie's Room Nurse (uncredited)
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| Jack Lambert | ... |
Police Sergeant (uncredited)
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Philip Levene | ... |
Security Man (uncredited)
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| Brian Peck | ... |
1st Soldier (uncredited)
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Anthony Sagar | ... |
Gateman (uncredited)
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Barry Steele | ... |
Soldier in Trench (uncredited)
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John Stevenson Lang | ... |
Reporter (uncredited)
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John Stirling | ... |
Police Car Driver (uncredited)
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John Stone | ... |
Jerry (uncredited)
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French Taylor | ... |
PC Williams (uncredited)
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Shaw Taylor | ... |
Police Radio Operator (uncredited)
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| Neil Wilson | ... |
Russell (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Leslie Norman | ||
| Joseph Losey | ... | (uncredited) |
Written by
| Jimmy Sangster | ... | (story) |
| Jimmy Sangster | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| Michael Carreras | ... | executive producer |
| Mickey Delamar | ... | associate producer (uncredited) |
| Anthony Hinds | ... | producer |
Music by
| James Bernard | ||
Cinematography by
| Gerald Gibbs | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| James Needs | ||
Editorial Department
| William Bouvet | ... | first assistant editor (uncredited) |
| Henry Richardson | ... | second assistant editor (uncredited) |
| John S. Smith | ... | second assistant editor (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Joseph Losey | ... | (uncredited) |
Art Direction by
| Edward Marshall | ... | (uncredited) |
Makeup Department
| Philip Leakey | ... | makeup artist / special makeup effects |
Production Management
| Jimmy Sangster | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Christopher Sutton | ... | assistant director (as Chris Sutton) |
| Hugh Harlow | ... | third assistant director (uncredited) |
| Roy Stevens | ... | second assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Arthur Banks | ... | master plasterer (uncredited) |
| Don Mingaye | ... | draughtsman (uncredited) |
| Tony Woollard | ... | draughtsman (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Alfred Cox | ... | sound editor |
| Jock May | ... | sound mixer |
| Charles Bouvet | ... | sound maintenance (uncredited) |
| Jim Perry | ... | boom operator (uncredited) |
| Michael Sale | ... | sound camera operator (uncredited) |
| Clifford Sandall | ... | sound recordist (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Jack Curtis | ... | special effects |
| Les Bowie | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
| Ray Caple | ... | special effects assistant (uncredited) |
| Roy Field | ... | special effects assistant (uncredited) |
| Brian Johnson | ... | special effects assistant (uncredited) |
| Vic Margutti | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Len Harris | ... | camera operator |
| Tom Edwards | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
| Harry Oakes | ... | focus puller (uncredited) |
| John Reid | ... | second camera operator (uncredited) |
| Mike Rutter | ... | clapper loader (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Molly Arbuthnot | ... | wardrobe |
Music Department
| John Hollingsworth | ... | musical director / conductor (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| June Randall | ... | continuity |
Additional Crew
| Bill Batchelor | ... | publicist (uncredited) |
| Margaret Quigley | ... | production secretary (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Exclusive Films (1956) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. (1957) (United States) (theatrical)
- Anchor Bay Entertainment (2000) (United States) (DVD)
- e-m-s the DVD-Company (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
- Scream Factory (2020) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- RKO Radio Films (1959) (Belgium) (theatrical)
- i-catcher media (2022) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
Special Effects
- Bowie, Margutti and Company (special effects)
Other Companies
- The War Office (the producers wish to acknowledge the co-operation received from, during the production of this film)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
British Army radiation drills at a remote Scottish base attract a subterranean, radioactive entity of unknown nature that vanishes, leaving two severely radiation-burned soldiers... and a "bottomless" crack in the earth. Others who meet the thing in the night suffer likewise, and with increasing severity; it seems to be able to "absorb" radiation from any source, growing bigger and bigger. What is it?? How do you destroy a thing that "feeds" on energy?
Written by Rod Crawford |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | NOTHING CAN STOP IT! (original print ad - all caps) See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $60,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | The film was originally intended to have been a sequel to another Hammer success, The Quatermass Xperiment (1955), but creator Nigel Kneale vetoed the use of his character(s) by another writer - hence Prof. Bernard Quatermass swiftly became Dr. Adam Royston. See more » |
| Goofs | Lansing watches the stick sinking in a pool of liquid, but in a later long shot the stick in seen firmly standing in dry ground. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in X the Unknown (1979). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Serenade for Strings in E Major, Op. 22: V. Finale: Allegro vivace See more » |
| Quotes |
Major Cartwright:
You know this Royston chap - brilliant, of course, I'm sure - but the trouble with some of these scientific types is they can't see the easy way out of anything. It's got to be complicated if it's going to work. See more » |