What's this movie?

[Tyler]

OK, I remember this flick from when I was younger watching it on Saturday morning.  All I really remember is that is was in black and white and at the end a guy was on one of the big cranes over a fiery inferno and the crane was swinging.  He looked up and it was swinging towards a big face of the devil laughing.

Sorry, thats all I remember.  Anyone have any clues?

[Cullen]

It sounds like "Quartermass and the Pit"  aka "Five Million Years to Earth."  I mean, that is the literal ending of the movie.  Problem is, QatP is in color.  Possible answers include:

1: There was sometiming wrong with your reception and/or set.  That, or it was a Black and White.

2:  You were watching the serial QatP, which the movie was based on.  

Either way, I think QatP is right.  There is a review of the movie with images at http://www.stomptokyo.com/movies/q/quatermass-and-the-pit.html.  Check it out and see for yourself

[Gerry]

It is the 1967 Hammer version of QUATERMASS AND THE PIT.  The B&W 1958 serial doesn't feature a crane in the climax.

Related Link: Gerry's QUATERMASS AND THE PIT review

[Tyler]

Thanks!  I'll have to check it out and let you know.  Now that I think of it, it was early 80's so it may have been a B&W TV.

[Cullen]

"It is the 1967 Hammer version of QUATERMASS AND THE PIT. The B&W 1958 serial doesn't feature a crane in the climax."

A case of Cullen knowing about something but not having all the facts.  Thanks for the reply and the link!

[Gerry]

The 1958 serial is very good.  I would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the Quatermass movies.  At a running time of ~3 hours it fills in a lot of the gaps and background that were trimmed for the Hammer film.