The Quatermass Xperiment is a 1955 British science fiction horror film. Made by Hammer Film Productions, it is based on the 1953 BBC Television serial The Quatermass Experiment written by Nigel Kneale. Produced by Anthony Hinds and directed by Val Guest, it stars Brian Donlevy as the eponymous Professor Bernard Quatermass. Jack Warner, Richard Wordsworth and Margia Dean appear in supporting roles. Three astronauts are launched into space in a rocket designed by Quatermass, but the spacecraft returns to Earth with only one occupant, Victor Carroon. Something has infected him during the spaceflight, and he begins mutating into an alien organism which, if it spores, will engulf and destroy humanity. When the Carroon-creature escapes from custody, Quatermass and Scotland Yard's Inspector Lomax, have just hours to track it down and prevent a catastrophe.