In my younger days, I just enjoyed the movie as it was. But later I began to wonder, what do you suppose happens AFTER the events in the movie?

I'm realistic enough to figure that Quatermass would not get the appreciation and thanks he deserved. In a way, especially in this story, Quatermass was Carl Kolchak before Carl Kolchak was Carl Kolchak.

More likely, he would get blamed for all that happened, Col. Breen would be lauded as a hero for single-handedly trying to save England and the rest of the world, at the cost of his own life... NONE of the GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS would be responsible for ANYTHING, of course...