With names appearing on the billboard such as Nathan Juran (director of the delirious "The Brain from Planet Arous" and "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad"), Nigel Kneale (writer of the exquisite "Quatermass" trilogy), Ray Harryhausen (notorious visual effects designer of "Jason and the Argonauts" and "It Came from beneath the Sea") and H.G. Wells (legendary novelist of "The War of the Worlds" and "Food of the Gods"), I was already preparing for a vastly entertaining and completely relaxing Sci- Fi adventure. What I didn't expect or even secretly hoped for, actually, was that "First Men in the Moon" would be THIS much shamelessly brainless fun! Literally from start to finish, this over-enthusiast British adaptation of Wells' novel is fast-paced, comical, exhilarating and unpretentious camp fest. Every aspect about this film simply provokes a big fat smile on your face, whether it's Lionel Jeffries' over-the-top nutty scientist performance, Harryhausen's stupendous moon caterpillar creation or just the complete negligence of all the most basic laws of science.
TV journals and high school history teachers always taught us that Neil Armstrong was the first man on the moon, right? Wrong! Good old Neil wasn't the first one and neither were the randomly nameless astronauts at the beginning of this film who are landing on the moon whilst the entire world is watching. Barely five steps on the surface, the astronauts find a Union Jack flag and a note claiming the moon belongs to England's Queen Victoria. Talk about sloppy seconds! The authorities track down Arnold Bedford, one of the three pioneer explorers who traveled back and forth to the moon in the year 1899 already! Arnold is a nut job in a retirement home and he warns about the current astronauts being in great danger. The rest of the film is a flashback to the year 1899, narrating in great detail how Arnold and his American fiancée Kate Callender became acquainted with the bedazzled but undeniably genius scientist Joseph Cavor. Cavor invented a gooey substance that makes any type of material weightless and, rather than investing in groovy anti- gravity boots, he wants to build a bizarre and shapeless contraption into a rocket ship and fly to the moon. Don't bother questioning the ten million little details they overlook, but the cheerful trio arrive on the moon alive & kicking and begin their exploring in deep sea diving suits. To their amazement, the inside of the moon has a normal earthly atmosphere and is inhabited by a eerie community of critters.
"First Men in the Moon" is an awesomely entertaining Sci-Fi gem from the early 60's. The concept is absurd and ludicrous, but at the same time irresistibly charming. The interstellar landscapes and Harryhausen's creations are quite impressive whereas other set pieces and scenery are almost too cheesy for words. Some of the dialogs are priceless but, in good old late 50's/early 60's Sci-Fi tradition, the screenplay contains quite a number of confronting questions about human nature and a typically abrupt ending. I loved it and I can only highly recommend it to people with a weakness for old-fashioned Sci-Fi and a healthy dose of humor.
TV journals and high school history teachers always taught us that Neil Armstrong was the first man on the moon, right? Wrong! Good old Neil wasn't the first one and neither were the randomly nameless astronauts at the beginning of this film who are landing on the moon whilst the entire world is watching. Barely five steps on the surface, the astronauts find a Union Jack flag and a note claiming the moon belongs to England's Queen Victoria. Talk about sloppy seconds! The authorities track down Arnold Bedford, one of the three pioneer explorers who traveled back and forth to the moon in the year 1899 already! Arnold is a nut job in a retirement home and he warns about the current astronauts being in great danger. The rest of the film is a flashback to the year 1899, narrating in great detail how Arnold and his American fiancée Kate Callender became acquainted with the bedazzled but undeniably genius scientist Joseph Cavor. Cavor invented a gooey substance that makes any type of material weightless and, rather than investing in groovy anti- gravity boots, he wants to build a bizarre and shapeless contraption into a rocket ship and fly to the moon. Don't bother questioning the ten million little details they overlook, but the cheerful trio arrive on the moon alive & kicking and begin their exploring in deep sea diving suits. To their amazement, the inside of the moon has a normal earthly atmosphere and is inhabited by a eerie community of critters.
"First Men in the Moon" is an awesomely entertaining Sci-Fi gem from the early 60's. The concept is absurd and ludicrous, but at the same time irresistibly charming. The interstellar landscapes and Harryhausen's creations are quite impressive whereas other set pieces and scenery are almost too cheesy for words. Some of the dialogs are priceless but, in good old late 50's/early 60's Sci-Fi tradition, the screenplay contains quite a number of confronting questions about human nature and a typically abrupt ending. I loved it and I can only highly recommend it to people with a weakness for old-fashioned Sci-Fi and a healthy dose of humor.