First Men in the Moon ** (1964, Edward Judd, Martha Hyer, Lionel Jeffries) – Classic Movie Review 9503

Director Nathan Juran’s 1964 sci-fi adventure yarn First Men in the Moon, taken from a story by H G Wells, is aimed to please eager teenagers, though it has some appeal to dads too.

A Victorian spaceship with Professor Joseph Cavor (Lionel Jeffries), writer Arnold Bedford (Edward Judd) and his fiancée Kate Callender (Martha Hyer) lands on the moon in 1899 and they meet tiny people and huge cows.

First Men in the Moon has pleasant acting from decent performers and a suspicion of style, but Ray Harryhausen’s attractively quaint Dynamation effects are the main star.

Despite Quatermass man Nigel Kneale’s involvement in the screenplay (with Jan Read), a tighter and more serious-minded script would have been an improvement.

Peter Finch has a guest walk-on cameo as the bailiff’s man. The actor playing the part failed to show up and Finch stepped in when he was visiting the set.

Also in the cast are Eric Chitty, Betty McDowall, Miles Malleson, Norman Bird, Gladys Henson and Hugh McDermott.

First Men in the Moon is directed by Nathan Juran, runs 103 minutes, is made by Columbia Pictures Corporation, Charles H Schneer Productions and Ameran Films, and distributed by Columbia Pictures, is written by Nigel Kneale and Jan Read, based on a story by H G Wells, is shot by Wilkie Cooper, is produced by Charles H Schneer and is scored by Laurie Johnson, with special effects by Ray Harryhausen.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9503

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