ALL SCI-FI

Bud Brewster · Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 6:14 pm Post subject: First Men in the Moon (1964)

This is movie number ten for the great Ray Harryhausen, who provides his usual stunning animation, although the plot is a bit cynical for some tastes, lacking the cheerful charm of such movies as Journey to the Center of the Earth.

In this one we get animated Selenites, giant caterpillar-like "Moon Cows", and a big-brained Grand Lunar on his regal throne.

The special effects in the scenes of Professor Cavor's spherical spaceship en route to the Moon are beautiful, as well the scenes on the lunar surface and the Selenite Moon creatures.

The opening scene is clever: the "first" astronauts to land on the moon (an international group) are stunned by the discovery of a tiny British flag on the lunar surface.

A message attached to the flag identifies the real first Moon landers, and the authorities on Earth get in touch with one of them, an aging Edward Judd, who tells the strange tale of his turn-of-the century expedition with Professor Cavor (Jeffries) and Judd's fiance' (Hyer).

All that sounds jim-dandy, but the truth of the matter is, this movie doesn't hold a candle to Jason and the Argonauts — which is generally regarded as Harryhausen's crowning achievement. Tom Hanks proclaimed it to be greater than Citizan Kane when he presented Ray with his Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

He wasn't entirely joking. Ray should have a shelf filled with FX Oscars for the work he's done, and Jason was indeed the Crown Jewel in his collection.

I don't mean to criticize the fine folks who have good feelings about First Men in the Moon, but I'm sure they'd agree that this movie doesn't quite measure up to some of Ray's other features.

Directed by Nathan Juran. Laurie Johnson wrote the fine music (available on soundtrack album). Starring Edward Judd (The Day the Earth Caught Fire), Lionel Jeffries (The Revenge of Frankenstein), and Martha Hyer (Abbott & Costello Go to Mars).
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

Robert (Butch) Day · Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 7:44 am Post subject:

I wonder if the artist who created the poster is the same one who did The Time Machine (1960)? The styles are certainly similar as is the layout.

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Common Sense ISN'T Common

Eadie · Galactic Ambassador Joined: 14 Dec 2013 Posts: 1670

From a site that sells 8mm movies AND 8mm projectors, a standee of Martha Hyer from First Men IN the Moon.

Bud Brewster · Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 12:09 pm Post subject:

Eadie · Galactic Ambassador Joined: 14 Dec 2013 Posts: 1670

A Christmas publicity picture of Martha Hyer.

From the site Say; Hello Spaceman
http://sayhellospaceman.blogspot.com/

Pow · Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2015 9:15 am Post subject:

Watched this film several years ago for the first time in many a year. Found it a delight!

Not as much stop-motion sequences as I would have liked but nonetheless a lavish looking production, fun story, wonderful cast.

Ray said that the scenes in the beginning of FMITM of the present day spaceship orbiting the moon & having its lunar lander descend to the surface was used on TV during the first real moon landing. The TV networks aired that particular scene so as to show what the moon landing would look like.

Rocky Jones · Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2015 10:51 am Post subject:

This is one of my favorite Harryhausen efforts and I loved them all. I somehow missed the original theatrical release, but I had the Gold Key comic, which I think I reread until I wore it out. I did see it the first time it appeared on TV. I think one thing I like about it is that the story has all the elements of an outlandish yarn an eccentric storyteller might tell. Of course, the wacky old storyteller turns out to be telling the truth.

Robert (Butch) Day · Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2016 5:19 am Post subject:

The poster artwork:

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Common Sense ISN'T Common

Rocky Jones · Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2016 9:08 pm Post subject:

That's always been my favorite type of movie poster art-- the scene collage overlay. There probably is an actual name for it.

Robert (Butch) Day · Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 6:24 am Post subject:

You almost named it. It is called the collage or montage poster.
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Common Sense ISN'T Common

Rocky Jones · Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2016 12:53 am Post subject:

Good. "Collage or montage poster". FMITM has to one of my favorites of all time, but there have been so many great ones. Robert McGinnis' James Bond posters are masterworks of the genre. But with this one you pretty much get the film story in one marvelous piece — there's the Earth, the sphere landing, the guys go into the crater, mysteries are discovered, moon residents are shot up. Come to think of it, this story does kind of characterize the spirit of humanity's reckless zeal for exploration and corruption.

Krel · Guest

This Facebook page has some behind the scenes photos from the movie: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.703892559713961.1073742474.277297109040177&type=3

David.

Robert (Butch) Day · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2016 7:18 am Post subject:

Could you screen grab those pictures and post them?

The link wants me to join Facebook!. won't. Social media has a way of just eating-up time and wasting space by unnecessary viewpoints which the posters think are either "TRUTH" or "opinions". They are neither. ("TRUTH", as such, doesn't exist and "opinions" are properly used by persons who actually have working knowledge of said subject. Most people do not (and that does include myself).

As Alfred Pennyworth (Michael Gough [gawff]) said in Batman Returns (1992):

Most of the time, it's a waste of time.
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Common Sense ISN'T Common

Bud Brewster · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2016 9:17 am Post subject:

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David, that Facebook page — which is called Realm of Retro Sci-Fi — is wonderful! It's packed with great material. Thanks! Very Happy

Robert (Butch) Day · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2016 7:22 pm Post subject:

I joined ONLY because a friend signed me up for a birthday present. I was only on for about 3 - 4 months, then I got disgusted with all of the nonsense. So I quit it. Cold Turkey.
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Common Sense ISN'T Common