First Men in the Moon (Standard Edition)

Good quality Blu-ray edition of HG Wells classic sci-fi story. Well acted, but the special effects are dated. Cast your mind back to the 60's or 70's for the first time you saw this and don't compare it modern day CGI.

This is a film I loved watching as a child, and at 37 years old, I love it just as much now. Based on the fabulous novel by H.G Wells, it concerns the first trip to the moon taken by two Victorian gentlemen, one an eccentric scientist Professor Cavor, the other Bedford, a rougish benefactor of the scientist. Bedford's fiancee also comes along rather unwillingly for the ride. When they arrive on the Moon they discover a well ordered insectivore society, intelligent and inquisitive. Lionel Jefferies steals every scene he is in as the frankly totally bonkers Cavor, running around like an excited child with ideas shooting from his mouth, whilst Edward Judd is also excellent, as Bedford, a quite unlikeable character in the film, selfish and also instantly hostile towards the Selenites. The special effects are also excellent, Harryhausen providing the excellent Moon Cow, a giant caterpillar with razor sharp teeth, and also some of the higher Selenites. Probably because of budgetary limitations the majority of the moon men are men in suits. Also impressive is the sight of Cavor's spaceship travelling from Earth to the Moon. Anyway, its the kind of film to make me at least pine for the days when these wonderful films would be shown regularily on television, Sinbad and his many voyages, Jason and his Argonauts and all those wonderful fantasy films that fuelled my imagination as a child. Theres also an excellent documentary 'The Harryhausen Chronicles' provided as an extra, showing the painstaking efforts that the wizard model maker made to bring his wonderful creations to the screen. All in all, an excellent DVD, at a great price. Buy it now

When 'First Men in the Moon' was first released in 1964 it completely blew me away. I was 15 at the time. Not even Kubrik's '2001: a Space Odyssey' (released four years later) caught my imagination quite as much as this did. The plot of 'First Men' is taken from H G Wells's story of the same name. The film keeps the late Victorian setting but frames it with a story about a modern moon landing. (The Apollo 11 moon landing took place just five years after the film was released.) In this conception, the Wells story becomes an extended flashback. It is a wholly satisfying adaptation for the screen, with plenty of pace, and some great visual touches. Cavor's Victorian space ship with its old railway buffers for landing gear has always struck me as one of the great design inspirations of retro sci-fi. A lot of the film's charm comes from its strong comic elements which sometimes border on slapstick. The comedy is carried principally by Lionel Jefferies who gives a truly marvellous performance as the eccentric and manically bumbling scientist, Cavor. (Jefferies was a ridiculously talented actor.) It is sustained by brief appearances from British comedy stalwarts such as Gladys Henson (as the matron of the nursing home) and Miles Mallison (as the dotty registrar). Edward Judd makes a fine lovable rogue and Martha Hyer brings energy to her role as his fiance. She appears at first as a late Victorian 'new woman', driving a motor car and speaking her mind to members of the male sex. Ultimately, though, her charater reverts to the more typically dependent female stereotype of the period. The comedy is fast paced and neatly integrated into the plot so that it doesn't detract from the dramatic action but helps to carry it forward. It is marvellously well-judged. Ray Harryhausen's Selenites are surprisingly restrained (their creator was usually up for a good screen fight) but they do what is required of them, and create a creepy sense of collective, insect-like menace. Both they and the giant caterpillars work very well for their time. A number of the other set piece special effects are memorable. What I particularly like about 'First Men', though, is that although the special effects and futuristic sets provide a strong focal point of interest they don't overwhelm the plot. Finally, there is an excellent score which points the comedy and supports the drama. If you like 1960s retro Sci-Fi, 'First Men' is a real treat!

Nigel Kneale scripted this clever adaptation of Wells' classic. In doing so he kept in much of the fun stuff. Scientist invents anti-gravity material and builds space ship. Neighbour learns of experiments and comes along for the ride. Explorers encounter strange alien beings, and get into trouble. Will they escape? Well, sort of. Harryhausen's effects are pretty good. Yes, stop-motion had dated, but there's still something enjoyable about proper monsters. The giant Mooncalves aren't that terrifying but they provide some innocent amusement. Likewise the scenes with the Cavorite sphare flying through space. Not brilliant by modern standards, but well done and visually appealing. Maybe there is a bit too much comedy in the first half hour or so, as Lionel Jeffreys piles on the wacky inventor. Also, a not-very-necessary romantic sub-plot is added, presumably because producers thought audiences like that sort of thing. These faults are balanced by a clever framing narrative concerning the first moon landing - still the stuff of science fiction when this film was made. Kneale rather cheekily provides a denouement based on another Wells book. All in all, this is solid bit of sci-fi film making and well worth a watch.

Classic early science fiction

Since my early years First Men in the Moon has always been a favourite film. Lionel Jeffries was, as always, the core upon which the film turned and his performance was masterful, a perfect mix of eccentricity and panic. Edward Judd however, as the straight man was competent and also well supported by Martha Hyer. This is not just a film, it is a classic and I shall watch it many times again at my leisure.

これと同時に、たまたまジョルジュメリエスの「月世界旅行」を観ました。６０年以上の開きがあるので、当然技術的にも比べることはできませんし、並べてみると学芸会と劇団四季ぐらいの差があるのは仕方ないにしてもストーリーが似ているのに驚きます。ひょっとしたら同じウェルズの原作なのかなと思いました。 ハリーハウゼンの特技は相変わらず冴えてます。特に巨大家畜月牛とのくだりは、ちょっと見ものですよ。

H.G. Wells' fantastic account of life on the moon is vividly brought to the screen by special effects master Ray Harryhausen in this amazing sci-fi epic featuring unforgettable extra-terrestrial creatures. The film begins with a team of United Nations astronauts planning an upcoming moon mission. The astronauts are both confused and intrigued by a man (Judd) who claims he, his fiancee and a scientist journeyed to the moon 65 years ago and were attacked by "Selenites," grotesque, human-like ant forms that live in immense crystal caverns. Now it is up to the U.N. team to attempt a lunar landing that could be more horrifying than ever believed possible.

若い頃こういう映像があると知った。テレビでほんのさわりだけみたことがある。昔々の映像を見るのは楽しい。

Je suis satisfait et n'ai rien de plus à ajouter.

人生初の『SF』はH・Gウェルズ「月世界探検」で岩崎書店刊『エスエフ世界の名作』この本の装丁で『SF』と云う ジャンルが完全に刷り込まれたご同輩は少なくはないだろう。 それから十数年後原点回帰で同書とハヤカワの銀背を入手出来たが映像化されてるとはまっっつたく知らず偶然この映画のDVDを知って軽く動揺した。ぜひ観てみたい‼ このDVDはハリーハウゼンBOX③に収録されていて単品販売はなかったようだ。かのダイナメーションを活用したあの『シンドバッドシリーズ』の怪物や骸骨がウネウネ動いて活躍した映画のスタッフが製作なので軽く期待していた。 一応月世界旅行の映画は例の砲弾で行くのが真っ先に浮かんだが原作も別物だし確認はした。 さて肝心の内容はおおむね原作通りだがそんなにアクションやド派手な展開はないこの原作がセレクトされたのか。時代背景が宇宙開発が盛んだった年代で実際5年後には月面着陸を果たす訳でPRも兼ねてたかも。 冒頭その月面着陸のシーンから始まるロケットは完全オリジナルで実際のアポロとは別物。月面に降り立つ人類初の宇宙飛行士はそこで驚愕の物を発見する。既に彼らより先に人類が降り立っていてその人物は実在していた⁉…そこからの回顧録として本編が始まっていく映画オリジナルの展開。 月に行くまではコメディシーンが続く続く。宇宙船は完全な球体で無いがイメージは損なっていないでも本来同行しない主人公のフィアンセまで勢いで月に行く。画的に華が無いからでも本編の進行に影響していない。着陸後潜水服を改造した宇宙服を主人公と博士が着用するが全くのザルで冒頭の宇宙飛行士と比べるとツッコミ処あり過ぎ。 セレナイトの着ぐるみ20着作ってるからそこら辺はテキトーになったのか。 見どころのダイナメーションは…『シンドバッド』と比べるとどうしても大人しくなるんだろう。 ポイントポイントで一世風靡した特撮は見所だった。主人公がセレナイトと戦う…ような目立つ描写は原作だと抑え気味だけど映画としては派手な見せ場も必要なので活躍はする。 そしてラストはＨ・Ｇウェルズ原作だからってここでも使うんかなぁ～ってオチ。 とにかく自身にとって記念すべき作品の映画版が鑑賞できた事に感謝するのとハヤカワ銀背のオリジナル訳本が未読なので違いをゆっくりと楽しみたい。