First Men in The Moon (1964)

First Men in the Moon lobby card set image courtesy Heritage Auction Galleries

Director Nathan Juran and Columbia Pictures delivered the fantastic First Men in the Moon to movie theaters in 1964. Lionel Jeffries plays the eccentric scientist, with Edward Judd and Martha Hyer along for the moon trek.

H.G. Wells’ First Men in the Moon

First Men in the Moon is based on the novel of the same name by British author H.G. (Herbert George) Wells (1866-1946). First published in 1901 by George Newnes Ltd. of London, First Men in the Moon told the story of a businessman and scientist who undertake a journey to the moon using the latter’s invention, an anti-gravity compound called Cavorite.

First Men in the Moon was adapted for the silent screen 18 years later. Directed by Bruce Gordon and J.L.V. Leigh for Gaumont British Picture Corporation, this crude 1919 film featured Bruce Gordon, Heather Thatcher, Hector Abbas, Lionel d’Aragon and Cecil Morton York in the lead roles.

Nathan Juran Directs First Men in the Moon

Nigel Kneale and Jan Read penned the 1964 screenplay for Ameran Films and Columbia Pictures. Directing the action was Nathan Juran, whose previous science fiction credits included The Deadly Mantis (1957), 20 Million Miles to Earth (1957), Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958) and The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958).

Producer Charles H. Schneer employed Wilkie Cooper as cinematographer and Laurie Johnson as music director. The legendary Ray Harryhausen (It Came from Beneath the Sea, Jason and the Argonauts, Clash of the Titans) created the film’s dazzling special effects, with assistance from Les Bowie, Kit West and Bob Cuff.

First Men in the Moon Cast

Edward Judd (Arnold Bedford), Martha Hyer (Katherine “Kate” Callender) and Lionel Jeffries (Joseph Cavor) head the fine cast. Other players are Miles Malleson (Dymchurch Registrar), Norman Bird (Stuart), Gladys Henson (Nursing Home Matron), Hugh McDermott (Richard Challis), Betty McDowall (Margaret Hoy), Paul Carpenter (Express Reporter), Erik Chitty (Gibbs), Laurence Herder (Glushkov), Sean Kelly (Col. Rice), Marne Maitland (Dr. Tok), Gordon Robinson (Andrew Martin), John Murray Scott (Cosmonaut Nevsky) and Huw Thomas (Announcer).

Peter Finch makes an uncredited cameo appearance in the role of Bailiff’s Man. The visiting Finch was commandeered for the part when the assigned actor failed to show.

Filmed in the United Kingdom

First Men in the Moon was filmed in Chertsey and New Haw, United Kingdom. Shepperton Studios in the UK served as the film’s in-house production facility.

The movie was shot using Ray Harryhausen’s Dynamation Process, a filming technique that effectively combined live action with stop-motion in the same frame. Harryhausen had pioneered Dynamation while working on The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953).

British Moon Landing in 1899

First Men in the Moon opens in 1964, where a United Nations expedition lands on the moon amidst great fanfare back on Earth. Exiting their spacecraft, the international team of explorers soon discover an old British Union Jack and a makeshift letter of proclamation claiming the moon for Queen Victoria.

The letter is eventually tracked down to one of its authors, Arnold Bedford, who is currently residing in a retirement home in England. Descended upon by the media, Bedford begins to relate his fantastic tale of 65 years ago.

In flashback form, the aged Bedford tells of his meeting with Professor Joseph Cavor, an eccentric genius who creates an anti-gravity compound called Cavorite. After applying the substance to a special sphere constructed in the laboratory, Cavor, Bedford and Bedford’s fiancee Kate Callender embark on a trip to the moon in 1899.

Donning special spacesuits, Bedford and Cavor exit the sphere, eventually descending into the moon’s interior where they discover an entire civilization populated by the insect-like Selenites. Back in the present day, Bedford issues a warning to the UN team as they began their underground descent.

First Men in the Moon Premieres in England

First Men in the Moon opened in England on August 16, 1964. It later came to American movie theaters on November 20, 1964.  

“Ray Harryhausen and his special effects men have another high old time in this piece of science-fiction hokum filmed in Dynamation,” reported Variety (8/5/64).

“At least First Men in the Moon is clean. And just as dull. Only the most indulgent youngsters should derive much stimulation – yet alone fun – from the tedious, heavy-handed science-fiction vehicle that arrived yesterday from England…” observed Howard Thompson of The New York Times (11/26/64).

First Men in the Moon Movie Memorabilia, DVD

• Auction results for original First Men in the Moon movie material courtesy Heritage Auction Galleries, Dallas, Texas: one sheet poster ($36), insert poster ($62), complete set of eight lobby cards ($69), six sheet poster ($131.45), half sheet poster ($83.65), French Grande poster ($191.20), Gold Key 1965 tie-in comic book very fine/near mint condition ($29).
• On DVD: H.G. Wells’ First Men in the Moon (Columbia, 2002).

“Poor Cavor! He did have such a terrible cold,” Edward Judd declares.

Remember that line…