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MOVIE NIGHTS!!
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Re: MOVIE NIGHTS!!
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ryanbrennan
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Sep 13 10 12:28 AM
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Another Movie Night at Dennis' and we didn't watch a circus movie!
We only watched one movie this night, one that Dennis had somehow missed: FIRST MEN IN THE MOON.
This is, of course, the Ray Harryhausen/Charles Schneer production based on the H.G. Wells novel. Stars are Edward Judd, Lionel Jeffries, and Martha Hyer. Nathan Juran directs from a script by Nigel Kneale and Jan Read. Shot in Panavision and color by Wilkie Cooper. Laurie Johnson provides the music score.
The movie begins with preparations for the first Moon landing. The international team of astronauts successfully guides their space capsule to the Moon surface. Within minutes of stepping foot on lunar real estate they happen upon a strange artifact -- a weathered Union Jack with a note claiming the Moon in the name of the Queen. It is dated 1899. One clue leads to another and the space team on Earth tracks the flag and note to Arnold Bedford (Edward Judd), now an old man in a nursing home. When he is confronted with a photograph of the flag, Bedford, who has been quarantined from TV watching, recognizes the flag and realizes that man has stepped foot on the Moon again. A flashback to 1899 begins.
Bedford (Edward Judd), is a shiftless layabout who is dodging his creditors by renting beautiful but remote Cherry Cottage. When his girlfriend, Kate (Martha Hyer), pops up, his tangled web starts to unravel. Fortunately, his nearby neighbor is eccentric scientist Professor Cavor (Jeffries), an inventor who has discovered a paste he calls Cavorite that negates the powers of gravity. Bedford sees a fortune at hand, particularly if can slap Cavorite on the soles of a warehouse full of old, worthless army boots he bought on speculation. But Cavor's aspirations are literally out of this world. He plans a trip to the Moon.
This, and THE THREE WORLDS OF GULLIVER, are usually cited as the least interesting Harryhausen movies because there is a paucity of stop-motion effects. There is a stop-motion space sphere, Selenites, a skeleton image of Kate, and a giant Mooncalf (two are seen, actually). The anamorphic Panavision photography presented a challenge to Harryhausen's Dynamation process so a great deal of these effects are optical composites via blue screen. Thinking about it now, I don't recall any direct interaction between the stop-motion creatures and the live action actors as in previous Harryhausen films.
Regardless, except for the lack of Harryhausen's effects, I believe this to be the finest all-round film from Harryhausen and Schneer. That is to say, unlike many of their other films, this picture has many other elements of interest besides the effects. Put differently, the script, production design, photography, direction, performances, editing, and music are such that they could have carried the film even if someone of lesser talent had provided the effects.
First, there is Lionel Jeffries absolutely wonderful turn as Professor Cavor. I can't think of a better performance in a Harryhausen film, though Herbert Lom's Captain Nemo in MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (my personal favorite Harryhausen film) may be the equal. Edward Judd's achievement is less flashy but he manages the difficult task of playing a manipulating con man in a charming manner that wins us over.
Unlike CLASH OF THE TITANS, in which Harryhausen's effects footage didn't always mesh well with live action footage or background plates, the superior production design here and photography are a perfect match. There is a real sense of scope in this film, both literally and figuratively. The wraparound story set in the present is on an international scale, reaching around the world and to the Moon. John Blezard's art direction, covering the Victorian and modern eras as well as a Moon civilization, coupled with matte paintings and models, gives the film a detailed and massive look and gives the impression of great expense.
Laurie Johnson's music is one of the finest scores in a Harryhausen movie and holds it own with the work of Bernard Herrmann, Jerome Moross, and Miklos Rozsa. There are many moments in the movie when his music lends a scene a true sense of awe and mystery. Maurice Rootes' editing is fine. I particularly like his smash cut from the relatively quiet, lonely Moon landing to the noisy ticker tape parades and celebrations on Earth. He has a good sense of timing in the comedic scenes such as the one leading up to the launching of the sphere.
I expect others to chime in with how they think 7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD, or some other Harryhausen film is better. We all have our favorites (mine, again, is MYSTERIOUS ISLAND), but in terms of overall filmmaking, I believe FIRST MEN takes the prize. In short, it holds its own as a film, not just an effects film.
In addition to the feature we watched THE HARRYHAUSEN CHRONICLES. If you ever have the desire to step frame through some Harryhausen footage and see the head gauges that have been digitally removed in the current DVD editions, you can still see them in the clips from this documentary.
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Welcome to the CHFB
Forum Guidelines
CHFB TURNS 20!
Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards
Universal Horrors
The Universal Monsters Blu-Ray Collection
Golden Age Horror
Kong - 8th Wonder of the World
Silent Horror
Poverty Row
The World of Sherlock Holmes
Murder and Mystery
Thrills and Chills
'50s Horror and Sci-Fi
'60s Horror and Sci-Fi
'70s Horror and Sci-Fi
Hammer Horror
The Psycho Ward
Foreign Horror
Japanese Giants
Horror and Sci-Fi of Recent Decades
Current Films
Second Takes on Films of the 2000s
Independent Films and Documentaries
Coming Soon
TV Terrors
Classic Horror on DVD, Blu-Ray and Streaming
Stream and Stream Again
Horror Film Books and Magazines
Horror by Candlelight
Horror Comics and Fantasy Art
Monster Toys and Collectibles
Classic Horror Movie Memorabilia
Horror Music
Old Time Radio and Audio Horror
Classic Horror Online
CHFB Member Reviews
Our Favorite Horror Hosts
Classic Disney Scares
Horror Film Stars
Men Behind the Monsters
Monster Kid Memories
General Horror and Sci-Fi
Horror Tech
Movie of the Day
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