Five years before the first man put his footprint on the moon’s surface, Nathan Juran launched First Men in the Moon. The film is based on H.G. Wells’ novel of the same name. Like nearly every other literary film ever made, this one differs greatly from the source material. That aside, it is an entertaining film from that era and carries with it the central message of the book.
The lunar landscape is depicted much as we understand it to be: a gray wasteland of dust and rocky outcroppings. This may be because it was filmed after scientists had begun to understand the nature of the moon, making Wells’ forests and frozen atmosphere outdated. The inhabitants of the moon are more aggressive in the novel. And much of the information conveyed in the film comes out of nowhere. Dr. Cavor just knows things. (You’ll recognize this technique from other film adaptations. It’s difficult to fit 342 pages of gradual revelation into about an hour and a half.)
Dr. Cavor and his mysterious compound, aptly named cavorite, make lunar travel possible long before the invention of the rocket booster. Cavorite counters gravity. The doctor – along with a bankrupt businessman and his frustrated fiancée – make the trip and land intact. While the men are out exploring, the moon’s original inhabitants steal the ship and its feminine contents. Once everyone is underground with the insect-like Selenites, the intellectual plot thickens. Three people represent the entirety of earth. Is man a frightened, violent race that attacks what it fears… say, a herd of alien termites? Or are we reasonable people in search of peace and knowledge?
It goes without saying that the effects in this film are wonderful, but I’ll say it anyway. Men in giant ant suits (with the ties clearly visible) defend themselves against claymation monsters with a primitive lightning effect. Point of view gags are essential and a few sets are re-used endlessly. Plastic crystals are illuminated from within for dramatic displays. The “apparatus for generating oxygen on a vast scale” is nothing more than aerated, colored water. Low gravity is apparent… as are the cables that make it possible.
The most hilarious props by far are the “diving suits” that protect the astronauts. They are nothing more than lightweight brown jumpsuits. The small oxygen packs attached to the backs have one hose… that dangles. The helmets appear to be plastic or fiberglass. They have gauntlets that give the appearance of thick leather gloves, but if you look closely you can see their bare hands.
First Men is a serious film for its time. Although it is a science fiction movie with funny-looking aliens, it carries a powerful theme. There are moments that made me seriously consider the possibilities that would arise in that situation. They made me look for evidence to support my theories. It was an exercise for my brain. Although the ending leaves much to be desired, the meat of the film is certainly worth your time.
Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_First_Men_in_the_Moon, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_landing#Fictional_Moon_landings
