8mm Forum: First Men in the Moon

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Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on October 28, 2006, 04:33 PM:

First Men in the Moon
Columbia Pictures, 105 mins, 2000ft
Color, CinemaScope Anamorphic print
Available from Derann

First Men in the Moon is loosely based on H.G.Wells’ story about a journey to the moon in Victorian times, but the film version has a real modern twist. It starts out with a 20 th century United Nations space flight, landing on the moon, and finding evidence of a previous trip carried out in the late 1800’s! This film was made in the early 1960’s , before the question of who would be the first country to land on the moon was resolved, so the film makers wisely resorted to a UN expedition.
The film is firmly in the fantasy genre, and stars the scene stealing Lionel Jeffries as an eccentric scientist who invents an anti-gravity material. Edward Judd plays the part of a young entrepreneur who teams up with Jeffries to launch a lunar expedition. Some good looking scenery is provided by Martha Hyer as Judd’s wife, and she inadvertently gets taken on the spaceship. They take off in a sphere, coated with the anti-gravity paint, and controlled by Venetian blinds! When they land on the moon they encounter a civilization of ant-like creatures and are chased by huge caterpillars, all in ‘Dynamation’ provided by Ray Harryhausen. This was Ray’s first film in CinemaScope, and he had so many problems that he said he would never do another scope film- and he never did!
First Men in the Moon is a fun movie for the whole family, set in the Jules Verne genre of adventure/fantasy films.
The Super 8 print from Derann is fairly good, not quite top notch throughout, but still very acceptable. Most of the scenes are fine with good sharpness and great color, but some of the others are a little soft focus with weaker color. The film was photographed in 'Lunacolor', whatever that is! The original sound track comes supplied as mono, but it is well worth re-recording the Dolby stereo track from the DVD, as I did, to get superb quality sound, which adds a lot to the enjoyment of this film. The stereo really brings out the great music score and space-like sound effects.

Print B+ ( CinemaScope print ,needs 2X anamorphic lens)
Sound B (mono) as supplied from Derann
Sound A+ with stereo re-record.

[ July 31, 2013, 05:48 PM: Message edited by: Paul Adsett ]

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on October 28, 2006, 08:32 PM:

Paul,

Thanks for the review. This charming film has long been one of my favorites. "Poor Cavor! He did have such a terrible cold!"

Doug

Posted by Larry Arpin (Member # 744) on October 24, 2007, 12:38 AM:

Here is a screen capture:

My print is a little on the blue side, but I much prefer this over the DVD which leans toward the yellow side. I enjoy watching this very much and is highly recommended for any Ray Harryhausen fan as it is the only scope film he made. I will try to capture some of the moon shots along with my 16mm letterbox Technicolor print.

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on October 30, 2007, 03:38 PM:

Hi Larry,
Nice screen capture! My print quality is quite soft on some scenes, particularly the shots on the moons surface, but other scenes are fine, and the film is a real Victorian charmer.

Posted by David Kilderry (Member # 549) on October 30, 2009, 04:50 AM:

Paul/Larry, is the soft focus apparent from one reel to another or just the moon scenes you mention?

Is it possibly due to the Dynamation production process combined with scope that those scenes are soft?

Were these scenes soft in 16mm or 35mm prints?

I am considering the purchase of this title on Super 8 and soft focus is almost as annoying as colour fade to me.

David

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on October 30, 2009, 10:02 AM:

Hi David,
I would say that this film is generally on the soft side throughout, although the 'Dynamation' scenes do appear to be the worst. Not a bad print really, just not up to the best that we know Derann can do. I found that re-recording in stereo really boosted the enjoyment of the film, particularly the roaring of that monster caterpillar! Definately a fun film to have.

Posted by David Kilderry (Member # 549) on October 30, 2009, 06:23 PM:

Thanks Paul, appreciate your reply.

I am thinking that I should get it anyway and see for myself; I do love the film.

David

Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on February 04, 2012, 06:19 PM:

Just a reminder that a new book dedicated to Ray Harryhausen
is soon to be made available and should be a most sought after
volume, comprising as it does the four issues of the Harryhausen
magazine from the seventies(mags that are changing hands at
$600.00 for the first three issues.I'm nearly tempted to sell but
not quite.Anyway e-mail Ernie info@archive-editions.com for
further info you won't be disappointed.Here's the chance to own
the four issues of "FXRH" in book form.

Posted by David Hardy (Member # 4628) on May 17, 2017, 04:53 AM:

My print which I bought new from DFS has a slightly blue
tint to it on some scenes. I cant remember about the soft
focus though.

As for the sound Mono as supplied.

Do you realize that the Stereo tracks from DVDs etc may not be
'authentic' as most of the films were never recorded like that
originally. They are "electronically enhanced " mixes from the
original Mono masters.

However in this case it may be real stereo as they may have transferred the sound via a 70mm 4 track master that was used
in Germany for a premier 70mm showing when first released.

I prefer to hear my films "pukka" as originally intended.
But hey that's just me !
[Smile]

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on May 17, 2017, 04:10 PM:

I have to agree with you there David, all our films are as supplied and putting the 1200HD via an old stereo Pioneer amp the sound we get is generally A1 with great range and our audiences never believe i am projecting twin speaker mono sound. [Wink]

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on May 17, 2017, 05:47 PM:

On almost all DVD's, especially of older films, there is generally always an option to rip the original mono or stereo track (where applicable) if you so wish.

I have seen DVD files when opened up contain as many as 10 to 15 different sound track options to choose from if you prefer something different to the default track.
Many are often in multiple languages also, which offers further benefits and choice options from the modern technology now to give to our original films.

Even using only the original mono track,this will still sound far better and cleaner if transferred onto our films as this super clean noiseless and lossless source simply was not available during the period nigh on all of our films were made and certainly was never utilized by their originators.
The creators of our DVD's have done all of the hard work for us by cleaning these tracks themselves beforehand to make them presentable now in this modern era to today's audiences on digital sources.

This cannot be said frequently of course, for the original soundtracks placed onto our magnetic stripes by distributors of film back then.

Posted by Burton Sundquist (Member # 5813) on July 13, 2019, 11:42 PM:

...This has always been a favorite of mine since I first saw it at 8 years old. It is now appreciated as a Scope Super 8 feature
with, as Paul has done, a re-recorded Dolby Digital Stereo soundtrack! You are right Paul, it makes a huge difference! David may be right too about this film having a stereo presentation in 70mm, and that could be the source for the DVD. Either way Great improvement! Thanks Paul for the suggestion and thanks again Ricky for the Print!

[ July 14, 2019, 05:51 PM: Message edited by: Burton Sundquist ]

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on July 14, 2019, 03:44 PM:

Glad you did that stereo re-record Burton, well worth the effort. This is a timeless Victorian fantasy which I find quite charming. And of course there's also the very attractive Martha Hyer............. [Smile]

Posted by Rob Young. (Member # 131) on July 15, 2019, 01:03 PM:

I always used to look at that one in the Derann newsletters back in the day and wish I had more cash.

What a colourful print.

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