First Men in the Moon (1964)
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- Not Rated
- 1h 43min
- Adventure, Sci-Fi
- 20 Nov 1964 (USA)
- Movie
When a contemporary spaceship lands on the moon, it's hailed as a new accomplishment before it becomes clear that a Victorian party completed the trek in 1899. This leads investigators to the earlier mission's last surviving crew member.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Edward Judd | ... |
Arnold Bedford
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| Martha Hyer | ... |
Kate Callender
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| Lionel Jeffries | ... |
Joseph Cavor
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| Miles Malleson | ... |
Dymchurch Registrar
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| Norman Bird | ... |
Stuart
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| Gladys Henson | ... |
Nursing Home Matron
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| Hugh McDermott | ... |
Richard Challis
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| Betty McDowall | ... |
Margaret Hoy
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Paul Carpenter | ... |
Reporter from the 'Express' (uncredited)
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| Erik Chitty | ... |
Gibbs (uncredited)
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| Valentine Dyall | ... |
Narrator (uncredited)
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| Peter Finch | ... |
Bailiff's Man (uncredited)
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| John Forbes-Robertson | ... |
First Reporter (uncredited)
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Patrick Halpin | ... |
Wedding Guest (uncredited)
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| Laurence Herder | ... |
Glushkov (uncredited)
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| George Hilsdon | ... |
Constable (uncredited)
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Douglas Ives | ... |
Sparks (uncredited)
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| Sean Kelly | ... |
Col. Rice (uncredited)
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| Marne Maitland | ... |
Dr. Tok (uncredited)
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Terry Marison | ... |
Selenite (uncredited)
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Mary Maxfield | ... |
Nurse (uncredited)
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Gordon Robinson | ... |
Sgt. Andrew Martin (uncredited)
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Jimmy Scott | ... |
Reporter (uncredited)
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John Murray Scott | ... |
Cosmonaut Nevsky (uncredited)
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Huw Thomas | ... |
Announcer (uncredited)
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Kenneth Watson | ... |
Second Reporter (uncredited)
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Brook Williams | ... |
British Astronaut (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Nathan Juran | ||
Written by
| Nigel Kneale | ... | (screenplay) & |
| Jan Read | ... | (screenplay) |
| H.G. Wells | ... | (original story) |
Produced by
| Ray Harryhausen | ... | associate producer |
| Charles H. Schneer | ... | producer |
Music by
| Laurie Johnson | ||
Cinematography by
| Wilkie Cooper | ... | (photographed by) |
Editing by
| Maurice Rootes | ||
Editorial Department
| Nicholas Napier-Bell | ... | second assistant editor (uncredited) |
| Mike Round | ... | assistant editor (uncredited) |
Art Direction by
| John Blezard | ||
Costume Design by
| Olga Lehmann | ... | (uncredited) |
Makeup Department
| Hilda Fox | ... | hairdresser (uncredited) |
| Colin Garde | ... | makeup artist (uncredited) |
Production Management
| Ted Wallis | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| George Pollard | ... | assistant director |
| John Danischewsky | ... | second assistant director (uncredited) |
| Michael Luckwell | ... | third assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Ken Barley | ... | apprentice plasterer (uncredited) |
| Tony Curtis | ... | draughtsman (uncredited) |
| Colin Grimes | ... | assistant art director (uncredited) |
| Bill Holmes | ... | assistant art director (uncredited) |
| Basil Mannin | ... | scenic artist (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Buster Ambler | ... | sound recordist |
| Red Law | ... | sound recordist |
| Alfred Cox | ... | sound editor (uncredited) |
| Peter Dukelow | ... | boom operator (uncredited) |
| Gordon K. McCallum | ... | sound re-recording mixer: stereo version (uncredited) |
| Otto Snel | ... | sound recordist (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Les Bowie | ... | technical staff |
| Kit West | ... | technical staff |
| Brian Johnson | ... | special effects assistant (uncredited) |
| Terry Schubert | ... | special effects assistant (uncredited) |
| Ian Scoones | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
| Ernie Sullivan | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| Ray Harryhausen | ... | creator of special visual effects |
| Bob Cuff | ... | matte painter (uncredited) |
| Peter Melrose | ... | matte artist (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Harry Gillam | ... | camera operator |
| Ray Andrew | ... | clapper loader (uncredited) |
| Norman Hargood | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
| Frankie McGovern | ... | grip (uncredited) |
| David Osborne | ... | focus puller (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Roy Ponting | ... | wardrobe assistant (uncredited) |
| Bridget Sellers | ... | wardrobe (uncredited) |
| May Walding | ... | wardrobe (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Kerry O'Quinn | ... | soundtrack album producer (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Eileen Head | ... | continuity |
Additional Crew
| Arthur Garrett | ... | technical advisor (as Arthur Garratt) |
| Sam Suliman | ... | title designer |
| Vivienne Eden | ... | production secretary (uncredited) |
| Pamela Gadd | ... | producer's secretary (uncredited) |
| Derrick Robbins | ... | publicist (uncredited) |
| Arthur Tarry | ... | production accountant (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Columbia Pictures Corporation (presents)
Distributors
- Columbia Pictures Corporation (1964) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Columbia Pictures (1964) (United States) (theatrical)
- Kamera (1964) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Columbia-Bavaria Filmgesellschaft m.b.H. (1964) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Columbia Film (1965) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Columbia Film-Verleih (1965) (Austria) (theatrical)
- Columbia Films S. A. (1965) (Mexico) (theatrical)
- Powerhouse Films (2017) (United Kingdom) (Blu-ray) (Limited Edition)
- Paramount Network (2025) (France) (tv)
- Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2002) (Germany) (DVD)
- Columbia TriStar Home Video (1994) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- Columbia TriStar Home Video (2002) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- Columbia TriStar Home Video (2003) (United States) (DVD)
- Koch Media (2017) (Germany) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- LK-TEL (2002) (Argentina) (DVD)
- Pioneer Entertainment (1991) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- RCA / Columbia Pictures Video (1989) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (United States) (video)
- RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video (1988) (West Germany) (VHS)
- RCA/Columbia-Hoyts Home Video (1985) (Australia) (video)
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (United States) (DVD)
- Sony Pictures Television (2002) (United States) (tv) (syndication)
- Twilight Time (2015) (United States) (Blu-ray) (video)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2017) (Australia) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Dynamation Company (filmed in)
- Panavision (filmed in)
- Westrex Recording System (sound recording system)
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (the producer acknowledges with thanks the co-operation of, in the making of this film)
- Ministry of Aviation, Royal Aircraft Establishment (the producer acknowledges with thanks the co-operation of, in the making of this film)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
In present day, an international team, to great worldwide fanfare in the accomplishment, has just landed on the moon, the first time humans have both landed and stepped foot on the satellite. The astronauts/cosmonauts, however, make an unusual discovery on the moon's surface: a Union Jack and a summons issued to a Katherine Callender of Dymchurch, England dated 1899. Upon investigation, the UN Space Agency does discover that a Katherine Callender of Dymchurch did exist, has since passed away, but married a Arnold Bedford who is still alive and residing in an area nursing home. At the nursing home, the matron states that Bedford is prone to delusions, but when the team speaks to Bedford directly, he tells them a story that may sound delusional to the uninformed but makes sense as to the moon finding. An aspiring playwright deep in debt at the time, Bedford tells of how he and Kate, not yet married, met their eccentric neighbor, scientist Joseph Cavor, and how that meeting led to the three of them making an expedition to the moon, complete with how they made it there. With their misadventures and his worries for the current expedition team as to his and his compatriots' experience, Bedford completes the story with what happened to Cavor at the time (with Kate's fate already known) and why the world never knew of their moon landing. Written by Huggo |
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| Taglines | H.G. Wells' Astounding Adventure in Dynamation! See more » |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | This is the only one of Ray Harryhausen's films to be shot in anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1) due to the higher cost of anamorphic camera and projection lenses needed for his Dynamation Process. See more » |
| Goofs | Arnold Bedford invests money in boots from the Boer War, speaking as if this war is in the past. Most viewers think he is talking about the Boer War of 1899-1902, which began after this scene takes place. However, there was an earlier, less-publicized Boer War in 1880 and 1881, which could be what he is referring to. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Fantastic Fantasy Fright-o-Rama Show Vol. 1 (1996). See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Filmed in Dynamation - The wonder of the screen! See more » |
| Quotes |
The Grand Lunar:
You say men cling to different tongues and beliefs. Is there no one ruler? Joseph Cavor: No. No, every century some despot tries, but up to now no one's succeeded. People like Hannibal, Julius Caesar, Napoleon... The Grand Lunar: Does this not lead to confusion? Joseph Cavor: Yes, it does. And worse. Starvation... hostility... even war. The Grand Lunar: Tell me of war. Joseph Cavor: Tell you of war? Oh my goodness... Well... it usually starts with a whacking great explosion. See more » |