Il primo uomo sulla Luna

I think this film is brilliant. It depicts an era in British history that has long gone.Bubble-type cars, bars of chocolate at the railway station where you could just hop on a steam train and go up to town (London) or anywhere,without having to worry about pre booking or reserving seats, leave your car on the road just outside the station, and it would be there when you got back and no fee! There is a great scene where the use an emersion tank very similar to the stress relieving floatation tanks of today but this looks more fun. Another great scene is near the beginning when Blood reports to the Common Cold Research Station, which actually existed, and there are scenes of galeforce winds in the corridors and rain stopping play in a cricket match. The story line rattles along with pace and as usual in these films, there's a great supporting British cast.

Did we really laugh at films like this? Strangely, yes, once upon a time. In this black and white non-classic, Kenneth More plays the semi-moronic William Blood who makes his living volunteering for medical trials. Until now, no one seems to have realised that Blood is a medical marvel himself, he doesn't get ill however they try to infect him, something that may be due to his laid back attitude.

This prompts the British space research team (seriously) to recruit him for a trip to the Moon. The only problem is that this is purely a one-way trip, which of course Blood doesn't realise. Needless to say, things don't go quite according to plan. There is a minor sub- plot featuring a very blonde ingénue, who deserves that appellation in spite of her being a stripper by profession.

"Man In The Moon" is all very tame but it does give a couple of good lines to one of its minor characters that will deserve to be remembered by Libertarians and philosophers long after the film itself is forgotten.

If the British had ever mounted a moon exploration mission I wouldn't expect this film to be too far from the truth. Kenneth More plays Billy Blood, an everyman selected to be the first man on the moon by three crackpot 'NASTI' scientists who deem the trip too dangerous to be made by trained astronauts.

There follows a series of experiments, three jealous astronauts, a stripper girlfriend and a baked beans tin in the Australian Outback...

It's British, it's mad, and it's fanciful, if not a little wayward in parts..look out for a young Charles Gray enjoying himself as the upper-crust astronaut brainwashed into being Blood's new best friend...

"I say chaps, I shouldn't have had that last bit of tea and toast before take-off"...

This is a classic English comedy as the surreal opening sequence will show. We start with a lovely pan through the English countryside and end up a four poster iron bed, which is fully made in the middle of a field. When you're wondering what the hell is happening, out pops William (brilliantly portrayed by Kenneth More), who then has a nut dropped on him from a passing squirrel... But it only gets stranger when a beautiful and glamorous woman comes across the stream on stepping stones. She ignores William when he speaks to her and as she clambers over the style we see an approaching vehicle. When the land rover pulls up we realise that William is out on the field trying to catch a common cold. It's William's great good health that sets him on the route to being the first man on the moon.

You have to remember that this movie was made in the '60's so most of the technology within the story is now incorrect and, at times, laughable. What made this such a good film for me was the acting. As not only do we have the great Kenneth More, who I can listen to and watch all day, but Shirley Anne Field is so beautiful and plays Polly brilliantly, then there's Norman Bird and Michael Hordern who add gravitas to the film.

Secondly, there's the story which is well written with lots of believable and funny narrative along with realistic characterisations. For me, this is the way that comedy works best. Keep the characters solid and make the lines and situations comedic. Today, too many writers and directors like to have wacky characters - though, on the whole, they appear juvenile and pretty stupid.

This isn't the best comedy, though it did raise a few smiles and laughs. I would gladly recommend this for an afternoons or evenings entertainment.

I always have time to watch a Basil Deardon film, and this is an unusual film in his oeuvre, as it's a comedy. It starts with a delightful eccentric opening scene and I was fired up, from then on, particularly with Shirley Ann Field's entrance.

After the wonderful start I then had to persevere, as Kenneth More was starting to grate on me, as there was too much dialogue from him. I'm pleased to say it was worth it, as there are some good visual gags, some pure slapstick, and I particularly liked the windy Common Cold Research Station.

There are a couple of interesting scenes when Keneth More dons his space suit and goes through the process of entering the space ship. The other was in the immersion/flotation tank, where they are tryng to change Charles Gray's bad attitude, with mind control (?).

There is a belter of a line in the film when they ask about the potential astronault's politics, that made me crease up with laughter, but I will not spoil it for you.

It's all ridiculous of course, and the only other actor worth mentioning (other than Shirley Ann Field) is Michael Horden, who plays it generally straight, which was needed. Back to Shirley Ann Field, and she steams through this film and is as sultry as they come (it was 1960 after all). Each moment she is on screen is worthwhile, just a shame that we do not see enough of her, but then again, I wouldn't want more.

Whether to watch or pass? If you can sit through cheaply made black & white British films from 1960 (before the 60's swung), that are playful with some worthwhile moments, then I'd say yes. Not high art, but I'm glad I watched it, and it did make me laugh at times.