It’s hard to believe they put a person on the Moon so early! Directed by Nathan Juran, First Men In The Moon is based on H. G. Wells' novel "The First Men in the Moon." Nigel Kneale (creator of Quatermass) and Jan Read wrote the screenplay, Ray Harryhausen provided the stop-motion effects, and the cast includes Lionel Jeffries, Edward Judd & Martha Hyer. The story follows a UN rocket flight to the Moon that lands in 1964, believing they are the first to arrive. They find a British Union Flag and a notice from Katherine Callender (Hyer) declaring that the Moon was previously claimed in the name of Queen Victoria. This prompts a search by the UN to locate Katherine and understand what happened. They discover she has died but find her husband, Arnold Bedford (Judd), living in an old people's home. He had been dismissed over the years for his claims of having once traveled to the Moon, but now authorities are eager to hear his story. He recounts a fantastical tale about when Professor Joseph Cavor (Jeffries), Katharine, and he himself journeyed to the Moon in 1899 and encountered an alien race called the Selenites. Nathan Juran's movie begins with a powerful musical score by Laurie Johnson—the kind of opening that suggests either impending doom or the start of a war. The astronauts then discover the British Union Flag on the Moon, setting the tone for some H. G. Wells-style science fiction adventures. However, what follows for the next 45 minutes is a slow-paced comedy featuring three exaggerated Victorian characters. It's disappointing that the first two-thirds of the film feel so lackluster, especially considering the final third and the production as a whole really pick up momentum and succeed. The contrast is jarring, and it raises questions about who’s responsible for this odd misjudgment. Still, the bizarre plot works fine, even though it deviates significantly from Wells' novel with its social commentary, while the actors—perhaps preparing to take a backseat to Harryhausen's work—just manage to keep things watchable until the film gains pace and excitement. As is typical of films led by Harryhausen, the appearance of his creatures and his Dynnamation work considerably elevates the proceedings. Once the trio arrives on the Moon, the tone noticeably changes, and we finally get the movie that the opening promised. Selenite aliens (a type of winged beetle race), a giant Caterpillar-like creature, and the Grand Lunar leader showcase some, admittedly, second-tier Harryhausen work. However, it’s enough to entertain with charm while giving the film some dramatic impact. Best of all is the artwork by John Blezard and his team, where wonderful sets (and the eternally beautiful Martha Hyer) are enhanced by Wilkie Cooper's excellent color photography (in LunarColor no less). It’s hard not to think that the craftsmanship deserves a better movie than what we ultimately get. So this one is for nostalgists like me who, as kids, looked forward to Saturday afternoons watching something inspired by Harryhausen, for completists of his work, and of course for fans of "B" movie science fiction schlock. 7/10

Source on TMDB