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You can own a limited-release copy of The First Men in the Moon. It’s the 1964 theatrical adaptation of the iconic, 1901 sci-fi novel by writer H.G. Wells. This technicolor, British science fiction film was written by noted screenplay writer Nigel Kneale and directed by Nathan Juran. It's generally assumed that much of Kneale's other work originated from the ideas in the adaptation of the book. A great example is the Martian hives and social insects. The movie is best remembered for its artful special effects. These were created by legendary stop animation pioneer Ray Harryhausen, who was of Dynamation fame. The special-edition cover features the original 1964 movie poster that displays some of Harryhausen's work. The film follows the story of a group of astronauts who think they are the first space crew to make a lunar landing. In a twist of events, the crew discovers a British flag and a note, claiming the moon for Queen Victoria. The story flashes back in time, and you learn that Arnold Bedford (Edward Judd) and Katherine Callender (Martha Hyer) had previously visited the moon. The pair traveled in a Cavor vessel. This is a spacecraft coated in an anti-gravity substance that was invented by the brilliant scientist Joseph Cavor (Lionel Jeffries). The craft was aptly named Cavorite. Once on the moon, Bedford and Callender discovered an alien civilization called the Selenite. They saw giant, caterpillar-like moon cattle and the Grand Lunar, who was the leader of the Selenites. The "first men in the moon" quickly found themselves in a seemingly precarious situation and the adventure of a lifetime. This collectible cult classic has been re-released in 50GB Blu-Ray format by Twilight Time. With a 1080p/AVC-MPEG-4-encoded transfer displayed at 2.35:1, you can experience this movie like never before. The visual effects are pristine, the textures are distinct, and the colors are stunning. This Blu-ray comes DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1-enabled. It has superb audio clarity that is free of distortion. Enjoy the dramatic score produced by composer Laurie Johnson in surround sound with the masterful audio. Included in the bonus features is a commentary by the late Harryhausen, FX artist Randall William Cook, and historian Tony Dalton. Harryhausen discusses in great depth the techniques and tricks used to achieve the movie’s special effects. Also included with this edition is an isolated score of Johnson's music and effects track. A 5-minute introduction by Randall William Cook pays homage to Ray Harryhausen and the original critical take on the production. The included 5-minute "Tomorrow the Moon" is a Columbia promotion that briefly summarizes the American involvement in the historic Space Race. You can also watch the original theatrical trailer and teaser trailer. Subtitles are available as well. Only 5,000 copies of this Blu-ray edition were distributed. This limited-release cult classic is truly a gem. Whether you're an H.G. Wells fan, a collector of classics, or just looking for a great family-friendly movie, Twilight Time's "The First Men in the Moon" should make a great addition to your home collection.

Product Identifiers

GTIN0709112683575, 0811956020444

UPC0709112683575, 0811956020444

eBay Product ID (ePID)691191475

Product Key Features

Region CodeBlu-ray: Region Free, DVD: 1 (US, Canada...), Blu-ray: A (Americas, Southeast Asia...)

Video FormatNTSC

Cinematic MovementFilm Noir, Cult

EditionUnrated Edition, Special Edition, Limited Edition, Ultimate Edition, Collector's Edition, Widescreen

Case TypeBlu-ray Case

Subtitle LanguageEnglish

RatingNR

FormatBlu-ray

LanguageEnglish

Release Year2015

FeaturesRetrospective Interviews, Widescreen, Former Rental, Captioned, Book Included, Full Screen, With Subtitles, Behind The Scenes Featurette, Commentary

Season1

Sub-GenreCountry, Space Opera, Creatures/Monsters, Music, Vampires, Aliens, Blues

Aspect Ratio16:9

TypeMovie

Run Time103 minutes

GenreOuter Space, Drama, Music & Concerts, Adventure, Comedy, Animation, Action, Atomic Age, Fantasy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy