Man in the Moon (1960)

Lighthearted British comedy about a man immune to everything who gets hired for a space flight. Although most of the humor in "Man in the Moon" is of the more subtle type, a wacky scene takes place in the Common Cold Research Center, where they have a constant wind blowing. And then of course, there's a surprise when the man lands on the, ahem, moon. But overall, I'd say that the best thing about this movie is Shirley Anne Field. What a babe! Obviously, space travel was still in its infancy at this point, and an actual moon landing was still a few years away. No matter. It's an enjoyable movie. You're sure to like it.PS: Charles Gray, who plays Leo, also played Dikko in "You Only Live Twice".

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.

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.

The concept that space flight is too dangerous to waste highly trained astronauts on is so splendidly British.Spike Milligan would have been proud to have thought it up.This forgotten film has many felicities,a cast of top-drawer English comedy actors and is beautifully photographed by one of the busiest cameramen in the business,Harry Waxman who shot around 70 films including the superb "Brighton Rock" and the cult classic "The Wicker man". Mr Kenneth More is cast as William Blood,the very epitome of hale and heartiness,who has never had a day's illness in his life,thus meeting the most important criterion set out by the British Space Programme. The lovely Miss Shirley Anne Field,displays a nice light touch as his nemesis.It seemed at the time that Miss Field might be at the start of a long career in comedy as a sort of "Liz Fraser with brains"character,but it never happened.Shortly after "The man in the moon" she made the serious "The War Lover" where she gave Mr Steve McQueen a run for his money. Mr More was a genuine copper-bottomed star.He was far more versatile than often given credit for.His "Freddy" in "The Deep Blue Sea" showed the depth beneath his eternal cheeriness.Critics were forced to take him seriously after TV's "The Forsyte Saga" ,but ordinary moviegoers had long recognised his qualities. Like Samson of old he is undone by a beautiful woman,falls in love with Miss Field and catches a cold. Those were the days when our space programme,such as it was,was based in Woomera where the only living things at risk from our falling rockets were a few kangaroos. We liked to think we approached space exploration with the Corinthian spirit but the fact is we were dabblers, the merest of amateurs compared to the Americans and Russians.To them - the glory.To us - Kenneth More sleeping on his iron bedstead in a field of cows.