Sadly Over-hyped

Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

MAN IN THE MOON is a somewhat whimsical and likeable British comedy film, almost as laidback as its central character. The delightfully charming Kenneth Moore plays William Blood, a man who turns out to be a step up on the evolutionary ladder: impervious to extremes of temperature, unable to get sick or ill by normal methods. He reminded me a bit of Bruce Willis's character in UNBREAKABLE in this respect. The rest of the film sees him caught up with a group of boffins who prod and probe and examine and test him, before finally sending him to the Moon, although there are further twists in store. The humour is genteel and dated but quite affectionate, and Shirley Anne Field pops up as a glamorous blonde. A fine supporting cast, including a youthful Charles Gray, stands out too.

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.

While there are some slow spots here and there, I still enjoyed "Man in the Moon" and thought it was a cute little curio from the era of the Space Race. However, instead of showing the fledgling American or Russian space programs, this movie is about the fictional British program.The film begins with a team of scientists performing a wide variety of grueling experiments on people--all of which take a serious toll on them--causing the participants to get sick. Well, all but one becomes sick. For some odd reason, a rather nice but dim bachelor seems immune to all illnesses. Now you'd think this would be a case for the medical community--as his genes must be incredible. However, the scientists are only concerned about the space program--and none of these guinea pigs knew that was the purpose of the study. What they also didn't realize is that the egg-heads were looking for the perfect stooge to send to the moon. You see, the scientists hated all the bad press they got when animals were killed and they didn't want well-trained astronauts to die--so they were looking for someone expendable and resilient...and William Blood (Kenneth More) was their choice for this dubious honor.Much of the film is about both the training Blood undergoes as well as his relationship with a nice stripper! But, because this lady might distract Blood, for much of the film her letters are kept from him. Later, he not only gets the girl but makes the first moon shot. To find out what happens next, try watching this cute film.I liked the film's very cynical and tongue-in-cheek humor--though I am sure younger people in the audience would be less impressed because sometimes the humor was subtle and they really have no recollection of this interesting period in history. Well done all around, but with a few slow moments here and there.

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.