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First Men in the Moon is a 1964 science fiction film directed by Nathan H. Juran. The film is an adaptation of the H. G. Wells novel The First Men in the Moon. There is no female character of any significance in the original novel. In the book, Bedford and Cavor travel to the Moon without a female companion. Katherine 'Kate' Callender was invented in order to give the movie a leading lady.

The real star of any Ray Harryhausen film is, of course, Harryhausen's amazing stop-motion animation effects. One certainly gets the impression that the director and producers were less well equipped to inspire their actors to outstanding performances. Martha Hyer adds a great deal of visual appeal to this film, but her character is rather two-dimensional. Kate goes back and forth throughout the entire movie, one moment angry at her lying, good-for-nothing fiancee, the next embracing him. Hyer was a great beauty, no doubt. Whether or not she was a decent actress doesn't really get put to the test in this film.