First Men in the Moon

1964, Nathan Juran, UK, 99 min.

Introduced by author Aseem Chhabra

Giant ants in space! First Men in the Moon is Harry Harryhausen’s animated evocation of H.G. Wells’s fantastic account of a Victorian-era expedition to the moon and back. In its stop-motion-capture glory, the film feathers mammoth insectoid and a walk-on by actor Peter Finch.

H.G. Wells’s stories inspired countless filmmakers, including director Satyajit Ray, who included the author’s books in scenes from his masterpiece, The World of Apu.

About Cabaret Cinema: Sci Fi Cine Club Kolkata

Director Satyajit Ray’s Sci-fi Cine Club in 1960’s Kolkata popularized the genre in Bengal and contributed to his legacy as one of the great directors of the 20th century. Representing a selection of the films as once curated by Ray, this Cabaret Cinema series brings back to the screen early sci-fi movies that sparked the imagination of writers, directors, and enthusiasts in the region and around the world—including A Lost Future artist Matti Braun.

About the Introducer

Aseem Chhabra is a freelance writer based in New York City.He has been a commentator on Indian popular culture on NPR, CNN, BBC, Good Morning America, and Reuters. His writing has been published in The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Hindu, and Mumbai Mirror. Chhabra is the India consultant for the International Film Festival and Awards, Macao, festival director of the New York Indian Film Festival, and the Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival in Pittsburgh. He is the voice of Shadow Puppet #1 in director Nina Paley’s award-winning animation film, Sita Sings the Blues. He is the critically acclaimed author of the books Priyanka Chopra: The Incredible Story of a Global Bollywood Star and Shashi Kapoor: The Householder, the Star.