Jules Verne's Rocket to the Moon ( Those Fantastic Flying Fools ) ( Blast Off )

Jules Verne's Rocket to the Moon (DVD) (*)

~~$24.99~~ $18.97

Original Title: Those Fantastic Flying Fools
Alternate Title: Blast Off
Language Selections:
English ( Mono )
English ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
United Kingdom ( PAL/Region 2 )

Running Time:
114 min

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen (2.35:1)

Special Features:
Cast/Crew Interview(s)
Interactive Menu
Remastered

Movie filmed in 1967 and produced in:
United Kingdom ( Great Britain, Ireland )

Directed By:
Don Sharp

Written By:
Jules Verne
Dave Freeman

Actors:
Burl Ives ..... Phineas T. Barnum
Troy Donahue ..... Gaylord Sullivan
Gert Fröbe ..... Professor von Bulow (as Gert Frobe)
Terry-Thomas ..... Sir Harry Washington-Smythe
Hermione Gingold ..... Angelica
Daliah Lavi ..... Madelaine
Lionel Jeffries ..... Sir Charles Dillworthy
Dennis Price ..... Duke of Barset
Stratford Johns ..... Warrant Officer
Graham Stark ..... Gundle
Jimmy Clitheroe ..... Tom Thumb
Edward de Souza ..... Henri (as Edward De Souza)
Joachim Teege ..... Bulgeroff
Joan Sterndale-Bennett ..... The Queen (as Joan Sterndale Bennett)
Judy Cornwell ..... Electra

Synopsis:

Fleeing his creditors back home, showman Phineas T. Bsrnum (Burl Ives) sets up shop in England in 1875, and sets about persuading a syndicate of Brits to fund a rocket ship to the moon. Headed by the wealthy Lord Barset (Dennis Price), the group set about constructing their ship with the intention of blasting it into orbit froma gigantic gun barrel, but the interference of foreign spies and saboteurs ensures that the crackpot project is doomed before it has begun...

Produced in the wake of the all-star 'comedy spectacular' Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines, Fantastic Flying Fools (originally titled Blast-Off, and also released as Those Fantastic Flying Fools) is based very loosely on a Jules Verne novel. A 19th century British newspaper offers a prize to the first scientist who is able to construct and launch a rocket to the moon. Contestants from all over the world compete for the prize, including Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines cast members Terry-Thomas and Gert Frobe. Much of the slapstick is tiresome and derivative, but there is one cute closing gag involving villains Terry-Thomas and Lionel Jeffries and a Siberian chain gang. There's precious little of the spirit of Jules Verne in Fantastic Flying Fools, save for the woodcut illustrations which decorate the opening credits.

Phineas T Barnum and friends finance the first flight to the moon but find the task a little above them. They attempt to blast their rocket into orbit from a massive gun barrel built into the side of a Welsh mountain, but money troubles, spies and saboteurs ensure that the plan is doomed before it starts.

This product was added to our catalog on Thursday 02 October, 2008.

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