Once in a New Moon (1935)

Written by CinemaSerf on June 19, 2022

This is a cracking comedy sci-fi that could have only been made in Britain. A tiny little seaside town is dragged off the surface of the earth by a passing dead star and emerges intact circling around in space. Initially, the local grandees take over the administration of the new lunar territory, but as dissatisfaction sets in the natives rebel against their elite. Some "agitators" train up the locals to launch an attack on the toffs in the manor house (who have all the trees needed for fuel, and the guns) - but it rains! A much more substantial role for Morton Selten ("Viscount Bravington") as the principal grandee facing insurrection lead by Wally Patch ("Syd Parrott") and his new model army... Made long before either, but it felt to me like the lovechild of "Mouse on the Moon" and "Passport to Pimlico"....!