Nude on the Moon
Encyclopedia
Nude on the Moon is a 1961 sexploitation film co-written and co-directed by Doris Wishman
and Raymond Phelan under the shared pseudonyms "O. O. Miller" and "Anthony Brooks". The film was produced in 1960 but was not released theatrically until 1961. Doris Wishman
went on to become a significant filmmaker and noteworthy director of sexploitation movies. Wishman is also credited as the film's co-producer.
Nude on the Moon (also released under the title "Moon Dolls") is the second of eight nudism-related films Wishman produced and directed. The nudist or nudist camp genre was a fairly common exploitation film
genre of the late 1950s and early 1960s. While most nudist films were set within the confines of a conventional nudist camp, apparently as a promotional gimmick
Wishman decided to invent a story about the discovery of a nudist civilization living on the Moon
.
DVD release, appeared in Wishman's film Blaze Starr Goes Nudist
under the pseudonym of "Russ Martine". Young would soon thereafter meet Tony Sandler and form Sandler and Young
, a successful easy-listening duo. The lyrics and melody to the song were written by Wishman's niece, Judith Kushner, who collaborated with Wishman on many later film projects. Future Tonight Show
bandleader Doc Severinsen
also reportedly arranged the score for the film's theme song. It has been rumored that Doc Severinsen appears in the film, but he does not.
known as Coral Castle
.
References to it in pop culture include:
Doris Wishman
Doris Wishman was an American film director, screenwriter and independent film producer....
and Raymond Phelan under the shared pseudonyms "O. O. Miller" and "Anthony Brooks". The film was produced in 1960 but was not released theatrically until 1961. Doris Wishman
Doris Wishman
Doris Wishman was an American film director, screenwriter and independent film producer....
went on to become a significant filmmaker and noteworthy director of sexploitation movies. Wishman is also credited as the film's co-producer.
Premise
Exploitation film
Exploitation film is a type of film that is promoted by "exploiting" often lurid subject matter. The term "exploitation" is common in film marketing, used for all types of films to mean promotion or advertising. These films then need something to exploit, such as a big star, special effects, sex,...
genre of the late 1950s and early 1960s. While most nudist films were set within the confines of a conventional nudist camp, apparently as a promotional gimmick
Gimmick
In marketing language, a gimmick is a unique or quirky special feature that makes something "stand out" from its contemporaries. However, the special feature is typically thought to be of little relevance or use. Thus, a gimmick is a special feature for the sake of having a special feature...
Wishman decided to invent a story about the discovery of a nudist civilization living on the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
.
Synopsis
Working with a large sum of inherited money, two scientists build a rocket to take them to the Moon. Once there, they discover that the Moon's surface is covered with lush, tropical vegetation and giant golden nuggets. The astronauts are soon captured, however, by a colony of telepathic lunar nudists (who are actually topless rather than completely nude). Much of the film deals with the men's efforts to collect data documenting their discovery and well as with the burgeoning romance between the younger of the two astronauts and the queen of the Moon people. On their return, they realise that the most important evidence, the camera, has been left behind.Music
Nude on the Moon has an interesting musical soundtrack, especially for a relatively low-budget movie. The song "I'm Mooning Over You (My Little Moon Doll)" was sung by Ralph Young who, according to the Something Weird VideoSomething Weird Video
Something Weird Video is an American publisher of video tapes and DVDs, based in Seattle, Washington. They specialize in exploitation film, particularly the works of Harry Novak, Doris Wishman, David F. Friedman, and Herschell Gordon Lewis. SWV videos are available on demand to Comcast subscribers...
DVD release, appeared in Wishman's film Blaze Starr Goes Nudist
Blaze Starr Goes Nudist
Blaze Starr Goes Nudist is an American 1962 nudist film, produced and directed by Doris Wishman. The film featured legendary burlesque queen Blaze Starr...
under the pseudonym of "Russ Martine". Young would soon thereafter meet Tony Sandler and form Sandler and Young
Sandler and Young
Sandler and Young were a popular singing team from the 1960s through the 1980s, composed of Belgian-born Tony Sandler and native New Yorker Ralph Young....
, a successful easy-listening duo. The lyrics and melody to the song were written by Wishman's niece, Judith Kushner, who collaborated with Wishman on many later film projects. Future Tonight Show
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under the Tonight Show franchise from 1962 to 1992. It originally aired during late-night....
bandleader Doc Severinsen
Doc Severinsen
Carl Hilding "Doc" Severinsen is an American pop and jazz trumpeter. He is best known for leading the NBC Orchestra on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.-Early life:...
also reportedly arranged the score for the film's theme song. It has been rumored that Doc Severinsen appears in the film, but he does not.
Locations
The Moon sequences in the film were shot at the popular Miami-area roadside attractionRoadside attraction
A roadside attraction is a feature along the side of a road, that is frequently advertised with billboards to attract tourists. In general, these are places one might stop on the way to somewhere else, rather than being a final or primary destination in and of themselves. The modern...
known as Coral Castle
Coral Castle
Coral Castle is a stone structure created by the Latvian American eccentric Edward Leedskalnin north of the city of Homestead, Florida in Miami-Dade County at the intersection of South Dixie Highway and West 157th Avenue. The structure comprises numerous megalithic stones , each weighing several...
.
Legacy
Like many of Wishman's films, Nude on the Moon is considered a cult movie.References to it in pop culture include:
- Nude On The Moon, a two-disc CD anthology of music by The B-52'sThe B-52'sThe B-52's are an American rock band, formed in Athens, Georgia in 1976. The original line-up consisted of Fred Schneider , Kate Pierson , Cindy Wilson , Ricky Wilson , and Keith Strickland . Following Ricky Wilson's death in 1985 Strickland switched to guitar...
, released on Rhino Records. Lead singer Fred SchneiderFred SchneiderFrederick William "Fred" Schneider III is an American rock singer, best known as the frontman of the rock band The B-52's, of which he is a founding member. Schneider is well-known for his sprechgesang which he developed from reciting poetry over guitars.-Early life:Schneider was born in Newark,...
was a friend of Wishman's in her later years. - "Nude on the Moon", a 1996 single by electronicaElectronicaElectronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
duo TipsyTipsy (band)Tipsy is an electronic music band, formed by Tim Digulla and David Gardner in San Francisco, CA in 1996. Their music is a quirky blend of lounge and experimental sound collage.-Albums:* 1996 – Trip Tease* 2001 – Uh-Oh!...
, also appears on the album Trip Tease. One of the remixes is called the "naked volleyball mix".