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A Trip to the Moon (1902 France)

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A Trip to the Moon (1902 France) Empty A Trip to the Moon (1902 France)

Post  BoG Mon Oct 27, 2014 12:17 am

A Trip to the Moon (1902 France) Voyagelune


Movies were born in 1895, and genre films were born soon after. It's interesting that the sci-fi film precedes the Western (born a year later with The Great Train Robbery). A Trip to the Moon's simple plot was loosely based on Jules Verne's From the Earth to the Moon and H.G. Wells's First Men in the Moon, but Mélies added humor. Indeed, the whole movie might be considered comedy first and sci-fi second. The "nation" that finances the moon trip is populated by pierrot figures with long coats, tall hats, wigs, and umbrellas. The "selenite" moonmen explode when hit hard with the umbrellas. The space capsule is shot from a gun since there was no concept of jet power. Ingenious use is made of cardboard set pieces integrated with the actors and props; the grainy b&w filmstock makes everything look dreamy and realistic at once. Some prints are hand-colored. The cardboard backdrops are especially effective in the pioneering Earthrise sequence.

Goldweber, David Elroy (2012-06-14). Claws & Saucers: Science Fiction, Horror, and Fantasy Film: A Complete Guide: 1902-1982 (Kindle Locations 72032-72052). David E. Goldweber. Kindle Edition.
Trip to Trivia:
Still great fun after a century and more , Trip to the Moon remains essential viewing for film fans of every stripe. My generation knows it best from Smashing Pumpkins's 1995 "Tonite, Tonite" video (actually, their whole Mellon Collie album has a Méliesian look). Martin Scorsese's wonderful Hugo (2011) also pays homage. Other fantastic Mélies films include An Impossible Voyage (almost as good as Trip to the Moon , 1904) and an early 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1907). Mélies (1861-1938) directed or co-directed more than 500 short films from 1896-1914. Joe Leydon believes Trip to the Moon is the first narrative film - i.e. the first film to depict a story rather than a single sensational scene.

Goldweber, David Elroy (2012-06-14). Claws & Saucers: Science Fiction, Horror, and Fantasy Film: A Complete Guide: 1902-1982 (Kindle Locations 72053-72070). David E. Goldweber. Kindle Edition.
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