01. La Voyage dans la lune/A Trip to the Moon (1902)

Running Time: 8 minutes
Directed By: Georges Melies
Written By: George Melies, from the novel Le Voyage dans la Lune by Jules Verne
Main Cast: Georges Melies Victor Andre, Bleuette Bernon, Jeanne d'Alcy, Henri Delannoy

THE VOYAGE BEGINS

We begin our journey, traveling backwards in time 107 years, to 1902...

A Trip to the Moon begins with a professor named Barbenfouillis, trying to convince some of his colleagues to accompany him on a trip to the moon, after some talking, five of his pals agree. They go to work building a giant cannon that will propel them to the moon, where they will land, explore and return with tales from a netherworld. Once shot out of the giant cannon, they land directly (as if it were a bullseye) in the moon's eye, which is made to resemble a face. After exploring the surface, they discover a cave filled with mushrooms and also inhabited by the Selenites, fantastical non-human creatures that capture them and take them to their King. However, the creatures are apparently vulnerable to being slapped on the head with umbrellas, as when this is done, they disappear in a puff of smoke. Managing to escape their captors, our hearty group of professors make their way back to their cannon and fall back to Earth, landing in the ocean. They are then rescued and all is well again.

Prior to this period many films, only normally running about two minutes in length, focused on everyday life, while Melies (who wrote, directed, starred in, produced, did the cinematography for and designed the costumes and sets) made a movie that broke that mold, and delved into the realm of science-fiction. A Trip to the Moon is actually said to be the first movie in the sci-fi genre.

IS IT A MUST SEE BEFORE I DIE?

Despite it's incredibly short length, A Trip to the Moon, is kind of fascinating to watch. To be able to view this picture and realize that it is over 100 years old is quite something in itself. While, I wouldn't call it something that is fabulous, I would say, by all means, see it. At only eight minutes in length, there's really no reason not to see it. And if this is the only movie you see out of the 1001 text, at least you'll be able to say that you saw a movie that was made in 1902, and that in itself, is a nice little bragging right.

RATING: 5/10 We'll cut it straight down the middle and call it an average flick. I believe its short length, yet historical value balance out to be something that should be seen.

NEXT UP: The Great Train Robbery...the western is born!

September 11, 2009 6:40pm