A Trip to the Moon (1902)
"Le voyage dans la lune" (original title)

A group of astronomers go on an expedition to the moon.

Stars:

Victor André, Bleuette Bernon, Brunnet

Cast

Uncredited cast:
Victor André	...	(uncredited)
Bleuette Bernon	...	Lady in the Moon (uncredited)
Brunnet	...	Astronomer (uncredited)
Jeanne d'Alcy	...	(uncredited)
Henri Delannoy	...	Captain of the Rocket (uncredited)
Depierre	...	(uncredited)
Farjaut	...	Astronomer (uncredited)
Kelm	...	Astronomer (uncredited)
Georges Méliès	...	Prof. Barbenfouillis (uncredited)

Storyline

A group of men travel to the moon by being shot in a capsule from a giant cannon. They are captured by moon-men, escape, and return to the earth.

---

Plot Keywords:

astronomer | moon | cannon | alien | selenite | 

---

Genres:

Short | Adventure | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

---

Certificate:

TV-G

Details

Country:

France

Release Date:

4 October 1902 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Trip to Mars

Box Office

Budget:

FRF 30,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Star-Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

13 min 14 min 8 min 16 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Color (hand-colored) Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although no official credits are included, Georges Méliès left a record in a 1930 letter with cast and crew credits. Ballet girls from the Théâtre du Châtelet portrayed the stars while the Selenites were portrayed by acrobats from the Folies Bergère.

---

Goofs

While on the moon, the astronomers watch the Earth rise over the horizon. To a person on the moon, the Earth never moves. It does not rise or set.

---

Connections

Featured in Paul Merton's Weird and Wonderful World of Early Cinema (2010)

User Reviews

Sixty-Four Years before Star Trek…

A group of astronomers studies the way to travel to the moon. When they conclude their project, the president selects five other astronomers to travel with him. They embark in a shell and they are shot from a giant cannon to the moon. When they land, they seek shelter in a cave to protect from the snow. They meet the Selenites, the alien inhabitants of the moon, and they are destroyed by the astronomers that find that a strong hit make them explode. However, they arrive in large number and the astronomers are captured by the Selenites. But one astronomer hits their king that explodes and they run to the capsule pursued by the alien. They drop the capsule that falls through the space and reach the ocean. Then they are rescued by a steamer that brings the team safe and sound ashore.

"Le Voyage Dans la Lune" is the first sci-fi and considered among the greatest films of the cinema history. The story uses impressive animation and special effects for a 1902 silent movie. The plot is a non-sense surrealistic comedy in the present days, but this French film is mandatory to any movie lover or student. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Viagem à Lua" ("Travel to the Moon")