The Battle in the Clouds (1909)
"The Airship Destroyer" (original title)

An inventor uses a wireless controlled flying torpedo to destroy enemy airships.

Director:

Walter R. Booth

Writers:

Walter R. Booth (screenplay), Jules Verne (story)

Storyline

An inventor uses a wireless controlled flying torpedo to destroy enemy airships.

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Plot Keywords:

part animation | explosion | armored car

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Genres:

Short | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

UK

Release Date:

29 December 1909 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Battle in the Clouds

Company Credits

Production Co:

Urban Trading Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

11 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

The burning fuse of one of the explosions near the armored car can be seen on the ground, before we see the streak that is supposed to be the aerial bomb hitting the ground.

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Connections

Featured in Cinema Europe: The Other Hollywood: Where It All Began (1995)

User Reviews

Entertaining

Airship Destroyer, The (1909)

*** (out of 4)

Early science-fiction film (some consider it the first) about a Zeppelin that takes off in the night where three men use it to drop bombs on England. I guess you could call this an early "fear" film as it's pretty clear that it was made to put fear into people watching the film that an invasion could come from the sky at anytime without any notice. I really don't agree that this is a science-fiction film but for some reason people consider it one. The special effects for the most part are pretty good with one great shot of the Zeppelin off in the distance while another one, with actors that we can see, comes floating in the shot. The ending doesn't hold up very well due to some obvious effects but it's still fairly impressive for 1909. Original German title: Der Luftkrieg Der Zukunft.