A Trip to the Moon (1898)

An astronomer falls asleep and has a strange dream involving a fairy queen and the Moon.

Director:

Georges Méliès (uncredited)

Stars:

Jehanne d'Alcy, Georges Méliès

Cast

Uncredited cast:
Jehanne d'Alcy	...	Phoebe - la bonne fée (uncredited)
Georges Méliès	...	L'astronome (uncredited)

Storyline

"In the opening of this film is seen the astronomer intently poring over his books. Suddenly, in a cloud of smoke, Satan appears and surprises the astronomer. At the command of the Fairy Queen, who suddenly appears, Satan vanishes; she awakens the astronomer and as he goes forward to meet her she disappears. The astronomer is very much excited, and, rushing over to the large telescope he tries to discover by what means she had vanished. The moon now appears, and begins her repast by eating the immense telescope used by the astronomer. The astronomer flies around apparently wild at the loss of his wonderful telescope. Suddenly the moon opens wide her mouth and there comes forth a tot of about five summers. She is immediately followed by two others, and they proceed to dance around the astronomer, and vanish one at a time until but one is left. The astronomer, picking her up, thinking he could keep her, hugs her tightly in his arms, but she also vanishes. Tired and heart-broken the ...

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Plot Keywords:

observatory | desk | demon | fairy | queen | 

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Genres:

Short | Comedy | Fantasy | Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

France

Release Date:

1898 (France)

Also Known As:

A Trip to the Moon

Filming Locations:

Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Georges Méliès, Star-Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

3 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Color (hand-colored) Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When this film was imported into the United States by producer Sigmund Lubin in 1899 he re-titled it A Trip to the Moon. However this has no relation to the 1902 film A Trip to the Moon. The original translated title is "The Moon at One Meter's Distance" or freely "The Moon at Arm's Length".

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Connections

Remade as A Trip to the Moon (1902)

User Reviews

The Astronomer's Dream

Fantastic short film from pioneering filmmaker Georges Méliès. A great companion piece to his later classic, A Trip to the Moon (1902). That name was also given to this one when released in the US. The original (and more fitting) name is The Astronomer's Dream. The story to this is an astronomer who looks like Merlin is visited by a woman and a demon and has dreams about the moon. The special effects and sets are really cool, especially when you consider this film's age. Méliès was ahead of his time in many ways. Definitely worth a look for anyone into film history or silent shorts or anyone with a few minutes to spare. I can't imagine anyone seeing this and regretting it. Well, a-holes maybe.