A Trip to the Moon (1902)

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

Director:

Georges Méliès (uncredited)

Stars:

Georges Méliès, Victor André, Bleuette Bernon

1 win.

Cast

Uncredited cast:
Victor André	...	Astronomer (uncredited)
Bleuette Bernon	...	Lady in the Moon (uncredited)
Brunnet	...	Astronomer (uncredited)
Jehanne d'Alcy	...	Secretary / Star / Rocket Attendant (uncredited)
Henri Delannoy	...	Captain of the Rocket (uncredited)
Delpierre	...	Astronomer (uncredited)
Farjaux	...	Astronomer (uncredited)
Kelm	...	Astronomer (uncredited)
François Lallement	...	Officer of the Marines (uncredited)
Jules-Eugène Legris	...	Parade Leader (uncredited)
Georges Méliès	...	Prof. Barbenfouillis / The Moon (uncredited)

Storyline

An association of astronomers has convened to listen to the plan of Professor Barbenfouillis, their president, to fly to the moon. With the one dissenting voice quashed by Barbenfouillis and the other members, the plan is approved with Barbenfouillis choosing five others to accompany him. Most of the preparation for the trip is in building the vessel and launching mechanism, which resemble a large bullet and a large gun respectively. Hitting the moon in the eye, the six land safely at their destination. They find that much about the moon is wonderful and fantastical, but also that much is not what they would have liked to encounter as it is life threatening. They have to find a way to get out of their alien predicament to get back home safely.

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Plot Keywords:

astronomer | alien | satire | monster | asteroid | 

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Genres:

Short | Adventure | Comedy | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

TV-G

Did You Know?

Trivia

Georges Méliès had worked as a political cartoonist before becoming a filmmaker and strongly opposed the French nationalist movement of the 1890s. Some scholars have interpreted this film as a critique of imperialism, portraying a satirical conquest of the moon by colonizers using intentionally ridiculous science.

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Goofs

When the umbrella is growing in the mushroom garden, you can see the edge of the first Selenite, off camera to the right, waiting for his cue to enter the scene. May not be visible in all versions of the film.

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Alternate Versions

One print has "Echoes" by Pink Floyd on the soundtrack.

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Connections

Featured in Die Geschichte der Fantasy: Magische Welten (2019)

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Soundtracks

Lava
(2011 Version)
Written by Jean-Benoît Dunckel and Nicolas Godin
Performed by Air

User Reviews

Immortal classic!

As one of the first films of the science fiction genre, "Le Voyage Dans la Lune" (or "A Trip to the Moon") is revered as the greatest achievement of stage magician and film pioneer Georges Méliès and one of the most important movies ever done. Written and directed by Méliès himself, "Le Voyage Dans la Lune" is a wonderful visual fantasy that shows Méliès' imagination at its wildest form, and how with limited resources and lots of creativity he managed to make a film like nothing the world had ever seen before.

"A Trip to the Moon" is loosely based on the books "From the Earth to the Moon" by Jules Verne, and "The First Men in the Moon" by H. G. Wells, as it deals with the adventures of a group of astronomers in their first travel to the moon and the wonders and dangers of their Odyssey. After arriving to the Moon in their bullet-shaped spaceship (it was launched by a giant cannon), they discover the Selenites, the people from the Moon; and as their presence is unwelcome, the group of astronomers will have to fight for their survival.

With a runtime of barely 14 minutes, "Le Voyage Dans la Lune" is an awe-inspiring ride of fantasy, adventure and magic that more than 100 years after its release, still captures the imagination with its wonderfully crafted visuals and its charming comedy. The plot is very well-written, as the story flows nicely and although of a very simple nature, it's very well-developed and really entertaining showing that Méliès was a gifted storyteller.

However, the most amazing feature of "A Trip to the Moon" is without a doubt its amazing visuals. With a mix of stage tricks, camera tricks, and several types of animation, Méliès crafts a surreal fantastic vision of the Moon with the care of a painter and great artistic sensibility. It's almost as if a painting came to life. The now iconic image of the Man in the Moon being hit in the eye by the spaceship is only one of the many amazing scenes that the genius of Méliès crafted with great imagination.

Director D.W. Griffith said about Méliès, "I owe him everything" and Charles Chaplin called him "the alchemist of light" and both men were absolutely right in their remarks. Georges Méliès' work is a must-see for every film buff and I dare to say, for everyone in general as in its simplicity, it conveys humanity's most powerful trait: Imagination. "Le Voyage Dans la Lune", Méliès's most famous film, is without a doubt an immortal classic and one of the greatest films ever done. 10/10

Details

Country:

France

Language:

None French

Release Date:

4 October 1902 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Trip to Mars

Filming Locations:

Méliès Studios, Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis, France

Box Office

Budget:

FRF30,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Star-Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

13 min 14 min 8 min 16 min 16 min (restored color)

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White Color (hand-colored)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1