fbpx
Wikipedia

Woman in the Moon

September 02, 2023

For other uses, see Woman in the Moon (disambiguation).

Woman in the Moon (German Frau im Mond) is a German science fiction silent film that premiered 15 October 1929 at the UFA-Palast am Zoo cinema in Berlin to an audience of 2,000.[1] It is often considered to be one of the first "serious" science fiction films.[2] It was directed by Fritz Lang, and written by his wife Thea von Harbou, based on her 1928 novel The Rocket to the Moon.[3] It was released in the US as By Rocket to the Moon and in the UK as Girl in the Moon. The basics of rocket travel were presented to a mass audience for the first time by this film, including the use of a multi-stage rocket.[2][4] The film was shot between October 1928 and June 1929 at the UFA studios in Neubabelsberg near Berlin.[1]

Woman in the Moon
Theatrical release poster
Directed byFritz Lang
Screenplay byThea von Harbou
Based onThe Rocket to the Moon
1928 novel
by Thea von Harbou
Produced byFritz Lang
StarringWilly Fritsch
Gerda Maurus
Klaus Pohl
Fritz Rasp
Gustl Gstettenbaur
Gustav von Wangenheim
CinematographyCurt Courant
Music byWilly Schmidt-Gentner
Distributed byUFA
Release date
  • 15 October 1929 (1929-10-15)
Running time
169 min. (2000 restoration) / Spain: 104 min. / Spain: 162 min. (DVD edition) / US: 95 min / West Germany: 91 min (edited version) (1970)
CountriesGermany
(Weimar Republic)
LanguagesSilent film
German intertitles
Director Fritz Lang (on the right), on the set of his film Woman in the Moon, 1929.

Plot Edit

Helius (Willy Fritsch) is an entrepreneur with an interest in space travel. He seeks out his friend Professor Mannfeldt (Klaus Pohl), a visionary who wrote a treatise claiming that there was probably much gold on the Moon, only to be ridiculed by his peers. Helius recognizes the value of Mannfeldt's work. However, a gang of evil businessmen have also taken an interest in Mannfeldt's theories, and send a spy (Fritz Rasp) who identifies himself as "Walter Turner".

Meanwhile, Helius's assistant Windegger (Gustav von Wangenheim) has announced his engagement to Helius's other assistant, Friede (Gerda Maurus). Helius, who secretly loves Friede, avoids their engagement party.

On his way home from his meeting with Professor Mannfeldt, Helius is mugged by henchmen of the gang. They steal the research that Professor Mannfeldt had entrusted to Helius, and also burgle Helius's home, taking other valuable material. Turner then presents Helius with an ultimatum: the gang know he is planning a voyage to the Moon; either he includes them in the project, or they will sabotage it and destroy his rocket, which is named Friede ("peace"). Reluctantly, Helius agrees to their terms.

The rocket team is assembled: Helius; Professor Mannfeldt and his pet mouse Josephine; Windegger; Friede; and Turner. After Friede blasts off, the team discovers that Gustav (Gustl Gstettenbaur), a young boy who has befriended Helius, has stowed away, along with his collection of science fiction pulp magazines.

During the journey, Windegger emerges as a coward, and Helius's feelings for Friede begin to become known to her, creating a romantic triangle.

They reach the far side of the Moon and find it has a breathable atmosphere, per the theories of Peter Andreas Hansen, who is mentioned near the beginning of the film. Mannfeldt discovers gold, proving his theory. When confronted by Turner, Mannfeldt falls to his death in a crevasse. Turner attempts to hijack the rocket, and in the struggle, he is shot and killed. Gunfire damages the oxygen tanks, and they come to the grim realization that there is not enough oxygen for all to make the return trip. One person must remain on the Moon.

Helius and Windegger draw straws to see who must stay and Windegger loses. Seeing Windegger's anguish, Helius decides to drug Windegger and Friede with a last drink together and take Windegger's place, letting Windegger return to Earth with Friede. Friede senses that something is in the wine. She pretends to drink and then retires to the compartment where her cot is located, closes and locks the door. Windegger drinks the wine, becoming sedated. Helius makes Gustav his confidant and the new pilot for the ship. Helius watches it depart, then starts out for the survival camp originally prepared for Windegger. He discovers that Friede has decided to stay with him on the Moon. They embrace, and Helius weeps into her shoulder while Friede strokes his hair and whispers words of comfort to him.

Influence Edit

 
V-2 rocket with "Woman in the Moon" nose art referencing the movie

Lang, who also made Metropolis, had a personal interest in science fiction. When returning to Germany in the late 1950s, he sold his extensive collection of Astounding Science Fiction, Weird Tales, and Galaxy magazines.[5] Several prescient technical/operational features are presented during the film's 1920s launch sequence, which subsequently came into common operational use during America's postwar space race:

  • The rocket ship Friede is fully built in a tall building and moved to the launch area
  • As launch approaches, intertitles count down the seconds from six to "now" ("now" was used for zero), and Woman in the Moon is often cited as the first occurrence of the "countdown to zero" before a rocket launch[2]
  • The rocket ship blasts off submerged in a pool of water; water is commonly used today on launch pads to absorb and dissipate the extreme heat and to damp the noise generated by the rocket exhaust
  • In space, the rocket ejects its first stage and fires its second stage rocket, predicting the development of modern multistage orbital rockets
  • The crew recline on horizontal beds to cope with the G-forces experienced during lift-off and pre-orbital acceleration
  • Floor foot straps are used to restrain the crew during zero gravity (Velcro is used today).

These items and the overall design of the rocket led to the film being banned in Germany from 1933–1945[6][7] during World War II by the Nazis, due to similarities to their secret V-2 project.

Rocket scientist Hermann Oberth worked as an advisor on this movie. He had originally intended to build a working rocket for use in the film, but time and technical constraints prevented this from happening. The film was popular among the rocket scientists in Wernher von Braun's circle at the Verein für Raumschiffahrt (VfR). The first successfully launched V-2 rocket at the rocket-development facility in Peenemünde had the Frau im Mond logo painted on its base.[8] Noted post-war science writer Willy Ley also served as a consultant on the film. Thomas Pynchon's 1973 novel Gravity's Rainbow, which deals with the V-2 rockets, refers to the movie, along with several other classic German silent films. Oberth also advised Hergé for Destination Moon and Explorers on the Moon (1953/4), which has plot points strongly influenced by Woman in the Moon.

Cast Edit

See also Edit

References Edit

  1. ^ a b Close-up on the photo album of Woman in the Moon by Fritz Lang
  2. ^ a b c Weide, Robert (Summer 2012). "The Outer Limits". DGA Quarterly: 64–71. OCLC 68905662. A gallery of behind-the-scenes shots of movies featuring space travel or aliens. Page 68, photo caption: "Directed by Fritz Lang (third from right), the silent film Woman in the Moon (1929) is considered one of the first serious science fiction films and invented the countdown before the launch of a rocket. Many of the basics of space travel were presented to a mass audience for the first time."
  3. ^ Pitts, Michael R. (31 December 2018). Thrills Untapped: Neglected Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Films, 1928-1936. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-3289-6.
  4. ^ Benson, Michael (20 July 2019). "Science Fiction Sent Man to the Moon - Neil Armstrong's first small step owed more than you'd think to the footsteps of Jules Verne, H.G. Wells and Fritz Lang". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  5. ^ Gold, H.L. (December 1959). "Of All Things". Galaxy. p. 6. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  6. ^ "Woman in the Moon (1929)". IMDb. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  7. ^ "Fritz Lang Interview 1968". Youtube. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  8. ^ Hardesty, Von and Gene Eisman. Epic Rivalry: The Inside Story of the Soviet and American Space Race. Washington, DC: National Geographic, 2007. p. 2. ISBN 978-1-4262-0119-6.

Further reading Edit

  • Kraszna-Krausz, A. (2004). "Frau in Mond (The Woman in the Moon)". In Rickman, Gregg. The Science Fiction Film Reader. Limelight Editions. pp. 20–21. ISBN 0879109947.

External links Edit

September 02, 2023
woman, moon, other, uses, disambiguation, german, frau, mond, german, science, fiction, silent, film, that, premiered, october, 1929, palast, cinema, berlin, audience, often, considered, first, serious, science, fiction, films, directed, fritz, lang, written, . For other uses see Woman in the Moon disambiguation Woman in the Moon German Frau im Mond is a German science fiction silent film that premiered 15 October 1929 at the UFA Palast am Zoo cinema in Berlin to an audience of 2 000 1 It is often considered to be one of the first serious science fiction films 2 It was directed by Fritz Lang and written by his wife Thea von Harbou based on her 1928 novel The Rocket to the Moon 3 It was released in the US as By Rocket to the Moon and in the UK as Girl in the Moon The basics of rocket travel were presented to a mass audience for the first time by this film including the use of a multi stage rocket 2 4 The film was shot between October 1928 and June 1929 at the UFA studios in Neubabelsberg near Berlin 1 Woman in the MoonTheatrical release posterDirected byFritz LangScreenplay byThea von HarbouBased onThe Rocket to the Moon1928 novelby Thea von HarbouProduced byFritz LangStarringWilly FritschGerda MaurusKlaus PohlFritz RaspGustl GstettenbaurGustav von WangenheimCinematographyCurt CourantMusic byWilly Schmidt GentnerDistributed byUFARelease date15 October 1929 1929 10 15 Running time169 min 2000 restoration Spain 104 min Spain 162 min DVD edition US 95 min West Germany 91 min edited version 1970 CountriesGermany Weimar Republic LanguagesSilent filmGerman intertitles Director Fritz Lang on the right on the set of his film Woman in the Moon 1929 Contents 1 Plot 2 Influence 3 Cast 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksPlot EditHelius Willy Fritsch is an entrepreneur with an interest in space travel He seeks out his friend Professor Mannfeldt Klaus Pohl a visionary who wrote a treatise claiming that there was probably much gold on the Moon only to be ridiculed by his peers Helius recognizes the value of Mannfeldt s work However a gang of evil businessmen have also taken an interest in Mannfeldt s theories and send a spy Fritz Rasp who identifies himself as Walter Turner Meanwhile Helius s assistant Windegger Gustav von Wangenheim has announced his engagement to Helius s other assistant Friede Gerda Maurus Helius who secretly loves Friede avoids their engagement party On his way home from his meeting with Professor Mannfeldt Helius is mugged by henchmen of the gang They steal the research that Professor Mannfeldt had entrusted to Helius and also burgle Helius s home taking other valuable material Turner then presents Helius with an ultimatum the gang know he is planning a voyage to the Moon either he includes them in the project or they will sabotage it and destroy his rocket which is named Friede peace Reluctantly Helius agrees to their terms The rocket team is assembled Helius Professor Mannfeldt and his pet mouse Josephine Windegger Friede and Turner After Friede blasts off the team discovers that Gustav Gustl Gstettenbaur a young boy who has befriended Helius has stowed away along with his collection of science fiction pulp magazines During the journey Windegger emerges as a coward and Helius s feelings for Friede begin to become known to her creating a romantic triangle They reach the far side of the Moon and find it has a breathable atmosphere per the theories of Peter Andreas Hansen who is mentioned near the beginning of the film Mannfeldt discovers gold proving his theory When confronted by Turner Mannfeldt falls to his death in a crevasse Turner attempts to hijack the rocket and in the struggle he is shot and killed Gunfire damages the oxygen tanks and they come to the grim realization that there is not enough oxygen for all to make the return trip One person must remain on the Moon Helius and Windegger draw straws to see who must stay and Windegger loses Seeing Windegger s anguish Helius decides to drug Windegger and Friede with a last drink together and take Windegger s place letting Windegger return to Earth with Friede Friede senses that something is in the wine She pretends to drink and then retires to the compartment where her cot is located closes and locks the door Windegger drinks the wine becoming sedated Helius makes Gustav his confidant and the new pilot for the ship Helius watches it depart then starts out for the survival camp originally prepared for Windegger He discovers that Friede has decided to stay with him on the Moon They embrace and Helius weeps into her shoulder while Friede strokes his hair and whispers words of comfort to him Influence Edit nbsp V 2 rocket with Woman in the Moon nose art referencing the movieLang who also made Metropolis had a personal interest in science fiction When returning to Germany in the late 1950s he sold his extensive collection of Astounding Science Fiction Weird Tales and Galaxy magazines 5 Several prescient technical operational features are presented during the film s 1920s launch sequence which subsequently came into common operational use during America s postwar space race The rocket ship Friede is fully built in a tall building and moved to the launch area As launch approaches intertitles count down the seconds from six to now now was used for zero and Woman in the Moon is often cited as the first occurrence of the countdown to zero before a rocket launch 2 The rocket ship blasts off submerged in a pool of water water is commonly used today on launch pads to absorb and dissipate the extreme heat and to damp the noise generated by the rocket exhaust In space the rocket ejects its first stage and fires its second stage rocket predicting the development of modern multistage orbital rockets The crew recline on horizontal beds to cope with the G forces experienced during lift off and pre orbital acceleration Floor foot straps are used to restrain the crew during zero gravity Velcro is used today These items and the overall design of the rocket led to the film being banned in Germany from 1933 1945 6 7 during World War II by the Nazis due to similarities to their secret V 2 project Rocket scientist Hermann Oberth worked as an advisor on this movie He had originally intended to build a working rocket for use in the film but time and technical constraints prevented this from happening The film was popular among the rocket scientists in Wernher von Braun s circle at the Verein fur Raumschiffahrt VfR The first successfully launched V 2 rocket at the rocket development facility in Peenemunde had the Frau im Mond logo painted on its base 8 Noted post war science writer Willy Ley also served as a consultant on the film Thomas Pynchon s 1973 novel Gravity s Rainbow which deals with the V 2 rockets refers to the movie along with several other classic German silent films Oberth also advised Herge for Destination Moon and Explorers on the Moon 1953 4 which has plot points strongly influenced by Woman in the Moon Cast EditKlaus Pohl as Professor Georg Manfeldt Willy Fritsch as Wolf Helius Gustav von Wangenheim as Ingenieur Hans Windegger as Gustav v Wangenheim Gerda Maurus as Stud astr Friede Velten Gustl Gstettenbaur as Gustav as Gustl Stark Gstettenbaur Fritz Rasp as Der Mann who calls himself Walter Turner Tilla Durieux as Funf Gehirne und Scheckbucher Hermann Vallentin as Funf Gehirne und Scheckbucher Max Zilzer as Funf Gehirne und Scheckbucher Mahmud Terja Bey as Funf Gehirne und Scheckbucher Borwin Walth as Funf Gehirne und Scheckbucher Karl Platen as Der Mann am Mikrophon Margarete Kupfer as Frau Hippolt Haushalterin bei Helius Alexa von Porembsky as Eine Veilchenverkauferin as Alexa v Porembska Gerhard Dammann as Der Werkmeister der Helius Flugwerften as Dammann Heinrich Gotho as Der Mieter vom II Stock as Gotho Alfred Loretto as Zwei eindeutige Existenzen as Loretto Max Maximilian as Grotjan Chauffeur bei Helius as Maximilian Edgar Pauly as Zwei eindeutige Existenzen as Pauly Die Maus Josephine as MausSee also Edit1929 in science fictionReferences Edit a b Close up on the photo album of Woman in the Moon by Fritz Lang a b c Weide Robert Summer 2012 The Outer Limits DGA Quarterly 64 71 OCLC 68905662 A gallery of behind the scenes shots of movies featuring space travel or aliens Page 68 photo caption Directed by Fritz Lang third from right the silent film Woman in the Moon 1929 is considered one of the first serious science fiction films and invented the countdown before the launch of a rocket Many of the basics of space travel were presented to a mass audience for the first time Pitts Michael R 31 December 2018 Thrills Untapped Neglected Horror Science Fiction and Fantasy Films 1928 1936 McFarland ISBN 978 1 4766 3289 6 Benson Michael 20 July 2019 Science Fiction Sent Man to the Moon Neil Armstrong s first small step owed more than you d think to the footsteps of Jules Verne H G Wells and Fritz Lang The New York Times Retrieved 20 July 2019 Gold H L December 1959 Of All Things Galaxy p 6 Retrieved 15 June 2014 Woman in the Moon 1929 IMDb Retrieved 23 June 2017 Fritz Lang Interview 1968 Youtube Retrieved 10 April 2023 Hardesty Von and Gene Eisman Epic Rivalry The Inside Story of the Soviet and American Space Race Washington DC National Geographic 2007 p 2 ISBN 978 1 4262 0119 6 Further reading EditKraszna Krausz A 2004 Frau in Mond The Woman in the Moon In Rickman Gregg The Science Fiction Film Reader Limelight Editions pp 20 21 ISBN 0879109947 External links Edit nbsp Media related to Frau im Mond at Wikimedia Commons Woman in the Moon at IMDb Woman in the Moon at AllMovie Woman in the Moon at the TCM Movie Database Woman in the Moon at the Internet Archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Woman in the Moon amp oldid 1170846545, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.