Woman in the Moon

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Woman in the Moon
Frau im Mond
Directed by	Fritz Lang
Written by	Fritz Lang Thea von Harbou story
Starring	Klaus Pohl Willy Fritsch
Release date(s)	1929
Running time	156 min. / 200 min. (2000 restoration) / Spain:104 min. / Spain:162 min. (DVD edition) / USA:95 min / West Germany:91 min (edited version) (1970)
Country	Germany
Language	Silent film German intertitles

Woman in the Moon (or in original German, Frau im Mond) is a science fiction silent film released during 1929, and is often considered to be one of the first "serious" science fiction films.It was written and directed by Fritz Lang, based on the novel Die Frau im Mond (1928, translated as The Rocket to the Moon during 1930) by his then-wife and collaborator Thea von Harbou. It was released in the USA as By Rocket to the Moon, and in the UK as Woman in the Moon.

The basics of rocket travel are presented to a mass audience for the first time by this film, including the use of a multi-stage rocket. The idea that the moon rocket Friede would be submerged in water before launch was a bad guess, although large rockets are launched over water to prevent damage to the spacecraft from the sound generated by liftoff.^[1] NASA did, however, have proposals for water-launched rockets (the Sea Dragon and Nova). Also, the first thing the space travelers do upon reaching the moon is use a dowsing rod to search for water.

Though the special effects used in the movie were novel, the movie was not a financial success. The failure can be partly attributed to the public's decreasing interest in silent films by 1929.

Influence

This film is often cited as the first occurrence of the "countdown to zero" before a rocket launch.^[2] The launch crew counts down the seconds from ten to zero and the rocket ship then blasts off into space.

Since 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; time and technology kept this from happening), it 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. Noted post-war science writer Willy Ley also served as a consultant on the film. Thomas Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow, which deals with the V2 rockets, refers to this along with several other classic German silent films.

Plot

The film is a melodrama, with scientific speculation. Helius is an entrepreneur with an interest in space travel. He seeks out Professor Mannfeldt, a visionary who has written a treatise on the likelihood of finding gold on the moon, only to be ridiculed by his peers. Helius recognizes the value of Mannfeldt's work – but a gang of evil businessmen have also taken an interest in Mannfeldt's theories.

Meanwhile, Helius' assistant, Windegger, has announced his engagement to Helius' other assistant, the lovely Friede. This is disconcerting to Helius, who secretly loves Friede. He avoids their engagement party but is then mugged on the way home by henchmen of the evil businessmen, commanded by the creepy Mr. Turner. They steal the research of Prof. Mannfeldt and also burgle his home, taking other valuable material. They then present him with an ultimatum: they know he is planning a voyage to the moon. Either he includes them with the project or they will sabotage it and destroy his rocket. Reluctantly, Helius agrees to their terms.

So, the rocket team is assembled: Helius, Mannfeldt, Windegger, Friede and Turner (who is along to represent the interests of the evil businessmen). After the rocket blasts off, it is discovered that Gustav, a young boy who has befriended Helius and has a choice collection of science fiction comics, is aboard as a stowaway. During the journey, Windegger emerges as something of a coward and general wet blanket and the feelings of Helius toward Friede become known to her, creating a romantic triangle of sorts.

Once they get to the far side of the moon, Mannfeldt and Turner prove Mannnfeldt's theory that there is gold on the moon. They struggle in a cave and 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 (which, in this film, has a breathable atmosphere on its far side, per the theories of Peter Andreas Hansen, who is mentioned near the beginning of the film).

Helius and Windegger draw straws to see who must stay and Windegger loses. Seeing Windegger's self-centered anguish, Helius decides to drug him and take his place, letting Windegger return to earth with Friede. He makes Gustav his confidant and the new pilot for the ship. After the ship takes off for home, Helius discovers that Friede has decided to stay with him on the moon and they embrace passionately.

References

See also

• List of German films 1919-1933
• Friede

External links

• Frau im Mond at the Internet Movie Database
• Woman in the Moon at Allmovie
• Moon Rocket Friede