WOMAN IN THE MOON (1929)Willy Fritsch, Gerda Maurus & Klaus Pohl | Adventure, Drama| B&W| Free Movie

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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. It is often considered to be one of the first "serious" science fiction films. It was directed by Fritz Lang, and written by his wife Thea von Harbou, based on her 1928 novel The Rocket to the Moon. 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.

Synopsis

Helius is an entrepreneur with an interest in space travel. He seeks out his friend Professor Mannfeldt, 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 who identifies himself as "Walter Turner".

Meanwhile, Helius's assistant Windegger has announced his engagement to Helius's other assistant, Friede. Helius, who secretly loves Friede, avoids their engagement party.

On his way home from his meeting with Professor Mannfeldt, Helius is enticed by a henchwoman of the gang posing as a violet seller. The research that Professor Mannfeldt had entrusted to Helius is stolen, and they also burgle Helius's home, taking other valuable material. Turner then presents Helius with an ultimatum: the gang knows 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, 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, with samples of the gold, 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.

Cast & Crew

Klaus Pohl as Professor Georg Mannfeldt
Willy Fritsch as Wolf Helius
Gustav von Wangenheim as Ingenieur Hans Windegger
Gerda Maurus as Stud. astr. Friede Velten
Gustl Gstettenbaur as Gustav
Fritz Rasp as Walter Turner
Tilla Durieux as Fünf Gehirne und Scheckbücher
Hermann Vallentin as Fünf Gehirne und Scheckbücher
Max Zilzer as Fünf Gehirne und Scheckbücher
Mahmud Terja Bey as Fünf Gehirne und Scheckbücher
Borwin Walth as Fünf Gehirne und Scheckbücher
Karl Platen as Der Mann am Mikrophon
Margarete Kupfer as Frau Hippolt, Helius's housekeeper
Alexa von Porembsky as The Violet Seller
Gerhard Dammann as The Workshop Master at Helius's rocket yard
Heinrich Gotho as The Tenant from the 2nd Floor
Alfred Loretto as Two Distinct Existences
Max Maximilian as Grotjan, Helius’s Chauffeur
Edgar Pauly as Two Distinct Existences
Die Maus Josephine as Josephine, Mannfeldt’s pet mouse