''A Message from Mars'' is a 1921 American silent

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving Magic (supernatural), magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy ...

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

directed by

Maxwell Karger Maxwell Karger (1879–1922)Bert Lytell Bertram Lytell (February 24, 1885 – September 28, 1954) was an American actor in theater and film during the silent film era and early talkies. He starred in romantic, melodrama, and adventure films. Background Born in New York City, Lyt ...

, Raye Dean, and Maude Milton. It is based on the 1899 play with the same name by Richard Ganthony. The film was released by

Metro Pictures Metro Pictures Corporation was a Film, motion picture production company founded in early 1915 in Jacksonville, Florida. It was a forerunner of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The company produced its films in New York, Los Angeles, and sometimes at leas ...

on April 11, 1921.

Plot

Wealthy young Horace Parker, who is an egoist agrees to financing a communicating device which allows for communicating with Mars. He is credited for the invention and he studies his plans rather than go to a party with his fiancée, Minnie. After falling asleep, a messenger from Mars appears to Parker who announces his intentions to convert Parker (who according to the messenger is the earth's most selfish man). Parker is then shown poverty and suffering by the messenger and Parker also overhears Minnie's reproval of him at the party. Parker awakens in a house fire inside the home of a soldier that he once refused help to. Parker ends up rescuing the woman and invites her and other unfortunate people to his home which also pleases his fiancée.

Production

''A Message from Mars'' was shot at Metro's studio on 61st Street in Manhattan. No art director is credited for the film; M.P. Staulcup or Lester J. Vermilyea are held up as likely candidates by historian Richard Koszarski, as both were known to work on Metro's New York films.

Cast

Bert Lytell Bertram Lytell (February 24, 1885 – September 28, 1954) was an American actor in theater and film during the silent film era and early talkies. He starred in romantic, melodrama, and adventure films. Background Born in New York City, Lyt ...

as Horace Parker * Raye Dean as Minnie Talbot * Maude Milton as Martha Parker (*aka

Maud Milton Maud Milton (1859–1945) was an English stage and screen actress. She was born in Gravesend, Kent the daughter of a Merchant Marine sea captain and educated at home.''Who Was Who in the Theatre: 1912–1976'' vol 3 I-P pgs.1711–12; compiled f ...

) *

Alphonse Ethier Alphonse Ethier (December 10, 1874 – January 4, 1943) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 70 films between 1910 and 1939. His first name was sometimes spelled Alphonz. Ethier acted on stage before he began making films wi ...

as the messenger (credited as Alphonz Ethier) * Gordon Ash as Arthur Dicey *

Leonard Mudie Leonard Mudie (born Leonard Mudie Cheetham; April 11, 1883April 14, 1965) was an English character actor whose career lasted for nearly fifty years. After a successful start as a stage actor in England, he appeared regularly in the US, and made ...

as Fred Jones * Mary Louise Beaton as Mrs. Jones *

Frank Currier Frank Currier (September 4, 1857 – April 22, 1928) was an American film and stage actor and director of the silent era. Career Similar to Theodore Roberts, Kate Lester, Ida Waterman, and William H. Crane, Currier had a long and successfu ...

as Sir Edwards * George Spink as The butler

Preservation

A print is prepared and preserved by MGM.American Silent Feature Film Survival Database: ''A Message from Mars''
/ref>

References

External links

* 1920s fantasy comedy films 1920s science fiction comedy films Metro Pictures films American fantasy comedy films American science fiction comedy films 1921 films American silent feature films American black-and-white films American films based on plays Films directed by Maxwell Karger 1921 comedy films 1920s American films Silent American comedy films 1920s English-language films Silent science fiction films {{Silent-comedy-film-stub