''Himmelskibet'', ''Excelsior'' / ''A Trip to Mars'' / ''Das Himmelschiff'' is a 1918 Danish film about a trip to
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second-smallest planet in the Solar System, only being larger than Mercury (planet), Mercury. In the English language, Mars is named for the Mars (mythology), Roman god of war. Mars is a terr ...
. In 2006, the film was restored and re-released on DVD by the
Danish Film Institute
The Danish Film Institute ( da, Det Danske Filminstitut) is the national Danish agency responsible for supporting and encouraging film and cinema culture, and for conserving these in the national interest.
Also known as ''Filmhuset'' ("the film h ...
.
Phil Hardy
Philip Hardy (born 9 April 1973) is an English-born former Ireland under-21 footballer who played as a left-back. With Welsh club Wrexham from 1990 to 2001, he played more than 450 games under manager Brian Flynn. He was named on the PFA ...
says it is "the film that marked the beginning of the
space opera
Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes space warfare, with use of melodramatic, risk-taking space adventures, relationships, and chivalric romance. Set mainly or entirely in outer space, it features technological and soci ...
subgenre of science fiction," but notes that Denmark did not make another science fiction film until ''
Reptilicus
''Reptilicus'' is a 1961 Danish-American Monster film, giant monster film about a prehistoric reptile. The film was produced by Cinemagic and Saga Studio and separate versions were released in Denmark and in the United States, with American Inter ...
'' in 1961.
[Phil Hardy. The Overlook Film Encyclopedia: Science Fiction. New York: The Overlook Press, 1994, pp. 56-57]
Cast
*
Gunnar Tolnæs
Gunnar Tolnæs (1879–1940)Database (undated)."Gunnar Tolnæs" ''Internet Movie Database''. Accessed 13 January 2010 was a Norwegian-born film actor who worked for most of his career in Denmark.
Early life
He was born in Oslo, Norway.
...
as Avanti Planetaros - Captain of the Space Ship
*Zanny Petersen as Corona, Avanti's Sister
*Nicolai Neiiendam as Professor Planetaros, Astronomer
*
Alf Blütecher
Alf Blütecher (7 February 1880 – 5 March 1959) was a Norwegian actor. He appeared in more than eighty films from 1913 to 1930.
Selected filmography
References
External links
*
1880 births
1959 deaths
People from Tokke
Norwegian mal ...
as Dr. Krafft, Avanti's Friend
*
Svend Kornbeck as David Dane, American
*Philip Bech as Martian leader - Wise Man
*Lilly Jacobson as Marya, Martian Leader's Daughter
*
Frederik Jacobsen
Frederik Jacobsen (12 September 1876 – 4 September 1922), was a Danish actor. He appeared in 27 films between 1911 and 1923
Events
January–February
* January 9 – Lithuania begins the KlaipÄ—da Revolt to annex the KlaipÄ ...
as Professor Dubius
Production crew
*Production Design by Carlo Jacobsen
*Art Direction by Axel Bruun
See also
*
List of films set on Mars
There is a body of films that are set on the planet Mars. In the late 19th century, people erroneously believed that there were canals on Mars. Into the early 20th century, additional observations of Mars fed people's interest in what was called " ...
*
Human mission to Mars
The idea of sending humans to Mars has been the subject of aerospace engineering and scientific studies since the late 1940s as part of the broader exploration of Mars. Some have also considered exploring the Martian moons of Phobos and Deimos. ...
References
External links
*
''Himmelskibet''on
YouTube
YouTube is a global online video platform, online video sharing and social media, social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by ...
Plot summary
Programme in Danish with pictures
Himmelskibet
1918 films
1910s science fiction films
Danish black-and-white films
Danish science fiction films
Danish silent films
Films about extraterrestrial life
Mars in film
Films directed by Holger-Madsen
Silent science fiction films
{{Denmark-silent-film-stub