Earthly explorers find peace, pacifism, and a utopian society on silent-era Mars.
A TRIP TO MARS
"Leaving behind the warfare of Earth to discover the cosmic peace of the stars.
A group of researchers from Earth travel in a spaceship to Mars, where, to big surprise, they find a peaceful vegetarian and pacifist civilization.
Proof that in 1918, the future of Mars was vegetarian and Danish.
Before Buck Rogers ever strapped on a rocket pack, Holger-Madsen sent a spaceship full of Danish dreamers to a Mars where the locals meditate, eat their veggies, and have banished violence. If your idea of space opera involves less ray-gun duels and more new-age enlightenment, this silent sci-fi trip is your ticket.
— SassyFlix Programmer
A Trip to Mars is a 1918 Danish adventure, fantasy, and science fiction film directed by Holger-Madsen about a navy captain who journeys to Mars and discovers a peaceful, utopian civilization.
- Director
- Holger-Madsen
- Writers
- Sophus Michaëlis, Ole Olsen
- Release
- 1918
- Runtime
- 1h 21m
- Country
- Denmark
- Language
- No Language
- Genres
- Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction
- Also Known As
- 400 Million Miles from Earth, A Ship to Heaven, Sky Ship, The Airship, Das Himmelsschiff, Avaruuslaiva
Synopsis
Why Cult
This is one of the earliest feature-length films to imagine interplanetary travel, complete with spaceship drama and a Martian landing.
Mars here isn’t red and raging but peaceful, vegetarian, and pacifist—a rare vision for early science fiction.
Forget cosmic conquest: the real drama comes from a mutinous crew and the culture shock of a civilization free of violence and sorrow.
Temples, meditation, and cosmic dancing abound in this silent fantasy’s vision of Martian life.
Trailer
Scene Gallery
Questions from the Vault
What is A Trip to Mars about? +
A Trip to Mars follows a navy captain and his crew as they travel to Mars, where they discover a peaceful, utopian civilization free of violence and sorrow.
When was A Trip to Mars released? +
A Trip to Mars was released in 1918.
Who directed A Trip to Mars? +
A Trip to Mars was directed by Holger-Madsen.
How long is A Trip to Mars? +
A Trip to Mars has a runtime of 81 minutes.
Is A Trip to Mars a silent film? +
Yes, A Trip to Mars is a silent film.
What genre is A Trip to Mars? +
A Trip to Mars is an adventure, fantasy, and science fiction film.
Themes & Keywords
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