After I watched "La lune à un mètre", I read the summary for this short film on IMDB...and I must say that it explained a lot of what I just saw! Yes, the film is quite confusing and exactly WHAT is happening and WHY...well, they seem a bit illusive. Now none of this is to say this is a bad film. After all, it was made by the French master, Georges Méliès, and you know this means lots of trick photography and magical moments....and this one has plenty of them! So, instead of summarizing the film, I say just watch it and all the weirdness and just enjoy....it's clever, cute and much like so many of his other films, albeit the only one with a gigantic moon that eats telescopes!! Fun.
21 Reviews
Whimsical fantasy from Georges Méliès
jamesrupert20146 February 2020
An astronomer (dressed like a wizard) is visited in his observatory by various imps and fairies, and eventually a giant, eye-rolling anthropomorphic moon that eats his telescope, dissolves his umbrella, delivers a couple of frolicking moon-children, and eventually eats the old fellow himself. The entire phantasmagoric night turns out to be a dream (hence the original title ('The Astronomer's Dream'), which was more accurate than the deceptive American release "A Trip to the Moon"). The film is a wonderful showcase for Méliès' early experiments in 'trick photography' and includes a number of well done (for the era) substitution splices as the fanciful characters appear and disappear, and a clever animation scene in where images on the astronomer's black-board come to life. A clever and imaginative fantasy film from the early days of cinematography.
Moon over
Prismark1016 January 2016
Maybe the first example of science fiction and fantasy in a narrative form from the pioneer of early cinema Georges Melies as he plays an astronomer studying in an observatory when a devil figure appears then a woman who sends the devil away.
The astronomer draws a globe on a blackboard which starts to move, when he looks through the telescope the moon appears with a large face like the face later used in Thomas the Tank Engine cartoons and it eats the astronomer's telescope.
Then small men come through the mouth of the moon and then it goes back in the sky and then the moon becomes a crescent when another figure in the shape of a lady appears.
This is just part of the content in a short film just over three minutes long that has set design, characters in costumes, special effects and use of editing as well as surreal imagery. The editing is jumpy but again it is Melies that was showing the early promise of cinematic illusion.
The astronomer draws a globe on a blackboard which starts to move, when he looks through the telescope the moon appears with a large face like the face later used in Thomas the Tank Engine cartoons and it eats the astronomer's telescope.
Then small men come through the mouth of the moon and then it goes back in the sky and then the moon becomes a crescent when another figure in the shape of a lady appears.
This is just part of the content in a short film just over three minutes long that has set design, characters in costumes, special effects and use of editing as well as surreal imagery. The editing is jumpy but again it is Melies that was showing the early promise of cinematic illusion.
Elaborate Dream/Trick Film
Cineanalyst12 September 2009
This is actually a very elaborate fiction film for 1898. Made by Georges Méliès, it lasts over three minutes, when most films during the period lasted about a minute or less. Early cinema historian Frank Gray refers to this film as having consisted of three shots and 60 meters length. Yet, I can't precisely distinguish or separate shots or scenes in it, as the entire film takes place from a fixed framing and long-shot perspective. One could go to either extreme: saying that this is a single shot-scene film since its perspective is stationary, or you could say it consists of dozens of shots, including the trick splices for appearances, disappearances, substitutions and stop-motion animation, which is to say this film is a series of jump cuts.
"The Astronomer's Dream", however, does contain a three-part structure, I'd say. The bookend parts are of the astronomer safe within his laboratory, with the longer, middle part being the nightmare. There are also at least three slightly different decors used: the outer one with the telescope and the entire laboratory; a tighter, less furnished, yet similar one for closer views of the moon during the dream; and, briefly, a wall. Moreover, as indicated by this film having three entries in the Star catalogue, it was available to exhibitors in three parts, which was common then, as films were generally sold in 20-meter lengths. Regardless, this is a sophisticated narrative and production for its time.
The following year, Méliès would produce his first féerie film (fairy film), "Cinderella", which consists of at least four distinct scenes transitioned by dissolves. "Cinderella", albeit, is in the tableau, theatrical style of stationary shot-scenes, but it does distinguish spatially separate scenes for a more advanced narrative construction. One fiction film in 1898, Robert W. Paul's "Come Along Do!" also contained two spatially separate scenes with action continuing across them. "The Astronomer's Dream", however, was Méliès's then most elaborate and sophisticated dream or trick film, although it does contain a fairy godmother type in the goddess Phoebe, who protects the astronomer from attacks by demons, the moon and the rest of the nightmare. It's purely part of what Tom Gunning has referred to as "the cinema of attractions"; the attraction here being the magic or tricks accomplished mostly through substitution splices (a.k.a. stop substitutions), as well as theatrical props and transitions and a brief chalkboard animation within the scene. Today, these trick films hold up well and remain at least amusing because of Méliès's wacky and imaginative humor; their primitiveness is even part of their charm.
"The Astronomer's Dream", however, does contain a three-part structure, I'd say. The bookend parts are of the astronomer safe within his laboratory, with the longer, middle part being the nightmare. There are also at least three slightly different decors used: the outer one with the telescope and the entire laboratory; a tighter, less furnished, yet similar one for closer views of the moon during the dream; and, briefly, a wall. Moreover, as indicated by this film having three entries in the Star catalogue, it was available to exhibitors in three parts, which was common then, as films were generally sold in 20-meter lengths. Regardless, this is a sophisticated narrative and production for its time.
The following year, Méliès would produce his first féerie film (fairy film), "Cinderella", which consists of at least four distinct scenes transitioned by dissolves. "Cinderella", albeit, is in the tableau, theatrical style of stationary shot-scenes, but it does distinguish spatially separate scenes for a more advanced narrative construction. One fiction film in 1898, Robert W. Paul's "Come Along Do!" also contained two spatially separate scenes with action continuing across them. "The Astronomer's Dream", however, was Méliès's then most elaborate and sophisticated dream or trick film, although it does contain a fairy godmother type in the goddess Phoebe, who protects the astronomer from attacks by demons, the moon and the rest of the nightmare. It's purely part of what Tom Gunning has referred to as "the cinema of attractions"; the attraction here being the magic or tricks accomplished mostly through substitution splices (a.k.a. stop substitutions), as well as theatrical props and transitions and a brief chalkboard animation within the scene. Today, these trick films hold up well and remain at least amusing because of Méliès's wacky and imaginative humor; their primitiveness is even part of their charm.
When the moon becomes dangerous...
binapiraeus26 February 2014
This is another very early (19th century still!!) and simply MAGNIFICENT example of Georges Melies' magic: a queer 'science fiction' story (certainly one of the first EVER) about a scientist (played by Melies himself) who is hooked on his researches about the moon - which seems to take its revenge: first it comes alive on the drawing board, and when he looks at it through its telescope, it comes REALLY close to him, literally only 'a meter away', as the title says; and starts eating up everything in reach...
Here we have the great pleasure to enjoy more of the magician's cinematographic tricks he knew so perfectly well: people and things vanishing and reappearing, the drawn settings seemingly coming alive... THOSE are the 'little' shorts (with a running time of only about 3 minutes then) which led to today's movies with their special computer effects and almost unbelievable scenes - something that EVERY film fan should see in order to get to know the ORIGINS OF TODAY'S CINEMA!
Here we have the great pleasure to enjoy more of the magician's cinematographic tricks he knew so perfectly well: people and things vanishing and reappearing, the drawn settings seemingly coming alive... THOSE are the 'little' shorts (with a running time of only about 3 minutes then) which led to today's movies with their special computer effects and almost unbelievable scenes - something that EVERY film fan should see in order to get to know the ORIGINS OF TODAY'S CINEMA!
Magnificent and far beyond it's time!
chuckydorn8 February 2002
I can't believe that no one else has commented on this yet. This amazing film was one of the first "story" films, with sets like a play. It is a wonderment and leaves so much inspiration for the imagination. It is not in popular circulation, but perhaps it should be. If you can get a chance to watch this one do at all costs. If you can't find it then just think of the Tonight Tonight video by the Smashing Pumpkins. It's about the same except they are separated by about one-hundred years and by a whole barrage of special effects. All in all they are both wonderful and interesting to look at.
Dream a little dream of me.
Pjtaylor-96-1380449 December 2021
'The Astronomer's Dream (1898)' depicts a wacky nightmare than an astronomer has while gazing up at the moon. It involves devilish creatures, heavenly women and grotesque celestial bodies. It's explicitly framed as a dream (primarily via the title), so the piece doesn't have to make a lot of sense. That's good, because it doesn't. It operates on the sort of dream logic that sees ordinary activities morph into battles against otherworldly beings, sees regular objects take on a life of their own and pits a hopelessly logical protagonist against a hopelessly illogical situation. Making ample use of early special effects (mostly those achieved with a well-timed cut), the flick wonderfully achieves its goal of presenting a waking dream to its audience. It's short, sweet and visually impressive. It's still really good considering it came out 100 years before I was even born. 7/10.
Beware of the man in the moon...
Red-Barracuda5 April 2012
This ancient Georges Méliès film is one of the most elaborate of its day. Unlike most films from the time it actually tells a story. It's primitive and simplistic of course but for the 19th century this is complex cinema. Nevertheless, it's the execution more than the narrative that makes it interesting. The story is basically about a nightmare experienced by an astronomer. In it the moon advances up close and terrorises him.
For such an old film it's extremely ambitious. Méliès uses his famed visual trickery in many ways here but perhaps the most memorable aspect about this one isn't a special effect, it's the huge moon man. This large giant orb is a precursor to the famous one in A Trip to the Moon a few years later. In this one he is a source of menace but he is quite comic looking nevertheless. A memorable creation for sure and one of the first iconic moments in the early years of cinema.
For such an old film it's extremely ambitious. Méliès uses his famed visual trickery in many ways here but perhaps the most memorable aspect about this one isn't a special effect, it's the huge moon man. This large giant orb is a precursor to the famous one in A Trip to the Moon a few years later. In this one he is a source of menace but he is quite comic looking nevertheless. A memorable creation for sure and one of the first iconic moments in the early years of cinema.
1898... Hilarious
yusufpiskin23 November 2020
Great painted backdrops.
Despite its short length, this feels like a deeply passionate and sincere effort for all involved.
Even then, it is hilarious. Great physical comedy and I think the humor has helped make this age well. Alongside that wacky animatronic moon and gonzo dream-logic. We owe George Melies the world! He understood the film medium and editing process in ways his peers apparently didn't.
Despite its short length, this feels like a deeply passionate and sincere effort for all involved.
Even then, it is hilarious. Great physical comedy and I think the humor has helped make this age well. Alongside that wacky animatronic moon and gonzo dream-logic. We owe George Melies the world! He understood the film medium and editing process in ways his peers apparently didn't.
The Astronomer's Dream
utgard1425 September 2017
Fantastic short film from pioneering filmmaker Georges Méliès. A great companion piece to his later classic, A Trip to the Moon (1902). That name was also given to this one when released in the US. The original (and more fitting) name is The Astronomer's Dream. The story to this is an astronomer who looks like Merlin is visited by a woman and a demon and has dreams about the moon. The special effects and sets are really cool, especially when you consider this film's age. Méliès was ahead of his time in many ways. Definitely worth a look for anyone into film history or silent shorts or anyone with a few minutes to spare. I can't imagine anyone seeing this and regretting it. Well, a-holes maybe.
Clearly related to Méliès most known work
Horst_In_Translation13 October 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Of course I'm talking about his uncommonly long short film "Trip to the Moon". The animated moon looks exactly the same here and the astronomer reminds the viewer as well of the ones building the rocket to set foot on the moon. The video quality is rather low early on, even for 1898, but quickly gets better. It's packed with fantasy references, occasionally even almost a horror film and it's surely lots of action happening for its only three minutes running time.The moon swallowing and spitting all kinds of things and children is quite a horror fantasy. I'd have panicked and run out as soon as I could if I'd run into that. Or maybe not with those stunning women the moon transforms into near the end. Certainly an interesting watch, maybe together with "Le voyage dans la lune" from 4 years later and it offers even some approaches it does not in that one like the constant switching of shapes and sizes while the 1902 film was really more of a scientific sci-fi movie.
Astronomer's Dream
Michael_Elliott28 March 2008
Astronomer's Dream, The (1898)
*** (out of 4)
aka La Lune a un metre
An astronomer is in his office working when the devil and a woman appear to him and this sets off a strange dream, which includes the moon attacking him. This is another enjoyable film from Meiles as we get to see various magic tricks including the familiar gags of the astronomer going to sit down only to have the chair disappear. What really stands out in this film is the attack by the moon, which is perfectly done and leads to several laughs. I love Melies' design of the moon making it something to fear with its evil eyes and mouth. The special effects are quite nice throughout. This is certainly a good place for newbies to start.
*** (out of 4)
aka La Lune a un metre
An astronomer is in his office working when the devil and a woman appear to him and this sets off a strange dream, which includes the moon attacking him. This is another enjoyable film from Meiles as we get to see various magic tricks including the familiar gags of the astronomer going to sit down only to have the chair disappear. What really stands out in this film is the attack by the moon, which is perfectly done and leads to several laughs. I love Melies' design of the moon making it something to fear with its evil eyes and mouth. The special effects are quite nice throughout. This is certainly a good place for newbies to start.
Don't mess with the Moon, it's not worth it!
Kitahito24 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
First of all, the Moon is bigger than you. Just barely, but it's bigger nonetheless. It contains dangerous black fumes, dancing children, an unattainable woman, and the Devil (probably). So there are considerable risk factors. Not to speak of the fact that it eats your high-end astronomical equipment! Conclusion: instead of provoking the Moon to land, wait for the Moon landing!
George Méliès impresses me again
williambendavis-933-21895820 December 2014
George Méliès makes my mind melt and my jaw drop again! This short film is actually better than the last! It has the extremely cool illusions of people appearing and disappearing out of thin air (still do not know how that was accomplished), but this one steps it up a notch. There's this really creepy moon that eats the furniture that moves on its own and it looks awesome. The guy who is playing the astronomer did a great job. His performance made me laugh. The biggest improvement though is the addition of music. Just simply adding music helps, but it's even better when the music fits perfectly and adds another level of enjoyment to something, which is the case here. This makes me way more eager to check out more of George Méliès work, and I think I can safely say I won't be disappointed.
The Astronomer Gets Mooned
Hitchcoc10 November 2017
This was great fun. For one thing, Melies creates an amazing moon. It has all sorts of expression. It also has a kind of nasty grin that shows it's up to no good. The story involves the Astronomer figuring out a way to go to the moon, but while he is doing that, the moon comes to him. It devours his property. It spits out people and junk and terrorizes the old man. It is very clever and longer than previous efforts. What a gift this man made to cinema.
The first movie ever.
afonsobritofalves11 December 2018
One of the best I've seen of the 1890s horrors
alpharowe31 October 2021
Full-length for its day, and still a bit creepy now
Tornado_Sam2 September 2018
Warning: Spoilers
At this point, Georges Méliès was starting to realize what the film edit could accomplish and all the things he could produce using this simple effect. A mannequin of William Tell could become real, a man could have an awful nightmare, a magician could chop a boy in half, etc. "The Astronomer's Dream" was not only extraordinary in this regard, but in many different regards for the time. It uses some very well-painted sets (Méliès always went for realism when it came for setting the scene) acting (pantomiming), scripts, (of a sort) and is three whole minutes long, an unheard-of run-time for any films at this point. Many of the shorts around this point were only about a minute, had none of this at all and were often just brief little documentaries featuring babies eating, workers leaving a factory, a train arriving in a station, and so on. Audiences didn't care what they saw in the cinemas--so long as it moved. That's how it was that long ago.
"The Astronomer's Dream" (released in the US as "A Trip to the Moon", which is a misleading title especially if you've seen Méliès's 1902 classic) could also be considered one of the first horror movies ever. In my eyes, the very first horror was actually made three years before (in "The Execution of Mary Stuart", also the first known use of the film edit). Even Méliès himself had dived into the horror genre with "The House of the Devil" of 1896 (and its 1897 remake) so the idea of the supernatural wasn't new for him. This film doesn't have any supernatural elements (except for the appearance of Satan) and is or can be considered a horror because of the enormous moon which shows up early on and also towards the end. This is not to say Méliès was meaning this to be a horror at all; I personally believe his intent with almost all of his work was to amuse rather than scare. The moon in here (which looks nothing like the one in "A Trip to the Moon" despite what other people say) certainly does look creepy but is very well-crafted even though only built out of cardboard. Moon faces were a common element in Méliès's earlier work ("A Nightmare" which featured a different moon face being the first film to use one) and I continue to wonder why the director enjoyed using this concept. Maybe, like with Satan, he enjoyed reusing themes to show off his movie magic.
Speaking of Satan, this film also marks one of the few appearances in which the director doesn't play him, since he appears as the astronomer. The rest of the cast appears unknown, besides the fact Jehanne d'Alcy plays the good fairy. (I thought I read it was Bleuette Bernon somewhere, but I don't know where). Unidentified cast members are common in Méliès's career because of lack of credits, and many actors in his studio remain unknown today.
Yet, this film does use some elements of dark humor/horror. The children coming out of the moon's mouth is either meant to be funny or creepy, it's hard to tell which. And don't forget the crazy ending (SPOILERS HERE) where the astronomer climbs into the moon's mouth and the moon spits him back out dismembered. Clearly Méliès was trying to appeal to his audience's dark side when he threw that particular aspect into the mix. This does not mean he was trying to intentionally scare; like I said before, it was all in fun and he would often use a macabre sense of humor throughout his output if you delve into his work even more.
The most impressive thing here, (besides all the other stuff listed above) is the chalkboard animation. Considering stop-motion animation was something Méliès would never really get into (but that other directors would, particularly Segundo de Chomòn) it's odd to see him do a similar technique here. Yet it's hard to tell how he did it. If he had cut to a closeup shot within the scene (nobody did that at this point) it would have been possible to produce the effect. But considering the actor is still moving in shot while the animation occurs, this proves there is no way it could have been done in this way. Unless, of course, he took it as a separate shot and superimposed it on scene, but I can't see any signs of this. In the end, the animation probably relied on some theatrical trick (possibly cut-outs) and that is probably the best guess.
Finally, dreams were a subject the director would work with a lot in his career. If I'm not mistaken, "The Astronomer's Dream" is one of the earliest surviving movies with this theme. It is fun, odd, a little creepy, and comical. One of the best films of the era no doubt, and still a fun and creative little vignette even now.
"The Astronomer's Dream" (released in the US as "A Trip to the Moon", which is a misleading title especially if you've seen Méliès's 1902 classic) could also be considered one of the first horror movies ever. In my eyes, the very first horror was actually made three years before (in "The Execution of Mary Stuart", also the first known use of the film edit). Even Méliès himself had dived into the horror genre with "The House of the Devil" of 1896 (and its 1897 remake) so the idea of the supernatural wasn't new for him. This film doesn't have any supernatural elements (except for the appearance of Satan) and is or can be considered a horror because of the enormous moon which shows up early on and also towards the end. This is not to say Méliès was meaning this to be a horror at all; I personally believe his intent with almost all of his work was to amuse rather than scare. The moon in here (which looks nothing like the one in "A Trip to the Moon" despite what other people say) certainly does look creepy but is very well-crafted even though only built out of cardboard. Moon faces were a common element in Méliès's earlier work ("A Nightmare" which featured a different moon face being the first film to use one) and I continue to wonder why the director enjoyed using this concept. Maybe, like with Satan, he enjoyed reusing themes to show off his movie magic.
Speaking of Satan, this film also marks one of the few appearances in which the director doesn't play him, since he appears as the astronomer. The rest of the cast appears unknown, besides the fact Jehanne d'Alcy plays the good fairy. (I thought I read it was Bleuette Bernon somewhere, but I don't know where). Unidentified cast members are common in Méliès's career because of lack of credits, and many actors in his studio remain unknown today.
Yet, this film does use some elements of dark humor/horror. The children coming out of the moon's mouth is either meant to be funny or creepy, it's hard to tell which. And don't forget the crazy ending (SPOILERS HERE) where the astronomer climbs into the moon's mouth and the moon spits him back out dismembered. Clearly Méliès was trying to appeal to his audience's dark side when he threw that particular aspect into the mix. This does not mean he was trying to intentionally scare; like I said before, it was all in fun and he would often use a macabre sense of humor throughout his output if you delve into his work even more.
The most impressive thing here, (besides all the other stuff listed above) is the chalkboard animation. Considering stop-motion animation was something Méliès would never really get into (but that other directors would, particularly Segundo de Chomòn) it's odd to see him do a similar technique here. Yet it's hard to tell how he did it. If he had cut to a closeup shot within the scene (nobody did that at this point) it would have been possible to produce the effect. But considering the actor is still moving in shot while the animation occurs, this proves there is no way it could have been done in this way. Unless, of course, he took it as a separate shot and superimposed it on scene, but I can't see any signs of this. In the end, the animation probably relied on some theatrical trick (possibly cut-outs) and that is probably the best guess.
Finally, dreams were a subject the director would work with a lot in his career. If I'm not mistaken, "The Astronomer's Dream" is one of the earliest surviving movies with this theme. It is fun, odd, a little creepy, and comical. One of the best films of the era no doubt, and still a fun and creative little vignette even now.
Fun Little Short
Rainey-Dawn11 July 2019
The Astronomer's Dream aka A Trip to the Moon (1898).
This one is one of the cutest film shorts I've ever seen. Funny and interesting 4 minutes of watching. The moon is creepy in this one - yet I couldn't help but to laugh as it ate up everything.
9/10
This one is one of the cutest film shorts I've ever seen. Funny and interesting 4 minutes of watching. The moon is creepy in this one - yet I couldn't help but to laugh as it ate up everything.
9/10
Melies' magic, part three
jamesjustice-9224 October 2022
Georges' science fiction short feature "The moon a meter off" (La Lune à un mètre) premiered in 1898 and in this story the astronomer, played by Georges himself, restless and tired of having no success in his plans to go to the moon falls asleep and has all kinds of nightmares - his drawing on the chalkboard comes to life, then the objects start disappearing and as a final and the creepiest of all, his telescope turns into a giant moon with a face and a big mouth and eats him.
Melies utilizes many cinematic techniques to build the tension up and blends comedy, farce, sci-fi, thriller and horror together in perfect proportions to bewitch the viewer and keep him grasping for every single detail. I believe it was the first movie to ever use "it was all a dream" thing that became a kind of cliché later on. I also believe it was this movie that inspired Georges to expand his sci-fi madness furthermore into "A trip to the Moon" four years after this movie.
Melies utilizes many cinematic techniques to build the tension up and blends comedy, farce, sci-fi, thriller and horror together in perfect proportions to bewitch the viewer and keep him grasping for every single detail. I believe it was the first movie to ever use "it was all a dream" thing that became a kind of cliché later on. I also believe it was this movie that inspired Georges to expand his sci-fi madness furthermore into "A trip to the Moon" four years after this movie.
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