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OPEN CLASSIC CINEMA · 667

A Trip to the Moon

190218 minFrance
Science fictionFantasyComedy

Synopsis

A group of astronomers builds a capsule and fires it toward the Moon from an enormous cannon. Their expedition enters a world of theatrical stars, giant mushrooms and strange inhabitants. Scientific ambition quickly gives way to comic danger, with stage spectacle and camera tricks turning the journey into an elaborate visual fantasy.

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Video edition
Wikimedia Commons
Original language
No spoken dialogue. Intertitles: not identified.
This copy runs
12:46
Subtitles
No subtitle track in this language

No spoken dialogue. Intertitles: not identified. No subtitle track in this language.

Languages and subtitles

No subtitle track in this language

Wikimedia Commons · Georges Méliès · Public domain

This copy runs shorter than the reference runtime. Editing and playback speed can differ between editions.

Cast

DirectorsGeorges Méliès

Inspirations

Méliès credited Jules Verne's lunar novels among his inspirations. The film combines the idea of space travel with the theatrical spectacle and transformations associated with his work as an illusionist.

Behind the scenes

The selected copy is in black and white. A separately surviving hand-coloured print led to a later colour restoration; that edition should not be confused with the version shown here.

Sources and availability

General references identify the work and its copy. A reference beside an editorial section is linked to the claims checked in that section.

Wikipedia — film referenceWikidata — film identity and credits

Work catalogued as public domain in the United States.

The public-domain references concern the original films in the United States. Rights can differ for other countries, editions, restorations, music or translations. Sources are listed on each film page.

Availability checked on September 12, 2026.

Photograph credit

Photographs cropped, resized and optimized as WebP, displayed in monochrome.

  • Georges Méliès — Georges Méliès; Publicity materials for an exhibition at La Caixa Foundation: http://press.lacaixa.es/socialprojects/exhibiton-georges-melies-magic-of-cinema-caixaforum-barcelona-eng__816-c-17952__.html · Public domain

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