Aelita is the daughter of tuskub, the ruler of a totalitarian state on mars in which the working class are put into cold storage when they are not needed. One of the first fulllength films about space travel. The nfsa has digitised the landmark russian feature film aelita. Queen of mars is probably only really worth viewing for its historical interest. Jan 10, 2003 the film displays the humorous exploits of the bourgeoise zie, and the stark poverty the proletariat suffered in 1924 russia. Aelita the queen of mars dvd movie video at cd universe, dvd, enjoy top rated service and worldwide shipping. Made in 1924, it is a look at how communist philosophy plays out in speculative fiction during the silent era. Queen of mars senses of cinema yakov protazanov s 1924 film, aelita, begins in december of 1921 with the worldwide transmission of a cryptic message. In this silent russian film, a loner engineer builds his own rocket and flies to the planet mars. It takes an inordinately long time for the main character to reach mars, although mars is shown throughout the film, following aelita, queen of mars as she goes about. From 1924 to 1928, it was a regular target for film critics and for the many social activists who felt that the film industry was not supporting.
This is called the first soviet science fiction film. It is also the first russiansoviet science fiction film, closely rivalled by lev kuleshovs the death ray luch smerti that was made the year after. Kinda boring and not enough communist uprisings on mars, to be honest. Russian author aleksey tolstoys 1923 science fiction novel brought to the silver screen by soviet filmmaker yakov protazanov in this 1924 scifi film classic whose influence can be seen in other cinema greats like fritz langs woman in the moon and. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film. Watch the first russian science fiction film, aelita. Nikolai tseretelli and valentina kuindzhi were cast in leading roles. Aelita queen of mars russian sciencefiction film english.
Aelita, queen of mars just when you thought it was safe to return to mars. The queen of mars, like so many of the lowbudget sciencefiction movies that would follow it years later, remains earthbound for the majority of the film, only occasionally teasing the viewer with the mars stuff. Harry potter complete 8film collection dvd 2011, 8disc set free shipping. There are few, though, who contest its visual influence on the genre of science fiction.
Queen of mars, is a silent film directed by soviet filmmaker yakov protazanov made at the mezhrabpomrus film studio and released in 1924. Jun 17, 2018 aelita, queen of mars 810 ostensibly russiasussrs first scifi film, this political 1924 space fantasy lays down a surprisingly intelligent criticism of the communist revolution, once you look past the clunky, propagandistic symbolism on the surface. I appreciate the time capsule though and always find silent films mesmerizing none the less. Bfilm science fiction movies of the 1950s had a tradition of standingaroundthelab talkiness and not enough of the good stuff. This is called the first soviet science fiction film, because of its futuristic sets on mars, although most of it takes place in moscow. Youll have to complete your refund and exchange before the posted showtime indicated on your ticket. Queen of mars, a silent from 1924 that inspired such indispensable classics as flash gordon and fritz langs metropolis. Though the main focus of the story is the daily lives of a small group of people during the postwar soviet union, the enduring importance of the film comes from its early science fiction elements. A soldier, an inventor and a police informant participate in the first flight to mars. Finally though, aelita here called aelita, the queen of mars on the box but not the movie did appear, in a 1991 kino international vhs release. I do recommend downloading the original avi file for a complete viewing experience. Foreign distributors saddled it with the embarrassing subtitles queen of mars or revolt of the robots.
This is called the first soviet science fiction film because of its futuristic sets on mars, although most of it takes place in moscow. The next sequence reveals scientists and military men in different regions of the. No other film of early soviet cinema was attacked as consistently or over so long a period as aelita. In 1924 director yakov protazanov made tolstoys novel into the first soviet science fiction movie, aelita. Yakov protazanovs 1924 film, aelita, begins in december of 1921 with the worldwide transmission of a cryptic message. I just really like the medium of film, of moving bodies in space and time. Said to be the first fulllength science fiction movie ever made, this influential film about space travel by the soviet filmmaker yakov protazanov is reimagined by avant guitarist marc ribot with a new score premiered at londons meltdown festival, royal festival hall and recorded live and released on the composer. Queen of mars is a stunning portrayel of an interplanetary future. In a way, this film could be an equal criticism of both.
The movie is set at the beginning of the nep new economic. This is the framebyframe restored version of aelita the original title of the film and play by aleksei tolstoy on which it was based, the added title queen of mars is obviously for international markets. May, 2016 this is called the first soviet science fiction film because of its futuristic sets on mars, although most of it takes place in moscow. Aelita is the daughter of tuskub, the ruler of a totalitarian state on mars in which the working classe are put into cold storage when they are not needed. Based upon alexei tolstois novel production began in february, 1923, and took over a year to complete. Mars comes up towards the end of the film, when a rocket sends a crew to mars. This is the original, unedited, full length version which predates metropolis by three years. Queen of mars, has been just as highly praised as it has often been misunderstood. Said to be the first fulllength science fiction movie ever made, this influential film about space travel by the. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. Said to be the first fulllength science fiction movie ever made, this influential film about space travel by the soviet filmmaker yakov protazanov is reimagined by avant guitarist marc ribot with a new score premiered at londons meltdown festival, royal festival hall and recorded live and released on. Although most of the movie is earthbound, it is re.
The extent of aelitas popular success was nearly equivalent to that of its critical failure. Aelita, queen of mars ussr predating and influencing the betterknown. Despite a cool reaction from critics, the film was such a hit with the soviet public that. Mar 24, 2011 in 1924 director yakov protazanov made tolstoys novel into the first soviet science fiction movie, aelita. Rarely seen, its known mostly from photos featuring oddlygarbed women posing amid disorienting geometric shapes. Advertisement despite the soviet unions suppression of a great many writers and filmmakers, the communist state nonetheless produced some of the finest film and literature of the 20th century.
A silent film spectacle, it added jealousy, larceny, murder, farce, and a. This is the original, unedited, fulllength version which predates metropolis by three years. One of the earliest fulllength films about space travel, the most notable part of the film remains its remarkable constructivist martian sets by isaac. Aelita is the daughter of tuskub, the ruler of a totalitarian state on mars in which the.
Queen of mars digitised nfsa national film and sound. New film score movie musical aelita queen of mars with live actors new live silent movie musical. Queen of mars, is a silent film directed by soviet filmmaker yakov. An iris revealing a set of powerlines is followed by a quick cut to an image of an electric current dancing between two wires. Queen of mars or simply aelita was a hit but it wasnt the picture that made the reputation of the soviet film industry abroadthe honor of being most famous soviet silent goes to a little picture called battleship potemkin. Aelita, queen of mars is certainly a gem of a movie.
It was based on alexei tolstoys novel of the same name. Queen of mars, has been just as highly praised as it has often been misunderstood, primarily by western critics. Aelita queen of mars dvd, 2017 for sale online ebay. Although this film is quite comic, it exemplifies the shift from humor to realism in science fiction film that was happening throughout the 1920s, as it also conveys a serious tone. A similar fate almost befell the first russian science fiction film, aelita. Aelita, queen of mars 1924 produced by mezhrabpomrus directed by yakov protazanov, premiered september 30, 1924, at the ars cinema in moscow with a special musical score composed by valentin kruchinin. Purportedly, it was made on a fantastic budget, and the sets on mars show it. Aelita the film made a favorable impression on its first audiences see an original poster above. Russian author aleksey tolstoys 1923 science fiction novel brought to the silver screen by soviet filmmaker yakov protazanov in this 1924 scifi film classic whose influence can be seen in other cinema greats like fritz langs woman in the moon and metropolis, flash gordon and. Greatest rock n roll vietnam war music 60s and 70s classic rock songs duration.
This was director yakov protazanovs first film after returning to the soviet union from his exile in paris. Aelita queen of mars dvd, 1999 for sale online ebay. The sets and fx on display here, it must be said, range from imaginative and impressive to slapdash and laughable. The film will premiere at the melbourne recital centre on 22 june 2018. The novel was adapted in the soviet union to silent film under the same title shot by yakov protazanov in 1924, and by hungarian director andras rajnai in 1980. It is also as far as we can tell the first russiansoviet science fiction film, closely rivalled by lev kuleshovs the death ray luch smerti that was made the year after. Well refund your credit card or we can credit your fandango account to use for another movie. The movie is set at the beginning of the nep new economic policy in december, 1921. Queen of mars is available to watch where you are see latest films. The film displays the humorous exploits of the bourgeoise zie, and the stark poverty the proletariat suffered in 1924 russia. My memory is a little hazy, but im pretty certain it was released to laserdisc soon after, which is how i remember pal charlie ziarko and i watching it a year or two after that.