Woman in the Moon [Frau im Mond] **** (1929, Klaus Pohl, Willy Fritsch, Gustav von Wangenheim, Gerda Maurus, Fritz Rasp) – Classic Movie Review 3006

Director Fritz Lang’s last silent movie from 1929 is one of the first and most important sci-fi movies with its story of obsession about a half-mad greedy scientist, Professor Georg Manfeldt (Klaus Pohl), who finds that there is gold on the Moon and builds a moon rocket to get there. Five capitalists embark on the rocket in the hope of finding gold in outer space and getting it home from the moon. 

The film soon lifts off from earth because of the idea-packed screenplay, iconic acting, convincing sets and images that still look really impressive, thanks to Lang’s ever-reliable visual flair. And it is a visionary, pioneering, intelligent sci-fi movie that deserves respect as one of the earliest important films of its kind.

A bona fide early sci-fi classic, it remains worthwhile and essential viewing for all movie buffs and serious sci-fi fan who can get into the spirit of Lang’s visionary silent movie.

There are several different versions, starting at 91 minutes, with the 2000 restoration running a whopping 200 minutes.

The Nazis decided the movie’s rocket was too like the real V-2s they were developing, so they had the models destroyed and banned the film.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 3006

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