A Trip to the Moon (1902)

Likely the oldest film ever to be getting a dedicated review on here, George Méliès' world-famous 13 minute short film gets released in a gorgeous package from Arrow Films that's packed with extras.

First the film itself. There's something undoubtedly a little eerie about watching something 118 years old and knowing all the people performing are long gone, the ghosts of their physical memory playing for our entertainment. Arrow's disc contains both black and white and colourised versions> in case anyone starts crying foul at the thought of a Ted Turner-style digital paintbox, the colour version also dates from 1902, each frame having had blobs of colour added by hand to costumes, etc. It's absolutely worth a watch and if anything the rudimentary attempts at adding an extra dimension to the film actually work in making it that little bit stranger.

There are a number of options for soundtrack accompaniment. The colour version comes with different soundtracks to the black and white one and range from 'traditional' piano to prog rock-style synths (my favourite). There are also to have a written 'actors accompaniment' read out over both versions (different for each).

Extras include Georges Franju's 1952 short film LA GRAND MELIES and a video essay by Jon Spira that looks at both the film and the career of its creator. Also included is THE EXTRAORDINARY VOYAGE, Serge Bromberg and Eric Lange's 80 minute documentary from 2011 which include interviews with Costa-Gavras, Michel Gondry, Jean-Pierre Jeunet and others.

As well as the disc, the package includes a 214-page hardback book: The Long Lost Autobiography of Georges Méliès: Father of Sci-Fi & Fantasy Cinema, translated into English and apparently available for the first time since 1961. The book also includes a filmography, illustrations and interviews. 

Finally, both disc and book are housed in limited edition packaging, making this the most definitive presentation of A TRIP TO THE MOON we are likely to see. 

George Méliès A TRIP TO THE MOON is out in a special deluxe edition from Arrow Films on Monday 21st September 2020