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Does anyone know much about Danish silent science-fiction? I was at Scarecrow video last
night. They have about 400 silents, VHS and DVD, and I frequently see things there that I did
not know about from my online searches

The End of the World (Danish: Verdens Undergang) (1916).
A Trip to Mars (1918)

Both of which are online.

There is a double bill DVD release of the above two films from the DFI. I didn't like End of the World much, but like A Trip to Mars very much. It's just a shame that the DFI releases aren't easier to find if you live outside Denmark.

silentmovies742 wrote: It's just a shame that the DFI releases aren't easier to find if you live outside Denmark.

They are available from Edition Filmmuseum: http://www.edition-filmmuseum.com/index ... ies/page/3" target="_blank" target="_blank

silentmovies742 wrote:There is a double bill DVD release of the above two films from the DFI. I didn't like End of the World much, but like A Trip to Mars very much. It's just a shame that the DFI releases aren't easier to find if you live outside Denmark.

I was lent a copy of this a few years ago, but preferred THE END OF THE WORLD. However, both were worth seeing as my experience of Danish silent film is minimal, to say the least.

Sinister Cinema offers A Trip to Mars -- good print, so check prices when deciding where to order. I liked it -- a charming film, given its moderate budget. If I remember it correctly, the Martians dress like ancient Romans. Not a lot of narrative drive, but consistently interesting as a curio and for its rudimentary special effects.

Dave Pitts wrote:Sinister Cinema offers A Trip to Mars -- good print, so check prices when deciding where to order. I liked it -- a charming film, given its moderate budget. If I remember it correctly, the Martians dress like ancient Romans. Not a lot of narrative drive, but consistently interesting as a curio and for its rudimentary special effects.

At present, I have rather a lot of unplayed commercial dvds, so am going a bit steady on them. I found A TRIP TO MARS on the Internet Archive, so that will do until a 'proper' copy comes along. Thanks for the info, though.

Dave Pitts wrote: If I remember it correctly, the Martians dress like ancient Romans.

Not too unlike the recently restored A Message from Mars (1913 by the BFI) ...

Steve

You all don't seem to know that the ancient Romans CAME from Mars! The older film stylists knew these things. That's why we study them, isn't it?

R Michael Pyle wrote:... the ancient Romans CAME from Mars! The older film stylists knew these things.

Ya know, now that you mention it...

Micromegas wrote:

Dave Pitts wrote: If I remember it correctly, the Martians dress like ancient Romans.

Not too unlike the recently restored A Message from Mars (1913 by the BFI) ...

Steve

There was a lot of fuss about A Message from Mars, but I confess I thought it was pretty awful when I watched it a couple of weeks ago. I also find that this is another strange example of the BFI's strategies. Their restoration of the film makes the news, and so instead of releasing it on DVD or Blu-ray, they provide it for free on their website, complete with a soundtrack. Bonkers.

silentmovies742 wrote:

Micromegas wrote:

Dave Pitts wrote: If I remember it correctly, the Martians dress like ancient Romans.

Not too unlike the recently restored A Message from Mars (1913 by the BFI) ...

Steve

There was a lot of fuss about A Message from Mars, but I confess I thought it was pretty awful when I watched it a couple of weeks ago. I also find that this is another strange example of the BFI's strategies. Their restoration of the film makes the news, and so instead of releasing it on DVD or Blu-ray, they provide it for free on their website, complete with a soundtrack. Bonkers.

Only they didn't provide it for free in the U.S. ... only in the U.K. on BFI Player (I think). Later, someone put it up on YouTube. Of course, that makes BFI's methods that much stranger.

But yes, it's nothing to write home about except for a few select moments and, in general, seeing Charles Hawtrey in his famed role.

To get back on track, I suppose that I liked both of the Danish films better. Himmelskibet is unique, I'll give it that.

Steve