Silent Film of the Month: Woman in the Moon (1929)

Run Time: 156 minutes. Studio: UFA. Director: Fritz Lang. Writers: Thea Von Harbou, Fritz Lang. Main Cast: Klaus Pohl, Willy Fritsch, Gustav Von Wangenheim, Gerda Maurus. Producer: Fritz Lang.

The film that infamous German director Fritz Lang is best remembered for is the great sci-fi epic Metropolis. Less known however is another classic sci-fi film from Lang called Woman in the Moon, while Metropolis is still a better movie that doesn't change that this less talked about film is still a delight to watch. I am not saying its as great as Metropolis, but it is still a good movie. Woman in the Moon was Lang's last silent and I feel a worthy one.

Fritz Lang co-wrote this movie with Thea von Harbou. She worked with Lang on many of the films Lang made in Germany before moving to the U.S. Part of the reason for this may have been that she was his wife at this time. However both their personal and professional relationship ended due to politics. This however was no ordinary political dispute. In 1932 von Harbou would join the Nazi party. With Lang being of Jewish descent, and this being 1930's Germany, the marriage simply had to end, and Lang couldn't stay in Germany. Despite all this though the cinematic work these two did together is extremely impressive. As well as this film they also worked together on Dr. Mabuse: The Gambler, Destiny, Die Nibelungen, Metropolis, Spies, M, and The Last Testament of Dr. Mabuse. Von Harbou would also work with another of Germany's best filmmakers, F.W. Murnau, as she would write Phantom and Finances of the Grand Duke.

One invention of Woman in the Moon was not even cinematic. In this film a countdown appears before the rocket launches. This was not only the first time this was done in a movie but the first time this was ever done. As the idea of going to the moon was in fact science fiction when this movie was made, standard procedure for such a launching was not yet created. The idea of using a countdown was created specifically for this movie to help increase the drama.

Professor Mannfeldt (Klaus Pohl) is a famous scientist who becomes ridiculed when he states there might be gold on the moon. A young man named Helius (Willy Fritsch) becomes interested in Mannfeldt's theories for all the right reasons, while evil business men lead by a man named Walter Turner (Fritz Rasp) are interested for all the wrong reasons. A plan for an exhibition to the moon soon gets under way.

This movie starts out a little slowly, while the characters are on the earth, but really picks up when they reach the moon. Here the movie does just what every fantasy movie should do. It makes you feel like you are transported to another world. The look of these scenes is absolutely incredible. On top of this the story gets very tense and exciting, leaving you constantly wondering what will happen next. This is not a perfect movie by any means, and it would have easily benefited from a shorter running time. However what is good is far too good to resist and this makes the movie a must see for fans of silent cinema.      

A song about this film came out simultaneously. This song was mentioned in the following short article in Variety (dated November 13, 1929)

"Ufa in conjunction with two well known Viennese music publishing houses, has formed a music publishing firm of its own. Purpose of course is to exploit songs composed from its pictures. First to be issued by the new company will be 'Woman in the Moon' composed by Schmidt-Gentner, words by Fritz Rotter, brought out with the new Fritz Lang film of that name. Other numbers in preparation are 'Soldier Songs' by Ralph Benatzky and Karl Zuckmayer, and Werner Richard Heymann's melodies from 'The Love Waltz.'"

This film lead to a parting of the ways between its studio and its director. This is outlined by an article in Variety (dated April 2, 1930).

"Ufa has issued a cautious statement which is worded as follows: Between Fritz Lang and the UFA, neogotions are underway to amicably dissolve the agreement between them.

"The flop of Lang's latest picture 'Woman in the Moon' seems cause of this. This silent which took almost a year to complete and is said to have cost over a million marks, is not likely to get back more than a small percentage of the sum expended on it.

"Lang's gigantic 'Metropolis' lost a pile and UFA was evidently only encouraged to sign him up again because the detective picture 'Spies', which followed turned in a nice profit.

"Lang is the vonStroheim of Germany and just as in the states a time comes when the business end kicks at the idea of re-engaging such a money-swallower."

-Michael J. Ruhland