The Rocket to the Moon:
Written by Thea Von Harbou.
This is a novelization rather than a film-adapted novel (kind of like Arthur C. Clarke and 2001: A Space Odyssey). The novel was written as a result of the German film Die Frau Im Mond (aka Woman in the Moon among other titles).
One of the most fascinating things I found in reading it was that almost the entire first half of the book is not to be found in the film; or at least as commonly seen in the United States. It seems that a lot of original German version had a considerable about of footage dealing with espionage and intrigue. BTW, this footage does apparently still exist and will be released on DVD. I understand that it more or less has a feel to it similar to Lang's Spies.
We can only wonder what Die Frau Im Mond would have been like if a scrapped plotline had been put in; originally evidence was to be found on the moon indicating its inhabitance by humans from Atlantis!
In any case, this is one story that definitely 100% comes across better as a novel than as a film (although I have yet to see the anticipated DVD). As the intro to the edition that I have points out, it is the psychological aspects of the characters (what is going on in their head, what motivates them) that carries the story. This of course is more easily done in writing than in film (and especially a silent film with a minimum of dialogue). Having said that, I have to point out that Lang's Die Frau Im Mond is something special to me like almost all surviving silent s.f. film gems. And, as most viewers of the film will agree, the launching scenes are standouts.
I dunno. For some reason my tastes in the science fiction genre are running more and more to the "gaslight" to pre-pulp era and to that of foreign countries. Perhaps it's because I tire of getting caught up in the old game of exploring yet another alien culture wrapped up in the "the mating rituals of silicon based multi-sexual sentient beings" or somesuch. Instead a ready-made unique P.O.V. is already there that still differs from that of America in the 21st century.
written: 10/20/2001
revised: 11/15/2002
