A Trip to Mars

Himmelskibet, Excelsior/A Trip to Mars/Das Himmelschiff is a 1918 Danish film about a trip to Mars. In 2006, the film was restored and re-released on DVD by the Danish Film Institute.

Phil Hardy says it is "the film that marked the beginning of the space opera subgenre of science fiction," but notes that Denmark did not make another science fiction film until Reptilicus in 1962.

Plot
The celestial ship is the story of the naval captain Avantis Planetaros (Gunnar Tolnæs) who is seized by extradition and together with his friend dr. Krafft (Alf Blütecher) constructs an "Excelsior" celestial ship that can fly in the ether, traverse the sky, and fly to alien planets. Dr. Krafft is probably driven so much by the love of Avanti's sister Corona (Zanny Petersen) that he will impress with this unique feat. They designate the planet Mars as their destination. However, they are countered by Professor Dubius (Frederik Jacobsen) who has long been unsuccessful even with the same plans. In envy, he tries to ridicule the celestial ship as a mad man's dream, yet men of the right cast come along to carry out the expedition. Avanti says goodbye to his sister and his father, the scientist Planetaros (Nicolai Neiiendam), who follows the celestial ship until it disappears into infinite space. The journey between the planets becomes long and monotonous, and the crew is led to despair, doubt and despair. Soon, someone points to the bottle and persuades the comrades to do likewise, despite the fact that drinking is prohibited on the cruise. In drunkenness, they make mutiny against Avantis, but at that very moment Avantis is saved by fate. Because on Mars, the residents who have been surprised by this unknown phenomenon - a celestial airplane in space - have decided to draw it by means of a jet of power. In the power of the power jet, the celestial ship now suddenly shoots fabulous speed through the ether and Mars grows rapidly larger. Happened and seized with happiness, the heavenly gods are kneeling and thanking God.

Certainly landed on Mars, the crew is trying to breathe the Mars atmosphere, and to their delight, they discover that not only can they breathe the air, but that it is both strengthening and clean, so they can put their oxygen masks aside. Fearing that the Martians may be hostile and bloodthirsty beasts, Avanti and the crew arm themselves with firearms and grenades, but to their surprise, they find Mars inhabited by high-ranking creatures who are both spiritually and spiritually superior to the Earth's inhabitants. The Martians are pacifist vegetarians, neither humans nor animals have been killed for millennia. Wives give birth to only two children - a boy and a girl - so the risk of overcrowding is abolished. The earthly people are now penetrating this peaceful world with weapons and bloody intentions, and things are going wrong, but fortunately bloodshed is averted by a woman's love. The earthlings are captivated by the beautiful and noble living of the Martians. The leader of the Martians is called the Prince of Wisdom (Philip Bech). Avanti falls in love with the daughter of Wisdom Marya (Lilly Jacobsson), who in turn gives him his heart completely, so much so that she offers to travel back to the imperfect Earth.

Meanwhile on Earth, it is believed that the cruise has ended in an accident. Professor Dubius scorns Professor Planetaros, with his son's foolishness and the old man is about to despair as he suddenly sees in his telescope some glitter of light on Mars. Light flashes that together form the constellation Corona - a message from dr. Krafft to his girlfriend Corona, and proof that they are alive and the cruise has gone so far successfully.

After a big party, the trip returns home with the maid. On earth, the returning and supposedly lost celestial ship is observed in the observatories of the world. Professor Dubius now suddenly tries to claim that he himself has always believed in and been behind the expedition, but his life comes to an abrupt end when he is struck by lightning. The celestial ship landed safely back on Earth during the general rejoicing, and the Marching Girl descends with the hope that on Earth, too, peace can prevail.

Cast

 * Gunnar Tolnæs as Avanti Planetaros - Captain of the Space Ship
 * Zanny Petersen as Corona, Avanti's Sister
 * Nicolai Neiiendam as Professor Planetaros, Astronomer
 * Alf Blütecher as Dr. Krafft, Avanti's Friend
 * Svend Kornbeck as David Dane, American
 * Philip Bech as Martian leader - Wise Man
 * Lilly Jacobson as Marya, Martian Leader's Daughter
 * Frederik Jacobsen as Professor Dubius