A Trip to Jupiter
About A Trip to Jupiter
A medieval king, his astronomer, and his jester study Jupiter through a telescope, then glance at the Sun, the Moon, and Saturn from a balcony. The king is put to bed. He dreams a ladder into the sky, climbs among the stars, and walks on Jupiter. The inhabitants attack him and drag him to their king, who cannot wound him and throws him back to Earth. He wakes, thrashing, in front of the jester.
Cast & crew
More about A Trip to Jupiter
Segundo de Chomón wrote, directed, and photographed the trick short for Pathé. Listings give 8 minutes. One release date in circulation is 13 August 1909. French titles include Le voyage sur Jupiter and Une excursion sur Jupiter. A Moving Picture World synopsis describes the king and his astronomer at the telescope, then the dream.
Themes
Look
Chomón photographed the telescope views, the ladder through the stars, and the studio surface of Jupiter.
Technique
Painted celestial views and substitution tricks carry the king from his bed to Jupiter and back.
Preservation
Prints circulate under the French title, including a colored copy.
Notes
- The king cannot be hurt by the Jovian ruler's weapon, so he is thrown off the planet instead.
- Pathé also distributed the short in the United States.
Scenes
- The king climbs a ladder that stands up into the stars.
- The king of Jupiter fails to wound him and hurls him toward Earth.
- He wakes in a panic in front of the jester.
Also available
- Internet Archive (AncreSegundoDeChomonViajeAJupiter)
- Wikimedia Commons (Le voyage sur Jupiter (1909).webm)
