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A Message from Mars (1913 film)

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Template:Use British English Template:Infobox film A Message from Mars is a 1913 British science fiction silent film directed by J.Wallett Waller.[1] According to the British Film Institute, it is the first British science-fiction film.[2]

The film was written by Waller and Richard Ganthony, based on Ganthony's 1899 play A Message from Mars. The play had been issued as a book in 1912 credited to Lester Lurgan (aka Mabel Knowles) and Ganthony.[3] The story is similar to Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol of 1843, with the theme that the rich should care for the poor.[2]

Plot

Horace Parker is an exceedingly self-centered, wealthy man. Not only is he a miser, but he also expects everyone else to conduct their lives according to his personal convenience.

Parker is engaged to Minnie Templer, but Minnie has discovered Parker's selfishness and she is on the brink of calling off the engagement.

On Christmas Eve, however, a messenger from Mars comes to Earth to show Parker the error of his ways. The two of them become invisible and eavesdrop on all the terrible – and true – things Parker's friends and family are saying about him.

Restoration

In September 2014, the British Film Institute announced that they were publishing the restored film online on their website. This version is longer and restores the film's original tinting and toning.[2][4]

Cast

  • Charles Hawtrey as Horace Parker
  • E. Holman Clark as Ramiel
  • Chrissie Bell as Minnie Templer
  • Frank Hector as Arthur Dicey
  • Hubert Willis as a tramp
  • Kate Tyndale as Aunt Martha
  • Evelyn Beaumont as Bella
  • Eileen Temple as Mrs. Claremce
  • R. Crompton as the God of Mars
  • B. Stanmore as the wounded man
  • Tonie Reith as the wounded man’s wife

Taglines

"A fantastical photo-drama, in four parts."

See also

References

Template:Reflist

External links

This article incorporates text from the Wikipedia article "A Message from Mars (1913 film)", available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License.Retrieved 2026-02-24.

  1. ↑ Template:Cite web
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 BFI press release (23 September 2014)
  3. ↑ Template:Cite web
  4. ↑ BFI press release (4 December 2014)
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