''A Message from Mars'' is a 1913 British

science fiction Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...

silent film A silent film is a film without synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, w ...

directed by J.Wallett Waller. According to the

British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves filmmaking and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery to encourage film production, ...

, it is the first British science-fiction film. The film was written by Waller and

Richard Ganthony Richard Ganthony (1856–1924) was an actor and playwright. He is best known as the author of the drama '' A Message from Mars'', which premiered in 1899. Biography Born in Liverpool, England, in 1856, Richard Ganthony spent most of his career in ...

, 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. The story is similar to Charles Dickens'

A Christmas Carol ''A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas'', commonly known as ''A Christmas Carol'', is a novella by Charles Dickens, first published in London by Chapman & Hall in 1843 and illustrated by John Leech. It recounts the ...

of 1843, with the theme that the rich should care for the poor.

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 Christmas Eve is the evening or entire day before Christmas, the festival commemorating nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus. Christmas Day is observance of Christmas by country, observed around the world, and Christma ...

, however, a messenger from

Mars Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun. It is also known as the "Red Planet", because of its orange-red appearance. Mars is a desert-like rocky planet with a tenuous carbon dioxide () atmosphere. At the average surface level the atmosph ...

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.BFI press release (23 September 2014)
/ref>BFI press release (4 December 2014)
/ref>

Cast

* Charles Hawtrey as Horace Parker * E. Holman Clark as Ramiel *Chrissie Bell as Minnie Templer *Frank Hector as Arthur Dicey *

Hubert Willis Hubert Willis (1862 – 13 December 1933) was a British actor best known for his recurring role as Dr. Watson, Doctor Watson in a Sherlock Holmes (Stoll film series), series of silent Sherlock Holmes films co-starring with Eille Norwood. St ...

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."

References

External links

*
''A Message from Mars''
at

The British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves filmmaking and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery to encourage film production, ...