I Watch Films: A Message From Mars (1913)

 

A Message From Mars (1913)

On Mars, Ramiel is being punished by the God Of Mars, and is sent to Earth to try and stop the most selfish man, Horace Parker, from being selfish. He has to make him do some good deeds to be allowed back to Mars. On Earth Horace is met by his much younger fiancée Minnie Templar, who gives him one last chance to escort her to the Christmas ball. He, however, is too selfish. Horace drifts off to sleep.

He's wakened by Ramiel who tells him off for being selfish and then takes him out to see what’s going on. They meet someone homeless, they overhear what Horace’s friends think of him, and finally they see what his life would be like if he lost his fortune. Waking back in his study he vows to do better, and immediately has the chance – a house catches fire down the street so he lets everyone who’s been burned out into his house and offers them food, drink and shelter. Minnie Templar returns for a happy ending and Ramiel is allowed back to Mars.

This is, apparently, the first British science fiction film, a Mars-themed Christmas Carol. The restoration – with coloured tints for some scenes – is fine, the score pretty good except during the ballroom scenes. This is from the silent era, much of the plot carried by inter-title cards. As I noted they cast an actress thirty years younger than her fiancé; he apparently originated the role on the stage some years before. More of a curiosity than anything else.

Watch This: Silent film fable about weird Martians teaching moral lessons
Don’t Watch This: Silent film conventions are distracting and the film very slight