In the early 1900's, people felt there really was an extreme possibility of Martians living on Mars. Edison Studios took advantage of this popular thinking by producing "A Trip To Mars" in February 1910. The movie was a parody of a human traveling to the planet and confronting giant martians.
Some say this is the first science fiction movie to be made in the United States. With certainty, "A Trip To Mars" is the first sci-fi comedy produced in this country. Even though the title parallels to France's Georges Melies' 1902 classic, "A Trip To The Moon," the similarities end there. Edison's movie is noted for its use of (at the time) sophisticated special effects. Wires are implemented frequently to uplift furniture and our hero into outer space. Once on Mars, our hero walks through a forest of stationary giant martians, where a double exposure technique is used effectively. And when our human lands on a martian's humungous hand to get the frosty treatment, mirrors and depth perception are applied--similar to those seen in 1909's "The Nicotine Fairy."
Many of today's viewers are disappointed at the poor quality of the Martian movie. Edison Studios released more than a dozen movies specially made for its recently invented Home Kinetoscope, a forerunner to our parent's home 8mm projector. Edison's home viewing projector used three film strips together, each 6mm wide. Today's transferal methods onto video is taken from this Edison 6mm film, which was the smallest width ever made for commercial use. When blown up for larger video viewing, the image becomes fuzzy. Until an expensive, high tech resolution of the movie is produced, the film we watch today will have to suffice.
