Collection: Science fiction films of the 1920s
==============================================

:: Title
Science fiction films of the 1920s

:: Date
1920-1929

:: Description
Science fiction films that premiered between 1 January 1920 and 31 December
1929.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_science_fiction_films_of_the_1920s

:: Collections
Collection: Science fiction films of the 1920s


movie: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920 II)
========================================

:: Title
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

:: Date
1920-03-28

:: Description
A 1920 film based on the Robert Louis Stevenson's novel Strange Case of Dr
Jekyll and Mr Hyde directed and written by J. Charles Haydon.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Jekyll_and_Mr._Hyde_(1920_Paramount_film)

:: Ratings
5 <paul>

:: Major Themes
the human capacity for good and evil [Henry Jekyll has two selves: his philanthropist good self and his evil split personality Edward Hyde.]
facing one's darker side [Henry Jekyll faces his evil side, Edward Hyde.]
fighting one's inner demons [Henry Jekyll faces his evil side, Edward Hyde.]
descent into crime [Henry Jekyll descents into a life of depravity, frequenting opium dens, dance halls, bars, and any place that satisfies his evil desires.]
human vs. self [Henry Jekyll versus his evil side, Edward Hyde.]
what if I underwent a physical metamorphosis [Henry Jekyll into the evil Edward Hyde.]
romantic love [Henry Jekyll and Millicent Carew.]
engaged couple [Henry Jekyll and Millicent Carew.]
what if I had multiple personalities [Henry Jekyll has two selves: his philanthropist good self and his evil split personality Edward Hyde.]
mad scientist stereotype [Dr. Jekyll had the hubris to presume he could use science to rid a person of their evil side, leaving only the good side behind.]

:: Minor Themes
the desire for vengeance [Hyde burned down an apartment complex to avenge something that happened to Jekyll.]


movie: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920 I)
=======================================

:: Title
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

:: Date
1920-04

:: Description
Dr. Jekyll, a kind and charitable man, believes that everyone has two sides,
one good and one evil, otherwise considered a split personality. Using a
potion that he concocted, Dr. Jekyll becomes Mr. Hyde, creating havoc
throughout his town. Directed by John S. Robertson.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Jekyll_and_Mr._Hyde_(1920_Haydon_film)

:: Ratings
1 <paul>

:: Major Themes
the human capacity for good and evil [Henry Jekyll has two selves: his philanthropist good self and his evil split personality Edward Hyde.]
facing one's darker side [Henry Jekyll faces his evil side, Edward Hyde.]
fighting one's inner demons [Henry Jekyll faces his evil side, Edward Hyde.]
descent into crime [Henry Jekyll descents into a life of depravity, frequenting opium dens, dance halls, bars, and any place that satisfies his evil desires.]
human vs. self [Henry Jekyll versus his evil side, Edward Hyde.]
what if I underwent a physical metamorphosis [Henry Jekyll into the evil Edward Hyde.]
romantic love [Henry Jekyll and Millicent Carew.]
engaged couple [Henry Jekyll and Millicent Carew.]
what if I had multiple personalities [Henry Jekyll has two selves: his philanthropist good self and his evil split personality Edward Hyde.]
life in Victorian Britain [The film was set in Victorian London.]
mad scientist stereotype [Dr. Jekyll had the hubris to presume he could use science to rid a person of their evil side, leaving only the good side behind.]

:: Minor Themes
philanthropist way of life [Henry Jekyll ran a clinic for the treatment of the poor at his own expense.]
father and daughter [George Carew and Millicent Carew.]
social inequality [the lives of the upper classes contrasted with those of the poor and destitute visiting Henry Jekyll's clinic.]
scientist occupation [Henry Jekyll developed a potion in his laboratory to temporarily transform himself into the evil Edward Hyde.]
drug abuse [Edward Hyde encountered opium addicts in Victorian London's opium dens.]
remorse [Henry Jekyll was tortured by remorse for Edward Hyde's monstrous cruelties.]
coping with the death of a parent [Millicent Carew grieved for her brutally murdered father George Carew.]


movie: Algol: Tragedy of Power (1920)
=====================================

:: Title
Algol: Tragedy of Power

:: Date
1920-09-03

:: Description
A 1920 German science fiction film about an alien from the planet Algol.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algol_(film)

:: Ratings
4 <paul>

:: Major Themes
alien overseers [alien from Algol gives Robert Herne machine that produces limitless power]
rise to prominence from humble beginnings [Robert Herne went from toiling in a coal mine to virtually ruling the world.]
perpetual energy machine [Robert Herne given the secret of how to make a perpetual energy machine by Algol alien]
workers replaced by machines [coal miners feared Robert Herne's bio-factory power would put them all out of work]
the lust for power [Reginald Hearn plots a coup to seize power from his father]
power corrupts [Robert Herne is so corrupted by power that he refuses to give the perpetual energy machine for to the people for the betterment of humanity]
social change due to new technology [world industrialization accelerates with the introduction of Robert Herne's power source with adverse consequences for workers]
the lust for gold [Robert Herne is so corrupted by power and greed that he refuses to give the perpetual energy machine for to the people for the betterment of humanity]
seeing the error of one's ways [Robert Herne destroyed the perpetual energy machine in the end]

:: Minor Themes
father and son [Robert Herne's son Reginald plotted a coup against him]
mother and son [Maria Obal and Peter Hell]
boyfriend and girlfriend [Robert Herne and Maria Obal had a falling out after Robert begins opening new bio-factories]


movie: The Mechanical Man (1921)
================================

:: Title
The Mechanical Man

:: Date
1921

:: Description
A scientist creates a mechanical man that is subsequently used in various
crimes.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mechanical_Man

:: Ratings
3 <paul>

:: Major Themes
humanoid robot [a scientist constructs a mechanical man that is capable of serving champagne and committing various felonies]


movie: The Man from Beyond (1922)
=================================

:: Title
The Man from Beyond

:: Date
1922-04-22

:: Description
A 1922 silent film starring Harry Houdini as a man found frozen in arctic ice
who is brought back to life.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man_from_Beyond

:: Ratings
2 <paul>

:: Major Themes
what if I found myself in the future [Howard Hillary was found frozen for a hundred years in the arctic ice and was thawed out and awoken.]
cryogenic technology [Howard Hillary is found frozen for a hundred years in the arctic ice and is thawed out and awoken]
suspended animation [Howard Hillary is found frozen for a hundred years in the arctic ice and is thawed out and awoken]
engaged couple [Howard Hillary mistakenly believes Felice to be his fiancée; Felice and Trent]
father and daughter [Howard Hillary joins Felice in searching for her abducted father]
romantic love [Howard Hillary and Felice Strange]
coping with a loved one being in peril [Felice Strange with her father who had been abducted]

:: Minor Themes
romantic jealousy [The ship captain was jealous of Howard Hillary over Felice Strange.]
love triangle [Howard Hillary, Felice Strange, and Trent]
unrequited love [Trent at Felice Strange]
what it is like in a psychiatric institution [Howard Hillary was deemed to be a madman and locked up in an insane asylum.]
human vs. captivity [Howard Hillary considered a madman and locked up in an insane asylum; Crawford strange held captive in a cellar by Trent]
reincarnation [Felice Strange believed herself to be the reincarnation of her ancestor Felice Norcross]
what if I was accused of a crime that I didn't commit [Howard Hillary was falsely accused of murdering Felice's father and taken into custody.]
murder [Felice's father was murdered.]


movie: Black Oxen (1923)
========================

:: Title
Black Oxen

:: Date
1923-12-29

:: Description
Lee Clavering, a playwright in New York, falls in love with an Austrian
countess, Madame Zatianny. Janet Oglethorpe, an animated and precocious
flapper, is also in love with Lee but he hasn't noticed yet. Unbeknownst to
Lee, Madame Zatianny is actually 58 years old, and has retained her youth
through a rejuvenating glandular treatment and X-ray surgery. Lee's plans to
marry Madame Zatianny are thwarted when one of her former admirers reveals her
embarrassing secret and, in the end, Lee discovers happiness with Janet.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Oxen

:: Ratings
5 <paul>

:: Major Themes
the quest for immortality [Mary Ogden used a rejuvenating glandular treatment and X-ray surgery to look young again.]
anti-aging technology [Mary Ogden used a rejuvenating glandular treatment and X-ray surgery to look young again.]
romantic love [Lee Clavering fell in love with Madame Zatianny, and Janet Oglethorpe with Lee Clavering.]
love triangle [Lee Clavering, Madame Zatianny, and Janet Oglethorpe.]
what if I could be young again [Mary Ogden used a rejuvenating glandular treatment and X-ray surgery to look young again.]
the desire to be beautiful [Mary Ogden used a rejuvenating glandular treatment and X-ray surgery to look young again.]
youth rebellion [Janet Oglethorpe faced criticism over the wild flapper lifestyle she led.]

:: Minor Themes
old flames [Mary Ogden and Charles Dinwiddie.]
unrequited love [Janet Oglethorpe at Lee Clavering.]


movie: The Hands of Orlac (1924)
================================

:: Title
The Hands of Orlac

:: Date
1924-05-06

:: Description
Concert pianist Paul Orlac gets more than he bargained for when he is
transplanted with the hands of a man executed for murder, after he loses his
hands in a horrible railway accident.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hands_of_Orlac_(1924_film)

:: Ratings
5 <paul>

:: Major Themes
evil hand [Paul Orlac's transplanted hands seem to have a mind of their own.]
obsession [Paul Orlac becomes obsessed with the notions that his transplanted hands have a mind of their own]
descent into madness [Paul Orlac is driven mad by machinations over his transplanted hands]
husband and wife [Paul Orlac and Yvonne Orlac]
romantic love [Paul Orlac and Yvonne Orlac]
coping with the loss of one's livelihood [Concert pianist Paul Orlac is devastated after losing his hands and not being able to play the piano anymore]
human vs. self [Paul Orlac is driven mad by machinations over his transplanted hands]

:: Minor Themes
body part transplant <hand> [Paul Orlac was transplanted with the hands of an executed murderer.]
music [Concert pianist Paul Orlac was devastated after losing his hands, not being able to play the piano anymore.]
facing being evicted from one's home [Paul and Yvonne Orlac fall into financial ruin after he loses his career as a concert pianist and get evicted]
father and son [Paul Orlac's wealthy father refused to help his son financially because he hated him]
blackmail [The crook Nera pretended to be the executed murderer Vasseur in an attempt to blackmail Paul Orlac.]
the entertainment industry [We saw Paul Orlac playing the piano on stage.]


movie: Aelita (1924)
====================

:: Title
Aelita

:: Date
1924-09-25

:: Description
A a silent film directed by Soviet filmmaker Yakov Protazanov made at the
Mezhrabpom-Rus film studio and released in 1924. It was based on Alexei
Tolstoy's novel of the same name. Nikolai Tseretelli and Valentina Kuindzhi
were cast in leading roles.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aelita

:: Ratings
5 <paul>

:: Major Themes
social oppression [In Martian society aristocrats rule over slaves who are confined underground and put into cold storage when not required.]
obsession [Los becomes obsessed with the idea of traveling to Mars]
husband and wife [Los apparently murders his wife Natasha in a jealous rage and flees to Mars]
interplanetary space travel [Los becomes obsessed with building a spaceship capable of traveling to Mars]
communism [Los starts a communist revolution on Mars]
Martian extraterrestrial [Los dreams of flying to Mars and visiting the Martians]
slavery [In Martian society aristocrats rule over slaves who are confined underground and put into cold storage when not required]
infatuation [Aelita and Los]
romantic love [Los and his wife Natasha]
labor revolt [Martian workers revolt against the ruling class]
revolution in society [Martian workers revolt against the ruling class]
mass surveillance [The upper class used a form of surveillance to oversee the working class.]

:: Minor Themes
first contact [A radio message from possibly from Mars is received all over the Earth]
romantic jealousy [Los became increasing jealous of Erlich after coming to the mistaken conclusion that Erlich's continued efforts to court his wife were bearing fruit. His jealously ultimately got out of control and he ostensibly shot Natasha dead.]
love triangle [Los' wife Natasha is pursued by Ehrlich; Aelita, Los, and Gussev]
cryogenic technology [In Martian society aristocrats rule over slaves who are confined underground and put into cold storage when not required]
unrequited love [Ehrlich for Natasha]
rebuilding society after war [the rebuilding and industrialization of Russia after World War I]
the Russian Revolution of 1905 [People were seen celebrating the October Revolution of the Bolsheviks in the streets.]


movie: The Crazy Ray (1924)
===========================

:: Title
The Crazy Ray

:: Date
1924-12-26

:: Description
A mad doctor uses a magic ray on Parisians which causes them to freeze in
strange and often embarrassing positions.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Crazy_Ray

:: Ratings
3 <paul>

:: Choice Themes
time freeze [A mad scientist invented an apparatus that he used to freeze the whole world in time.]

:: Major Themes
speculative device [A mad scientist used the titular "crazy ray" contraption to freeze the whole world in time.]
mad scientist stereotype [A mad scientist invented an apparatus that he used to freeze the world in time.]

:: Minor Themes
uncle and nephew [the mad scientist was betrayed by his nephew assistant]


movie: The Death Ray (1925)
===========================

:: Title
The Death Ray

:: Date
1925

:: Description
In an unspecified capitalist country, a Soviet engineer Podobed who invents a
death ray that is stoled by the government with a view toward using it to
suppress labor strikes.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Death_Ray_(1925_film)

:: Ratings
1 <paul>

:: Major Themes
death ray [Podobed invents a death ray that is stolen and used to suppressing labor strikes]
labor revolt [Dame Edit led a worker revolt that was suppressed with death ray]
worker exploitation [workers were exploited in a factory; fascist factory owners ordered a bombing raid on worker settlement that would have killed them had they not used a death ray to stop the bombs]
workers' rights [workers arrested and their committee building ransacked]
fascism [fascists stole a death ray and used it to suppress a worker revolt]
communism [fascist government equipped with death ray opposed by communist worker movement]
capitalism [Ruller's sole heir was a monocle sporting, top hat wearing, cigar chomping capitalist running the factory]
revolution in society [the fascists had a full blow worker revolution on their hands by the conclusion of the film]
social oppression [Workers were exploited in a factory. Fascist factory owners ordered a bombing raid on worker settlement that would have killed the workers had they not used a death ray to stop the bombs.]

:: Minor Themes
scientist occupation [Podobed conducted elaborate experiments in his lab in the inventing of the death ray.]


movie: The Lost World (1925)
============================

:: Title
The Lost World

:: Date
1925-02-05

:: Description
An expedition to South America discovers a land were dinosaurs and other
prehistoric creatures still roam the Earth. It is based on the 1912 novel of
the same name by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lost_World_(1925_film)

:: Ratings
4 <paul>

:: Choice Themes
isolated prehistoric land [An expedition to South America discovered a plateau where dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures still roamed the Earth.]
living dinosaur [A group of explorers found an uncharted territory in South America where dinosaurs still roamed.]

:: Major Themes
cryptid [An expedition through an uncharted territory in South America found living dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures.]
the need for adventure [The famed explorer Sir John Roxton sets out on an expedition to verify whether reports of live dinosaurs existing in South America are true.]
human vs. beast [expedition party versus dinosaurs among other beasts; brontosaurus in an uproar on the streets of London]
human vs. nature [expedition through uncharted territory in South America to find living dinosaurs]
romantic love [Edward Malone and Paula White fall in love on the expedition]
father and daughter [Paul White organizes expedition to find her father the explorer Maple White]
land exploration [The story followed an expedition to the Amazon.]

:: Minor Themes
engaged couple [Edward Malone goes on perilous expedition to impress his fiancée Gladys]
love triangle [Paula White, Edward Malone, and Gladys]


movie: Metropolis (1927)
========================

:: Title
Metropolis

:: Date
1927-01-27

:: Description
Metropolis is a 1927 German expressionist science-fiction drama film directed
by Fritz Lang.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolis_(1927_film)

:: Ratings
5 <paul>

:: Collections
Collection: Time Out magazine's Top 100 films

:: Major Themes
utopia on the back of slave labor [The Metropolis inhabitants lived in luxury produced on the backs of workers who toiled in subterranean city.]
social oppression [The Metropolis inhabitants oppressed the working underclass.]
worker exploitation [The Metropolis inhabitants oppressed the working underclass.]
workers' rights [The Metropolis inhabitants oppressed the working underclass.]
romantic love [Freder Fredersen and Maria.]
android [Rotwang invented a robot in the likeness of his departed love Hel.]
social change due to new technology [Inequality between working and industrialist classes resulting from mechanization of production was explored.]
father and son [City master Joh Fredersen and his son Freder Fredersen.]
labor revolt [The android Maria incited the workers to rise up against ruling class and destroy the machines.]
communism [The android Maria incited the workers to rise up against ruling class and destroy the machines.]
revolution in society [The android Maria incited the workers to rise up against ruling class and destroy the machines.]
mass surveillance [The master of the city, Fredersen, kept close surveillance on the city's workers.]

:: Minor Themes
having a preconception challenged [Freder Fredersen left the comfortable confines of Metropolis and saw first hand the worker oppression his father oversaw.]
the religious end of the world [Freder Fredersen had visions of a coming apocalypse in his delirium. The android version of Maria brought chaos upon Metropolis.]
messiah [The workers awaited their "mediator" (a.k.a. messiah) to bring the working and ruling classes together.]
mad scientist stereotype [Rotwang was maniacally working on creating an android in his high-powered laboratory.]


movie: Alraune (1928)
=====================

:: Title
Alraune

:: Date
1928-01-25

:: Description
Professor Jakob ten Brinken artificially inseminates a prostitute with a
mandrake root that was somehow formed from the semen of a hanged man. The
girl, Alraune, born of the unholy union comes to hate the professor and set
out to seek vengeance against him.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alraune_(1928_film)

:: Ratings
4 <paul>

:: Major Themes
mandrake root legend [The story was based on the legend that old German mandrake legend related to using a mandrake root that is somehow formed from the sperm of a hanged man to impregnate women.]
playing God with nature [Professor Brinken was directly accused of playing God with nature by artificially inseminating a prostitute with a mandrake root and warned that he would pay for what he had done.]
father and daughter [Professor Brinken adopts Alraune the mandrake child and tries to teach her how to be a normal human being.]
unrequited love [Professor Brinken at his adoptive daughter Alraune.]
what is natural [it is discussed whether Alraune was an unnatural and monstrous creation.]
the desire for vengeance [Alraune driven by a desire to for revenge against Professor Brinken upon finding out he was responsible for her being the product of an unholy union between a prostitute and a mandrake root.]

:: Minor Themes
unethical human experimentation [Franz Braun expresses ethical reservations to Professor Brinken about his plan to artificially inseminate a prostitute with a mandrake root.]
scientist occupation [The geneticist Professor Jakob ten Brinken artificially inseminated a prostitute with a mandrake root - a plant that was formed from the sperm of a hanged man.]
uncle and nephew [Franz Braun disapproves of his uncle Professor Brinken's experiments with artificially inseminating women the sperm from hanged men.]
stage magic [Alraune found work doing stage magic at the circus.]


movie: High Treason (1929)
==========================

:: Title
High Treason

:: Date
1929-09-09

:: Description
In 1940, world peace is threatened when the United States of Europe comes into
conflict with the Empire of the Atlantic States.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Treason_(1929_British_film)

:: Ratings
4 <paul>

:: Major Themes
war of mutual annihilation [Dr. Seymour led the pacifist Peace League efforts to prevent the outbreak of a the world war between United States of Europe and the Empire of the Atlantic States]
war due to diplomatic miscalculation [Dr. Seymour warned that much like in 1914 a war could erupt quickly based on diplomatic miscalculations, but the younger generation felt people had advanced since that time, but Dr. Seymour was proven correct]
transnational institution for peace [the pacifist World League of Peace struggles under the leadership of Dr. Seymour to prevent the outbreak of a world war]
pacifism [Dr. Seymour led the pacifist Peace League efforts to stop the world war]
the horrors of war [the suffering of ordinary people in war featured]
resistance movement [Peace League pacifists organized a resistance movement aimed at preventing the United States of Europe from entering the war.]
anti-war activism [Peace League pacifists employ passive resistance tactics to oppose war]

:: Minor Themes
alcohol in society [the prohibition era in America extends to 1940 and the tension is initially caused by bootleggers crossing the borders between territories]
videophone [people communicated via video phone devices]
boyfriend and girlfriend [Miguel and Evelyn]
romantic love [Michael and Evelyn]
father and daughter [Dr. Seymour and Evelyn]
terrorism [Terrorists helped to provoke a war by bombing a train passing through a tunnel under the English Channel. Terrorists bombed the Peace League headquarters in London.]
undersea tunnel [A tunnel connected under the English Channel England and France]
war propaganda [Dr. Seymour and Evelyn Seymour cautioned the pacifists not to fall for the war propaganda being circulated]
compromising one's ethical principles vs. great need [Dr. Seymour shoots the President of Europe against his pacifist principles in order to prevent the outbreak of a world war]
high treason [Dr. Seymour commits treason by shooting the President of Europe in a last ditched attempt to prevent the outbreak of a world war]
human self-sacrifice [Dr. Seymour sentenced to death for shooting the President of Europe in order to prevent the outbreak of a world war]
aerial bombing of cities [the massive destruction and horror resulting from the aerial bombing of urban centers featured]


movie: The Mysterious Island (1929)
===================================

:: Title
The Mysterious Island

:: Date
1929-10-05

:: Description
On a volcanic island near the kingdom of Hetvia rules Count Dakkar, a
benevolent leader and scientist who has eliminated class distinction among the
island's inhabitants. Dakkar, his daughter Sonia and her fiancée, engineer
Nicolai Roget have designed a submarine which Roget pilots on its initial
voyage just before the island is overrun by Baron Falon, despotic ruler of
Hetvia. Falon sets out after Roget in a second submarine and the two craft,
diving to the ocean's floor, discover a strange land populated by dragons,
giant squid and an eerie undiscovered humanoid race.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mysterious_Island_(1929_film)

:: Ratings
3 <paul>

:: Major Themes
science for war or peace [Andre made a point of saying he built the submarine for peace and not war and had himself buried at see in his submarine so that it could not be used for violence after his death.]
speculative submarine [Andre built a super high-tech submarine for the peaceful purpose of exploring the sea.]
social oppression [Oppression is rife on the island over which Baron Falon rules as a tyrant. Baron Faron conquers Hetvia and oppresses the people.]
engaged couple [Nikolai Roget and Countess Sonia.]
fish-like being [Andre and the submariners discover a vile race of humanoids inhabiting the sea floor.]
voyage under the sea [Andre built a super high-tech submarine for the peaceful purpose of exploring the sea.]

:: Minor Themes
forbidden love [Count Dakkar forbid his daughter Sonia from marrying the common engineer Nikolai.]
class prejudice in society [Count Dakkar held working class people in contempt and forbid his daughter Sonia from marrying the common engineer Nikolai.]
coping with being tortured [Andre and Countess Sonia mercilessly tortured by Baron Falon in effort to get information.]
speculative diving suit [Andre invented special high-pressure resistant diving suits for the submariners to use in exploring the bottom of the sea.]
the desire for vengeance [Andre self-admittedly lived only to kill Baron Falon after he escaped from being tortured by him.]
human vs. captivity [Andre and Countess Sonia held captive by Baron Falon.]
human vs. beast [submarine attacked first by reptile on the sea floor and then by a giant octopus.]


movie: Woman in the Moon (1929)
===============================

:: Title
Woman in the Moon

:: Date
1929-10-15

:: Description
An entrepreneur with an interest in space travel finances a manned mission to
the moon to find gold that is supposed to exist in the lunar mountains.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woman_in_the_Moon

:: Ratings
2 <paul>

:: Major Themes
interplanetary space travel [manned mission to the moon]
multistage rocket [the workings of a multistage rocket built to get to the moon were extensively featured]
engaged couple [Windegger and Friede]
infatuation [Windegger and Friede fall in love and get engaged; Helius and Friede fall in love on the moon]
romantic jealousy [Helius was jealous of his assistant Windegger after he announced his engagement to Helius' other assistant Friede, whom Helius was secretly in love with.]
love triangle [Windegger, Friede, and Helius]

:: Minor Themes
what if I found myself in a zero gravity environment [The flight crew delighted in the experience of zero gravity on a voyage to the Moon.]
the lust for gold [businessmen wanted to go tot he moon to extract gold from the mountains there]


