IMDb RATING
4.6/10
3.2K
YOUR RATING
When an alien artifact discovered on Earth is found to have come from Venus, an international team of astronauts embarks to investigate its origins.When an alien artifact discovered on Earth is found to have come from Venus, an international team of astronauts embarks to investigate its origins.When an alien artifact discovered on Earth is found to have come from Venus, an international team of astronauts embarks to investigate its origins.
Yôko Tani
- Die japanische Ärztin
- (as Yoko Tani)
- …
Mikhail N. Postnikov
- Sowjetischer Astronaut
- (as Michail N. Postnikow)
- …
Hua-Ta Tang
- Chinesischer Linguist
- (as Tang Hua-Ta)
- …
Lucyna Winnicka
- Fernsehreporterin
- (as Lucina Winnicka)
- …
Klaus Bamberg
- Bit Part
- (uncredited)
Fredy Barten
- Bit Part
- (uncredited)
Christoph Beyertt
- Bit Part
- (uncredited)
Karl Brenk
- Bit part
- (uncredited)
Fritz Decho
- Reporter
- (uncredited)
Karen Fredersdorf
- Brinkmanns Mutter
- (uncredited)
Karl-Helge Hofstadt
- Bit Part
- (uncredited)
Peter Kiwitt
- Bit Part
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAlthough it was a co-production with a Polish company, it was still the most expensive production for DEFA up to that time.
- GoofsThe narrator mentions that one of the crew has created a special food formula for the crew to be able to consume and digest in zero gravity, yet everyone is walking around as if on planet Earth. This is not a goof, since (at least in the original German version) after a time spent in zero gravity, they show the crew activating an artificial gravity field, which allows them to walk around as if they were on Earth.
- Alternate versionsThis film was released in the United States as _First Spaceship on Venus (1962)_. This version was edited down to 80 minutes, dubbed into English, and had Andrzej Markowski's score replaced by a stock score prepared by Gordon Zahler of the General Music Corporation.
- ConnectionsEdited into Tela Class: Uma Odisseia Brazuca (2008)
Featured review
Interesting cold war sci-fi flick
The amazing imaginative fiction author Stanislaw Lem wrote this visually stunning East German space exploration film with a dated but still thoughtful message. The Sets of Der Schweigende Stern are detailed and beautiful - giving the film an amazingly alien feel. The cinematography varies from excellent to mediocre, and the visual effects are cleverly done - relying on actual props and set devices as opposed to split screen and blue or green screen trick photography. Lem's plot is poignant and well-paced, but, unfortunately, most of the acting in this film is a bit difficult to watch. Finally, the overuse of voice-over narration in the early part of the film detracts from its otherwise good artistic and technical merit.
The story begins with the discovery that, in 1908, an extraterrestrial space vehicle crash landed on earth. An electronic recording from the ship is recovered and linguists set about trying to decode its message. An international team of scientists, astronauts and engineers who are scheduled to undertake a manned flight to Mars are then diverted to Venus to make contact with the Venusians. On the way, they decipher the electronic "cosmic document" and learn that the Venusians were planning to attack the earth using nuclear warheads. To venture further in the plot would involve spoilers.
This is a film full of mysteries, and a film of its time - near the height if the cold war. A powerful point concerning the proliferation of nuclear arms is well made in this film, though it is perhaps the only truly predictable aspect of the plot. Lem's plot heavy brand of highly imaginative science fiction is very dense reading and often carries similar ethical messages, but rarely translates well into visual media. This is a worthy effort, maintaining the slightly wild and surreal feel of Lem's aesthetics and yet driving forward the film's plot at an entertaining pace.
Recommended for Lem fans, serious sci-fi film fans, and those interested in the connection between film and the social history of ideas. Unfortunately for Der Schweigende Stern, the average movie fan won't be able to handle this one.
The story begins with the discovery that, in 1908, an extraterrestrial space vehicle crash landed on earth. An electronic recording from the ship is recovered and linguists set about trying to decode its message. An international team of scientists, astronauts and engineers who are scheduled to undertake a manned flight to Mars are then diverted to Venus to make contact with the Venusians. On the way, they decipher the electronic "cosmic document" and learn that the Venusians were planning to attack the earth using nuclear warheads. To venture further in the plot would involve spoilers.
This is a film full of mysteries, and a film of its time - near the height if the cold war. A powerful point concerning the proliferation of nuclear arms is well made in this film, though it is perhaps the only truly predictable aspect of the plot. Lem's plot heavy brand of highly imaginative science fiction is very dense reading and often carries similar ethical messages, but rarely translates well into visual media. This is a worthy effort, maintaining the slightly wild and surreal feel of Lem's aesthetics and yet driving forward the film's plot at an entertaining pace.
Recommended for Lem fans, serious sci-fi film fans, and those interested in the connection between film and the social history of ideas. Unfortunately for Der Schweigende Stern, the average movie fan won't be able to handle this one.
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Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- First Spaceship on Venus
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 33 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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