This is January’s edition of Comet Over Hollywood’s classic film references in music videos.
The famous scene from “A Trip to the Moon” (1902)
In light of the hit film “Hugo” (2011) that pays tribute to French film pioneer George Méliès, I wanted to share the 1996 video “Tonight, Tonight” by Smashing Pumpkins from their album Mellon Collie & the Infinite Sadness.
The film plays off the theme of “A Trip To The Moon & The Extraordinary Voyage” (1902) where people get into a strange flying contraption-this time something that looks like a zeppelin and not a space ship- and fly to outer space. The flying vehicle passes the same moon from “A Trip to the Moon” that the space ship flies into and the passengers meet similar space monsters as in the film.
The video further pays tribute Méliès by having a scene with mermaids-referencing another short film he made-and having a ship float by at the end named the S.S. Méliès.
Though Méliès was a pioneer of modern film, he couldn’t keep up with the changing times and died bitter and poor; working selling toys in a strain station- as we see in “Hugo.”
I am pleased to see that not only the recent film and this music video give him he recognition he deserves.
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I remember watching the MTV Video Music Awards the year this came out and how that video was such a big deal that year. I didn’t know anything about silent film then but I thought it was a cool video just on a superficial level. Then years later, after I had gotten interested in silent films, I had a whole new level of appreciation for it. Easily one of the greatest music videos of all time.
I remember it being a big deal too! I remembered it being a different video, but didn’t even realize it was it was an homage until I rewatched it before posting this. It’s a really creative concept!
I can’t believe I’ve never seen this! It’s a nice homage, and I like the clever twists. Like how it’s a fancy lady who bops the aliens with an umbrella.
The part from the lady is really funny! I like how it ties a few of his films together.
Totally cool, Jessica! Thanks for posting this! Love it.
Glad you enjoyed it!