The Sensation of the Century
(Die Sensation des Jahrhunderts)
Die Sensation des Jahrhunderts © DEFA-Stiftung, Walter Eckhold, Hans Schöne
| Sacher, Otto |
| Sacher, Otto |
| Peter Neumann |
| Evelyn Matsche |
| Cleve, Wera |
| Schöne, Hans |
| Hörig, Günter |
| Kurt Höfken |
| DEFA Studio for Animated Films |
Synopsis
Preparations for the launch of the first manned American flight to the moon are in full swing. A journalist is breathlessly reporting on the exciting preparations for the sensational event and the newspapers are filled with promising headlines. Suddenly, shortly before the launch, there is an embarrassing accident: the generals from the Air Force and the Navy cannot agree on who should carry out the launch. Finally, the rocket takes off, but only the upper part flies away. But the journalist continues to report promisingly about the launch and how the moon will soon be in American hands. When the crew disembarks, they are hit by a surprise! A Soviet expedition has already begun exploring the moon without much ado.
Commentary
In the Cold War rivalry of the 1950s and 1960s, the USA and the Soviet Union competed in the so-called Space Race, an effort to achieve dominance in space technology and exploration. After around 100 missions between 1958 and 1976, both countries ended their extraterrestrial race for the time being.
The first man-made spacecraft on the moon was the Soviet spacecraft Lunik 2, which made a targeted landing on the moon on September 13, 1959. The US spacecraft Ranger 4 crashed on the far side of the moon after contact was lost on April 26, 1962. The US spacecrafts Ranger 7, 8 and 9 were each able to transmit thousands of images to Earth in 1964 and 1965 before their impact (scheduled hard landing). On February 3, 1966, the Soviet Luna 9 was the first spacecraft to land softly on the moon, and on June 2, 1966, Surveyor 1 was the first US probe to do so.
On July 21, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the moon as part of the Apollo 11 program. In the following years until 1972, 10 more American space travelers set foot on the moon.
Otto Sacher’s cartoon, drawn in vibrant colors on 35mm film, satirically and humorously reflects on the US-Soviet Space Race that took place at the time. The short story was in line with East German official policies and ideas and depicted anti-American sentiments and propaganda. Although the Eastern Bloc predicted and wished for the first landing of Soviet cosmonauts on the moon, as shown in the animation film, American astronauts successfully landed on the moon at the end of the 1960s.
Awards
| 2014 | Colorful DEFA Animation Parade, Short Film Program, Zeughauskino, Berlin, Germany |
| 2011 | DOK Leipzig, Germany |
Press comments
“Finally, in 1960, Otto Sacher's The Sensation of the Century was released as an additional program to the cinemas. This film was not intended for children and was received with particular enthusiasm by young people. It was based on a popular joke at the time: the Americans launch a space rocket with much fanfare. The goal of the venture is the moon, which is to become American. But when the rocket lands, the astronauts are stunned to see a Soviet radio station. Sacher developed the event into a perfect story and staged it as a satire, without any fairytale-like alienation, rather with the eye of a caricaturist. The characters are created as types, the events exaggerated and condensed. Many gags create pace and atmosphere. The audience is carried along, led from punch line to punch line, until the blackout-style ending makes people laugh. In addition to the graphic possibilities, the cinematic ones have also been fully exploited. The montage was based on classic models and was handled with precision.” —Jörg Herrmann, “Die Ersten Schritte: DEFA-Animationsfilme der fünfziger Jahre und ihre Pioniere,” Die Trick-Fabrik
“The pointedly edited satirical cartoon, The Sensation of the Century (Otto Sacher, 1959/60), made fun of the efforts of the USA to beat the Soviet Union on the first landing on the moon.” —Ralf Schenk, Leuchtkraft 2021
