On the Comet

On the Comet

Year: 1970

Runtime: 74 mins

Language: Czech

Director: Karel Zeman

AdventureScience Fiction

When a comet passes the Earth very closely, it pulls a small part of North Africa, and a small swathe of humanity, along with it.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – On the Comet (1970)

Trace every key event in On the Comet (1970) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Hector's sea accident and rescue

Captain Hector Servadac falls into the sea while mapping the coast and is rescued by Angelica, a young woman fleeing Spanish captors. The rescue creates an uneasy alliance amid rising tensions in the French colony. This encounter sets in motion a chain of events that will thrust them into a surreal, shared fate.

early in the mission Northern Africa coast
2

Angelica's escape and cross-cultural tension

Angelica is on the run from Spaniards while the Spaniards secretly aid an Arabian king's uprising. The colony's politics grow more volatile as different factions maneuver for advantage. Angelica's concealment becomes a symbol of the fragile compromises holding the peace together.

shortly after rescue French colony, Northern Africa
3

The comet strikes and carries the territory away

A comet touches Earth's surface and uproots the territory from the planet, sending the colony and its people crashing into space. French, Spaniards, and Arabs find themselves trapped aboard the moving landmass, still eager to fight. The catastrophe forces them to share a perilous, common fate.

moment of impact on the comet
4

Arrest order and martial tensions on the comet

Hector returns to his commander and learns that all non-French people must be arrested, including Spaniards and Angelica's brothers. Tensions rise aboard the ship-sized colony as loyalty and fear clash with orders. The situation foreshadows a fight for survival that transcends national lines.

after the initial entrapment French military camp on the comet
5

Angelica hidden and carried away

Shopkeepers hide Angelica in a town that has been carried along with the soldiers. Her absence deepens Hector's sense of danger and urgency. The upheaval of the moving colony intensifies the risk of capture and betrayal.

shortly after arrest order town carried away with soldiers
6

Arabians prepare by looting discarded weapons

Arabians seize on the French decision to discard weapons, stockpiling pots as improvised armaments. The battlefield becomes chaotic as improvised weapons replace swords and muskets. The strange anarchy foreshadows a new kind of warfare aboard the comet.

during preparations camp on the comet
7

Dinosaur assault and Hector's retreat

The colony on the comet is attacked by dinosaurs; Hector leads a counterattack but it fails and he must run for his life. The chase through perilous streets tests his resolve and adaptability. The encounter underscores the absurd, dangerous new ecosystem they inhabit.

during the dinosaur attack on the comet's surface
8

Pot-based warfare and changing weapons

The French general replaces all weapons with pots, delighted by the deterrent effect against dinosaurs. The Arabs exploit the sudden abundance of discarded armaments to fortify their position. The war becomes a bizarre contest of pots, with improvised metal meeting primal beasts.

post-dino attack French camp
9

Mars appears and the truce begins

Mars appears in the sky, prompting both sides to pause their fighting under the belief that the comet will strike the planet. The moment sparks a fragile peace as leaders weigh their chances for a sustainable future. Hector uses the lull to advocate building a peaceful society on the moving colony.

at Mars appearance in the sky above the comet
10

Peace plan and new society on the comet

With the apparent threat past, the factions agree to a pause and discuss cooperative life aboard the comet. Hector steps forward as a leader who seeks unity beyond nationality. A hopeful plan for a new, peaceful society begins to take shape.

post-Mars appearance on the comet
11

Angelica abducted again; pursuit at sea

Angelica's brothers kidnap her again and set off toward home, dragging Hector into peril. The Spaniards offer their ship to aid the escape, triggering a high-stakes chase. Loyalties are tested as the trio hurtles through a fragile alliance.

during pursuit sea voyage on the moving comet
12

Sea voyage, serpent and island of prehistoric life

During the voyage they encounter what seems to be a coast but reveals itself to be a giant sea serpent; they scare it away with pots. They reach an island full of prehistoric creatures and witness life evolving before their eyes. The journey becomes a surreal tour of evolution amid a moving world.

mid-journey sea near the comet; island with prehistoric life
13

Wedding, reunion, and Earth in the sky

Hector finds Angelica and they plan to marry, celebrating their bond as the moving mass circles the sky. Earth appears in the heavens during the wedding, jolting everyone into recalling old conflicts. The ceremony becomes a surreal hinge between dream and reality.

during wedding on the comet
14

Impact, battles resume, and Angelica's kidnapping

When the comet touches Earth, old enmities erupt and combat erupts anew. The Arabs overwhelm the French and Spaniards, and Angelica is kidnapped again by her brothers. Hector chases them but slips and falls into the sea as chaos erupts.

at impact Earth's coast
15

Dream ending: wake-up on the shore

Hector wakes on the coast, saved by his adjutant, who reveals that the adventure was a dream. The revelation reframes the earlier chaos as a nightmarish fantasy rather than a literal escape. The ending leaves the audience pondering fate, memory, and the power of dreams.

after awakening coast

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:10

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On the Comet Summary

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On the Comet Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in On the Comet

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