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Post by codystarbuck on Jun 18, 2022 20:09:50 GMT -5
Irma Vep, on HBO Max, put a bee in my bonnet to watch some Louis Feuillade and I have started with his 5 film Fantomas series (really a serial, in convention) and have watched the first two parts: Shadow of the Guillotine and Juve vs Fantomas. Renee Navarre is the mysterious Gurn/Fantomas, criminal mastermind, murderer and general ne'er do well. The first part introduces Gurn/Fantomas, as he pulls off a robbery of the Princess Danidoff, at a hotel (and his escape, after subduing and stealing the uniform of a bellhop), as well as romancing the Lady Beltham, who conspires to get him sprung from prison and replaced by an unwitting actor. It also introduces Inspector Juve, of the Surete, whi is chasing after Fantomas, as well as the journalist, Fandor, who aids Juve. Fantomas' crimes are a bit more mundane, in the first film, though he murders Lord Beltham, as well as his thefts.
Jeve vs Fantomas see him having escaped the guillotine (thanks to the actor switch) and back operating his gang, while Lady Beltham is in a convent, though still under Fantomas' sway. They stage a daring robbery of a businessman (and Fandor) on a train and uncouple the car in which they are travelling, before escaping across country. Juve and Fandor spot Gurn in a restaurant, but he outwits them with a trick coat and escapes. They discover he has been using an empty house to meet Lady Beltham and concoct a plan to spy on them. This leads to an attempt on Juve's life, with a python or boa constrictor, slipped into his room through a window, then a trap set at the empty house for the police, as Fantomas lures them there and rigs the place tih dynamite, then eludes capture and sets off the bomb.
Tonight is The Murderous Corpse, then Fantomas vs Fantomas and, finally, The False Magistrate.
I had only seen a few clips of these (mostly from Juve vs Fantomas) and am enjoying the heck out of them, even though my French is pretty limited (but I can make out enough to get the gist from the dialogue cards). I have the complete Judex serial, which features an avenging cloaked hero, a decade before the Shadow donned his hat and cloak (though much of the premise is swiped from Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo), but have only watched the first episode, which ends with Judex in his secret lab/lair, after kidnapping one of the crooks. I want to get through that and then Les Vampires, which inspired both the movie and tv mini-series Irma Vep, from Oscar Assayas. The Vampires are a criminal gang, with Irma Vep one of the leading members.
Really great stuff, with a bit more literary flavor than the 1930s and 40s American serials or the silents, like Perils of Pauline.
All of this stuff predates the pulp heroes of the 30s and the comic book heroes of the late 30s onward. Fantomas is like Moriarty, taken further (as is Dr Mabuse, of Fritz Lang fame), you have gentleman thief Arsene Lupin, Judex, Irma Vep, who is an early femme fatale/super-criminal, who inspired things like Modesty Blaise, Emma Peel, Catwoman and other adventure heroines/villains. You also have The Nyctalope, a sort of proto-cyborg, who predates Superman and definitely Col Steve Austin. There is a whole host of detectives, including Monsieur Lecoq, who predated Sherlock Holmes and was inspired by the real Eugene Francois Vidocq, a former criminal who founded the Surete Nationale and pioneered many modern criminology techniques.
I had read bits and pieces, but the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and Philip Jose Farmer's Wold Newton stuff drew me to Jean-Marc and Randy Lofficier's Tales of the Shadowmen anthology series, where contributors create short stories with at least one French literary character, plus others pulled from various sources. Lots of stuff with Fantomas, Judex, Irma Vep, Arsene Lupin, Nyctalope, Dr Omega (a proto-Doctor Who), Sar Dubonatal (an East Asian supernatural figure), Madam Atomos (a Japanese villainess, who swears revenge on the US for the atomic bombs), OSS 117 (the spy series that was adapted to film before Bond and inspired the Jean Dujardin films), Maigret, Lecoq, the Black Coats (another criminal gang) and more; plus, guest appearances by characters like Thomas & Martha Wayne, Kent Allard, Barbarella and Captain Kirk (great story), Dr Miguelito Loveless, Charlie Chan, Napoleon Solo and Ilya Kuryakin, Modesty Blaise & Willie Garvin, Irene Adler, Eliza Doolittle, Gigi, trilby O'Farrell, Rima the Jungle Girl, Charles Foster Kane, and many, many more.
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Jun 21, 2022 1:16:27 GMT -5
Sometimes, watching a vintage film, you realize an entire movie has become obsolete because of the non-existence of cell phones Case in point- A Letter To Three Wives (1949) Jeanne Craine, Linda Darnell, Ann Southern, Kirk Douglas Three young housewives board a passenger boat for an all-day ride. Just before departure, a letter arrives addressed to all three. It's from the town flirt, saying goodbye and she's leaving town with one of their husbands The rest of the film is each housewife flashing back to an incident in their marrage that might have led to their husband leaving At the end, they return home and each goes to their home, wondering if their husband is still there It's a very good film with some excellent performances. All which would have been made unnecessary with just a quick call to their husband
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Post by codystarbuck on Jun 21, 2022 20:59:33 GMT -5
Sometimes, watching a vintage film, you realize an entire movie has become obsolete because of the non-existence of cell phones Case in point- A Letter To Three Wives (1949) Jeanne Craine, Linda Darnell, Ann Southern, Kirk Douglas Three young housewives board a passenger boat for an all-day ride. Just before departure, a letter arrives addressed to all three. It's from the town flirt, saying goodbye and she's leaving town with one of their husbands The rest of the film is each housewife flashing back to an incident in their marrage that might have led to their husband leaving At the end, they return home and each goes to their home, wondering if their husband is still there It's a very good film with some excellent performances. All which would have been made unnecessary with just a quick call to their husband Same is true for the Buccaneer. Even just a transatlantic cable could have prevented the Battle of New Orleans and Jean Lafitte's role in it. They would have been home to keep an eye on Barataria.
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Post by Prince Hal on Jun 21, 2022 21:14:40 GMT -5
Sometimes, watching a vintage film, you realize an entire movie has become obsolete because of the non-existence of cell phones Case in point- A Letter To Three Wives (1949) Jeanne Craine, Linda Darnell, Ann Southern, Kirk Douglas Three young housewives board a passenger boat for an all-day ride. Just before departure, a letter arrives addressed to all three. It's from the town flirt, saying goodbye and she's leaving town with one of their husbands The rest of the film is each housewife flashing back to an incident in their marrage that might have led to their husband leaving At the end, they return home and each goes to their home, wondering if their husband is still there It's a very good film with some excellent performances. All which would have been made unnecessary with just a quick call to their husband It is indeed a great movie, and, yes, I think that same thought whenever we see that day-liner leave port.
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Post by codystarbuck on Jun 21, 2022 21:16:10 GMT -5
Just finished parts 3 and 4 of Fantomas, The Murderous Corpse and Fantomas vs Fantomas. Part 3 involves a series of murders perpetrated by Fantomas. Fandor starts out recovering from his injuries from the explosion of Lady Beltham's house, in Part 2, while Juve appears dead. Juve as actually hiding out in the criminal world, in disguise, searching for clues to Fantomas. The pair are reunited at the end and corner Fantomas, who escapes via a secret door in the wall.
Part 4 finds Fantomas recruiting a criminal couple, who then lead him to an entire Apache gang. He is using a disguise, to sway them. meanwhile, Juve and Fandor continue investigating, while Fantomas seeks to discredit Fandor, via rival press. Fandor traces Fantomas to the Apache gang, in the countryside and learns where Fantomas has hidden some loot. Meanwhile, Fantomas tries to steal a necklace at a party, thrown by Princess Danidoff. fanomas appears, in his "Homme Noir" costume, as does a police officer and Fandor. The cop is killed, Fantomas is wounded. Earlier, Juve is arrested, by order of a judge, in a plot orchestrated by Fantomas. He is wounded in his cell to match the wound Fantomas received at the party. He is believed to be Fantomas, until Fandor helps clear him and they find Fantomas' accomplice, Nisbet, with the guards, with a bloody knife (sed to wound a drugged Juve) and a vial of a drug. Juve is kidnapped from the judge's office, by the Apache gang and brought before Fantomas, in the country. Fandor is hiding and feeds him info about the location of the loot stash. Juve then convinces the gang that he is Fantomas, by telling them where the loot is hidden. Fandor gets to the police and brings them to the country house, where Juve lures them into the clutches of the police.
Now, there is just the final part, The False Magistrate. After that, it is time for Judex.
Lot of great intrigue and some cool visuals, for the time.Part 2 has Fantomas in his masked form, as he sets up an ambush in Lady Beltham's house. He hides out in a vat of water, in the basement, breathing through a bottle with the bottom broken out. He has the house rigged with dynamite, which is connected to the bell calls. In part 3, he is cornered in a room by Juve and Fandor and Has his back to the wall, hands in the air. He suddenly rears back against the wall and slips through the hidden door, which he bolts to prevent Juve and Fandor from following. In Part 4, Juve and Fandor have apprehended Fantomas and hold his wrists apart and walk him out. However, they suddenly drop down into prepared holes in the yard and he escapes, again. All very inventive and not too far beyond logic, though not as much as the trick cote, with fake arms that he slips out of, in part two. That was a bit hard to swallow.
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Post by berkley on Jun 22, 2022 1:43:01 GMT -5
I'm only skimming Codystarbuck's reviews because I don't want to spoil myself, but good to hear how entertaining these Fantomas serials are. Look forward to watching them myself one of these days. I also want to read at least the first book.
Well, I had to strike a dud at some point and the last old movie I watched felt that way to me: My Friend Irma Goes West. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood for it because I saw the earlier movie, My Friend Irma, not all that many years ago (5 to 10, at a guess) and thought I remembered liking it well enough for what it was - a piece of fluff with minimal story, meant to cash in on the popularity of the very successful My Friend Irma radio show and also to showcase the up and coming comedy duo of Martin and Lewis. I recall that I was mainly interested in it as an early Martin & Lewis movie, and as far as I recall, I enjoyed it.
Actually, much of this sequel wasn't bad. What really took me aback was how annoying I found Jerry Lewis - to my surprise, because I've seen his movies since I was a kid and I don't remember reacting to him this strongly or negatively in the past. I'd assume it was a case of adult tastes vs child but as I say, it wasn't that long ago I saw My friend Irma and I don't recall having this reaction. So perhaps just a momentary moodiness on my part.
I also found Irma herself slightly irritating, though nowhere near the level of Lewis. Her dumb blonde routine was just a bit too blatant and over the top for me, at least this time around - I don't think I minded her as much in the previous film. She still comes across as likeable, but it's almost in spite of the character she's playing. Perhaps it's a type that has become increasingly difficult for us to accept over the intervening years - although, I must say that I recently re-watched Born Yesterday and Judy Holiday was absolutely amazing. But there are dumb blondes and there are dumb blondes - speaking strictly of the fictional character-type that's been around for so long. I'm not condoning the term or the idea in real life.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2022 8:03:57 GMT -5
Spaceballs was released 35 years ago today: I enjoy this every time I see it, and I can probably (sadly) recite entire lines of dialogue. I think it parodies SW well - and other movies, too. That POTA scene has me smiling each time.
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Jun 24, 2022 17:21:19 GMT -5
Spaceballs was released 35 years ago today: I enjoy this every time I see it, and I can probably (sadly) recite entire lines of dialogue. I think it parodies SW well - and other movies, too. That POTA scene has me smiling each time. Spaceballs is the only Post-Original Trilogy Star Wars movie I really enjoyed
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Post by Calidore on Jun 24, 2022 18:59:25 GMT -5
I've never managed to see Fantomas, so I'm enjoying reading about it. I have seen Les Vampires and highly recommend it. It's a very different style of serial, being self-contained chapters of varying length rather than the (admittedly still often fun) formulaic two-reel cliffhangers most of us are used to.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2022 8:32:03 GMT -5
These two films were released 40 years ago today: The Thing holds up very well today, I feel. You all know the story (parasitic alien that takes over its “host” causes paranoia at an Antarctica installation), I thought it was very atmospheric and creepy, and when I revisited it on DVD a few years ago, I was impressed. Have to say, though, when I first heard about the film as a kid, I was disappointed that it wasn’t a film about Benjamin Grimm! Blade Runner is a movie I have mixed feelings about. It’s more akin to a painting in a gallery, I feel. I can appreciate its visual elements far more than the storyline; in fact, strip away the visual elements and the story is only fair. However, the direction, set pieces, special effects and so much else do enhance it. (And the question about what Deckard is remains to this day).
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Post by Calidore on Jun 25, 2022 8:43:51 GMT -5
These two films were released 40 years ago today: The Thing holds up very well today, I feel. You all know the story (parasitic alien that takes over its “host” causes paranoia at an Antarctica installation), I thought it was very atmospheric and creepy, and when I revisited it on DVD a few years ago, I was impressed. Have to say, though, when I first heard about the film as a kid, I was disappointed that it wasn’t a film about Benjamin Grimm! Blade Runner is a movie I have mixed feelings about. It’s more akin to a painting in a gallery, I feel. I can appreciate its visual elements far more than the storyline; in fact, strip away the visual elements and the story is only fair. However, the direction, set pieces, special effects and so much else do enhance it. (And the question about what Deckard is remains to this day).
Fairly recently bought and watched the 4k Blu-rays of both. Didn't need the 40 year reminder though, thanks for that.
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Post by codystarbuck on Jun 26, 2022 18:14:35 GMT -5
These two films were released 40 years ago today: The Thing holds up very well today, I feel. You all know the story (parasitic alien that takes over its “host” causes paranoia at an Antarctica installation), I thought it was very atmospheric and creepy, and when I revisited it on DVD a few years ago, I was impressed. Have to say, though, when I first heard about the film as a kid, I was disappointed that it wasn’t a film about Benjamin Grimm! Blade Runner is a movie I have mixed feelings about. It’s more akin to a painting in a gallery, I feel. I can appreciate its visual elements far more than the storyline; in fact, strip away the visual elements and the story is only fair. However, the direction, set pieces, special effects and so much else do enhance it. (And the question about what Deckard is remains to this day).
Fairly recently bought and watched the 4k Blu-rays of both. Didn't need the 40 year reminder though, thanks for that. Should have seen me in 2016, when they were celebrating the 50th Anniversaries of Star Trek and the Batman tv series and I realized that I debuted the same year. They both always felt older, since I was too young to see them in prime time.
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Post by Calidore on Jun 26, 2022 18:30:53 GMT -5
Should have seen me in 2016, when they were celebrating the 50th Anniversaries of Star Trek and the Batman tv series and I realized that I debuted the same year. They both always felt older, since I was too young to see them in prime time.
Yes indeed. I think you and I are exactly or nearly the same age, so I share your pain.
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Post by codystarbuck on Jun 26, 2022 19:04:11 GMT -5
Finished Fantomas, last night, with the final chapter, "The False Magistrate."
This one feels like something is missing. At the start of the episode, a theft is comitted by criminals, where they cut through the wall of an adjoining hotel room, then into the back of a dresser, and steal jewels stored inside a drawer in the dresser. The room was rented by an clergyman, who was impersonated by the crooks. They also murder a marquis who was meeting with the jeweler to buy the jewels and rob him of the cash he brought for the sale. however, it is not Fantomas or his gang who carries out the crime. We then learn that Fantomas is in a Belgian jail, for murdering an official. He is given life in prison, but Juve believes he is escaping French justice for his crimes there (this is after everyone thought the jewel theft was the work of Fantomas). He concocts a plan to spring Fantomas from the Belgian prison, by visiting him, in disguise, as an official, then slipping him a hidden guard's uniform. He meets with Fantomas, alone, in his cell, and makes the switch. Fantomas escapes, in disguise and Juve, in disguise, remains in the cell, to avoid an alarm. Fantomas escapes on a train to France, but has to sneak off to avoid police. He jumps on another train, in the baggage compartment, to hide. meanwhile, a 1st Class passenger gets out to stretch his legs, but the train starts to depart. he runs after and hops into the baggage car. fantomas murders him and takes his papers and effects a disguise to look like him. he discovers the man was a magistrate, on the way to a new post, in the city where the theft occurred. Fanomas takes his place, then discovers the real criminals behind the jewel robbery. he recruits them, then contrives to steal the loot. He then uses his position to fleece other criminals and take their loot, after they have been arrested.
It takes a while before Fandor is brought in on Fantomas' trail, which then builds towards the climax.
I liked the plot device that Fantomas is impersonating the magistrate, then stealing the confiscated loot from other criminals. It's pure genius! He lets them commit the crimes, then takes the loot for himself. The only problem with the premise is that someone would catch on, when the loot is not returned to the rightful owners, after the criminals have been caught. Also, Juve freeing him, via subterfuge, just to lure him into France seems a bit much. Why not apply to extradite him for crimes in France? Belgium and France, as far as I know, were on cordial terms, at this time. I could understand, if they denied extradition.
It does seem odd that Fantomas is sitting in prison, when last we saw him he escaped from Juve and Fandor, as they were escorting him away from lady Beltham's house and they fell into prepared traps. Almost makes you feel there was a missing chapter (which there wasn't).
That was it for Feuillade, who moved on to Les Vampires, which is my next visit. The criticism he received for two serials revolving around villains (especially Les Vampires), led him to create Judex, about an avenging hero, by somewhat cribbing from the Count of Monte Cristo.
I just finished the most recent episode of Irma Vep, which covers them shooting chapters where Irma Vep encounters the rival criminal, Moreno, payed by the actor Gottfried (Lars Eidinger). That's where Les Vampires gets really interesting.
There was an American Fantomas serial, in 1920, but it has been lost. It changed things quite a bit, pitting Fantomas against an American detective, Fred Dixon.
It was shown in France, as Les Exploits de Diabolos. Black Coat Press, Jean-Marc and Randy Lofficier's publishing company, who published the Tales of the Shadowmen pulp anthologies, adapted the screenplay into a novel, as Fantomas in America. References to the serial have appeared in Tales of the Shadowmen.
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Post by codystarbuck on Jun 30, 2022 21:32:29 GMT -5
Saw the first chapter of Les Vampires, "The Severed Head," last night. A journalist, Philippe Guerande, working for Mondial, is dispatched to Saint-Clement-Sur-Cher, where a Surete inspector, investigating Les Vampires, has disappeared. Guerande has also investigated Les Vampires and finds his notes stolen, by a co-worker, Mazamette. Mazamette pleads his case, that he needed money to pay for his children's care. Guerande lives with his mother, who asks him to call in on Dr Nox, an old childhood friend of his father, who owns a chalet in the area. Guerande calls upon the local magistrate, for info on the missing inspector, but is turned away. He calls on Dr Nox and is invited to stay with him. Also staying their is a wealthy American, Mrs Simpson, who is interested in purchasing the chalet. They have dinner together and Philippe regales Mrs Simpson with grisly tales of the crimes of Les Vampires. Philippe finds a note left on him, in his bedroom, warning him to stay out of the affairs of Les Vampires. The room is locked and he wonders how it got there. He eventually finds a hidden panel, behind a framed art piece. Mrs Simpson is robbed of her jewels and money, in the night, by hooded men, dressed all in black. Philippe calls upon the magistrate and brings the police, showing them the hidden panel, where they find a small chect. Inside is the severed head of the missing inspector.
Really great, atmospheric stuff. The opening chapter serves to introduce Philippe, the hero of the story, as he tries to bring down Les Vampires, the most notorious criminal gang in France (though Fantomas might beg to differ). We see how the Vampires use disguises and special houses and other buildings to lure marks and rob them. Later, we will see more of their extreme crimes, as they are not shy about murder. The inspector's severed head hammers this home, distinctly. This is a ruthless bunch.
During the latter part of it, we see the leader, the Grand Vampire, carry out the theft of Mrs Simpson's money and jewels, then escape the police via the rooftop. He crosses over ladders and then climbs down a drainpipe, in an extended sequence, with no edits. The stunt performer carefully crosses a adder way, along the roof edge, swings down over the side, catches the drainpipe, then uses it as a handhold, while he places his feet on brackets and the bricks, to slowly work his way down. It is worthy of a circus acrobat (probably was one).
Feuillade ues the technique of blue filters to simulate darkness, both in Fantomas and Les Vampires, which allows the dark figures to be seen moving about. The roof escape reminds one of the later super-thieves, like Diabolik or The Catwoman, especially with the black clothing and black hood. The basic look is pretty much the same as that used by Fantomas, in the earlier serial.
We haven't yet met the most notorious of The Vampires (apart from the Grand Vampire), Irma Vep; but, she is coming.
The HBO series, Irma Vep, aside from adapting and expanding Oliver Assayas' 1996 independent movie, about a film star heading up a remake of Les Vampires, in France, and what happens in the production and how she is affected by the role, also recreates scenes from the serial and the episode titles are taken from the chapter titles, of the original serial. The '96 movie recreated a few of the famous scenes; but, the tv series has more time to focus on this, creating a mini-Les Vampires, within the meta world of filming the tv mini-series, within an actual tv mini-series about adapting the Assayas film (about remaking Les Vampires for a modern audience). The most recent episode featured an adapatation of the 4th chapter, which has the Vampires gas an entire crowd at a gala ball, then walk in and steal their valuables. We see in the episode how Mira is affected by wearing the Irma Vep cstume, as she becomes more confident and more amoral. It starts to affect her relationships. We also see how the director is haunted by his failed relationship with the Asian actress who sttarred in his earlier independent film remake of Les Vampires, a further meta reference to Assayas' '96 film and his actual relationship and marriage to its star, Hong Kong actress Maggie Cheung.
Les Vampires informs a lot of American comic book traditions and whole characters, in European comics (including the anti-heroes Diabolik, Kriminal and Satanik, in Italy). The serials follow on from the pulp stories of Pierre Souvestre and Marcel Allan (Fantomas0 and Maurice LeBlanc (Arsene Lupin), as well as the whole Grand Guignol Theater tradition (the theater was known for its horrific and shocking performances, leading to the term "grand guignol," for violent and shocking imagery). Irma Vep becomes an archetype for the various femme fatale criminals who followed, in comic strips, comic books, bande desinee/fumetti and film. That, in turn, influenced more heroic characters, like Emma Peel, Black Widow and even Batgirl, as Irma Vep appears in a skintight bodystocking, in later chapters.
9 more chapters to go.
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