Post by codystarbuck on Jul 6, 2022 20:16:31 GMT -5
Just over half way through Les Vampires and loving every minute of it.
Chapter 2 (The Ring That Kills), the Grand Vampire takes revenge on Geurande and murders his ballerina finacee, with a poisoned ring, during a performance of The Vampire on stage. This features some of the most famous imagery of the serial, as Stacia Napeirkowska dances in a black bodystocking and batwings, before succumbing to the poison.
Philippe recognizes the Grand Vampire 9despite disguise) and gives chase, but is ambushed and captured and dragged into their hideout, at an abandoned fortress. He awaits the Grand Inquisitor, but meets up with Mazamette, the colleague who tried to steal his notes on the Vampires. He helps him escape and capture the Grand Inquisitor and steal a red codebook, with a record of the crimes of the Vampires. They return with the police, but the Grand Vampire escapes, but only after mistakenly killing the Grand Inquisitor, who is revealed to be a chief justice, of the state.
Chapter 3 (The Red Codebook) finially introduces us to the films real star, Musidora, as Irma Vep. Philippe works to decode the book and discovers his house is under surveillance, by the Vampires. he sneaks out, in disguise, and follows a clue to a cafe, The Howling Cat, where he notices a sign for Irma Vep, who performs a song for the crowd, many of whom then go below, to an exclusive area. Philippe works out the name Irma Vep is an anagram of Vampire and knows she is part of the gang. The Grand Vampire assigns Irma to retrieve the codebook. Philippe sneaks back home. mazamette arrives and shows a poison pen he stole from the Grand Vampire. Later, he returns with the maid, whose brother has been injured in a car accident and she must leave to tend to him. An agency sends over a new maid, which is Irma Vep, in disguise. Philippe recognizes her and hatches a plan. Irma leaves a window open, so that members of the gang can sneak in and kill Philippe. He shoots them, but Irma had reloaded the gun with blanks and they escape. The gang kidnaps his mother and holds her for ransom, but she uses the poison pen to kill her warder and escape.
Chapter 4 (The Spectre) Sees The Grand Vampire and Irma match wits with a new opponent, a rival criminal, named Juan-Jose Moreno. The Grand Vampire, disguised as a real estate broker, sets Moreno up in a flat, with a safe, which is gimmicked so that the gang can steal the contents from the room next door (where Irma Vep hides). Moreno becomes involved in the Vampires scheme to steal a courier shipment of banknotes, to another branch. Irma is placed at the bank and is the alternate courier. The gang murders the main courier, and Irma is tasked to take the banknotes. However, the courier turns up, much to Irma's surprise. He then disappears down a manhole, with the package. We learn it is Moreno, in disguise, having found the courier and assumed his identity. He puts the package in his room safe, as well as the body of the courier. the Vampires open the reverse door and steal the money. Philippe has traced Irma and brings in the police, who capture Moreno, but he denies killing the courier and explains how he found the body.
Chapter 5 (Dead Man's Escape) finds the magistrate, from Chapter 1, now promoted and in charge of Moreno's case. Moreno appears to commit suicide, via a cyanide pill; but, it is revealed that it only made him appear dead, as he wakes up in his cell, ambushes a guard, and escapes in his uniform. The Vampires abduct Phillipe, stashing him in a large basket, from a costume shop (used to deliver bulk costumes). Philippe escapes by tumbling down a long stairway and is freed by passersby. He traces the basket to the shop and to the Grand Vampire. He learns that he is throwing a ball. Moreno and his goons confront Philippe at a cafe and abduct. Mazamette finds Moreno's hideway and makes a skeleton key. Moreno takes Philippe to the warehouse and threatens to hang him unless he provides info on the Vampires. he feeds him info about the ball. They hold him prisoner while they check it out. At the ball, the guests find themselves locked in the ballroom, as gas is fed through the vents. then, the Vampires come in and rob the entire unconscious crowd and make of with the loot. Moreno sneaks onto the cargo area of their vehicle and steals the loot. Mazamette finds Philippe and frees him.
Chapter 6 (The Hypnotic Eyes) Moreno learns of the murder of a notary, by the Vampires. He uses his hypnotic powers to enslave a maid and then sets off to locate the Vampires. Philippe and mazamette see a newsreel about the killing and recognize The Grand Vampire and Irma Vep, in the crowd, at the scene of the crime. They head to Fountainbleau to find them. The Grand Vampire is disguised as a Count, while Irma Vep is cross-dressed as a boy, the Count's son. Irma notices a news story about a wealthy American, who had $200, 000 stolen by a robber, Raphael Norton, who fled with an actress accomplice, Edith Flower, to France. Irma notices that two Americans, The Werners, seem agitated by the announcement and deduces they are the robbers. The Count and his son ingratiate themselves into the Werner's circles. Meanwhile, Philippe and Mazamette, cycling to Fountainbleau, observe Horatio Werner ride to a secluded spot and hide something. They check it out and find the stolen money. Meanwhile, Irma, in her black outfit, breaks into the Werner's room, to look for the loot. She is ambushed and carried off by Moreno, who has come to the hotel. He drags her to his room and tears off her mask, revealing Irma's face. he cloroforms her and replaces her with the hypnotized maid, in an identical bodystocking and mask. The maid delivers the treasure map of where the loot is hidden to the Grand Vampire and he sends an accomplice to collect it, only to have her ambushed by Moreno's men. They find the loot gone. Moreno then warns the Grand Vampire of holding Irma and wants a ransom. However, he is smitten by her and uses his hypnotic powers to force her to write a confession of her crimes. He programs Irma to kill the Grand Vampire.
The chapters are not uniform in length, but, based on the needs of the story. They range from about 15 minutes, for The Ring That Kills, to 54 minutes, for The Hypnotic Eyes. Chapters 3 through 6 really get into the exciting elements of the film, with Irma Vep entering things and then the rivalry between Moreno and the Vampires. Although Philippe is ostensibly the hero, Irma Vep is more the character we are interested in, due to the charisma of Musidora and the active nature of Irma, within the story. The Grand Vampire is the schemer; but, Irma is the one who does the work. She becomes the protagonist, especially as Moreno captures her. We are kind of rooting for Irma and the Vampires to get one over on the Werners and for Irma to elude Moreno; but that also allows Philippe to finally win one, as he gets the loot first and the reward money helps Mazamette settle his debts and put him in a more comfortable life. Mazamette is largely the comic relief and the actor, Marcel Levesque, plays him rather broadly and much in the traditions of the clown, without going for outright slapstick.
From reading about it,, the script was a bare bones plot, with the actors improvising situations, which probably explains part of the varying lengths and also how Irma becomes such a central figure, as Musidora definitely connects with the viewer and is a far more interesting character than the Grand Vampire. Also, Moreno tends to upstage him, as well. Philippe seems there mostly to react to the Vampires, as they, like Fanomtas, are the real motivators of the story. There are no cliffhangers, despite that having been recently popularized by the American serial, The Perils of Pauline. Part of the motivation in doing this project was to head off another potentially popular American serial, The Mysteries of New York, by Pathe (released as The Exploits of Elaine, in America). Feiullade was inspired to make a heroine the center of the story, but made her a criminal one, like Fantomas. I also read that he was shooting Judex, at the same time, though both productions also had to deal with personnel leaving for the war effort, as World War 1 was in full swing.
The serial, apart from obvious sets (and minimalist ones, in some cases), has a very realistic look, compared to contemporary films.
As I have mentioned, the new HBO+ mini-series, Irma Vep, both shows clips of the original chapters and remakes those same scenes, with the modern actors. This has provided Alicia Vikander a chance to run around in costume, as they recreate the ballroom robbery and then Moreno does the theft of the loot, from the vehicle roof. Lars Eidinger is fun, at Gottfried, the actor who plays Moreno, as he gets the tone of the thing and his part, but is such a self-important schmuck that you watch him get himself into trouble, with his mouth, then have to back down, when he says he will do the scene without a harness, until the producer threatens to have him blackballed in Europe. We also see how the role of Irma starts to affect Mira, the actress playing Irma, as she becomes more amoral in her actions, toying with Zoe, the costumer who is in love with her, and meeting with her ex-boyfriend, who comes to her for comfort, after his new girlfriend miscarries their baby. They soon tumble into bed, showing the shallowness of both, in light of the loss suffered by the mother. You also see the actor playing Philippe complaining every time his ego is bruised by feeling upstaged by the Vampires and Moreno, but then easily manipulated by the director (who has to refrain from beating him senseless). You have to wonder if Edouard Mathe, the actor who played Philippe, in the original, felt that way, as he is subordinate to the villains throughout the whole thing, much as Juve and Fandor were subservient to Fantomas (both in the stories and the serial). The 60s Fantomas films solve this dilemma, a bit, with Jean Marais in the dual role of Fantomas and Fandor, making Fandor a more active protagonist to Fantomas, while Juve is the comic relief of the thing (and played by comedic actor Louis Funes). The tv version is becoming all kinds of meta, as the original 1996 film is referenced and this adaptation references it as much as Feiullade, while expanding on the material and the musings of modern filmmaking, including the money people (in this case, a perfume company that wants Mira secured for the ad campaign for a new product, while her agent plays hardball). Mira and Rene, the director, struggle with art vs commercial appeal.
Chapter 2 (The Ring That Kills), the Grand Vampire takes revenge on Geurande and murders his ballerina finacee, with a poisoned ring, during a performance of The Vampire on stage. This features some of the most famous imagery of the serial, as Stacia Napeirkowska dances in a black bodystocking and batwings, before succumbing to the poison.
Philippe recognizes the Grand Vampire 9despite disguise) and gives chase, but is ambushed and captured and dragged into their hideout, at an abandoned fortress. He awaits the Grand Inquisitor, but meets up with Mazamette, the colleague who tried to steal his notes on the Vampires. He helps him escape and capture the Grand Inquisitor and steal a red codebook, with a record of the crimes of the Vampires. They return with the police, but the Grand Vampire escapes, but only after mistakenly killing the Grand Inquisitor, who is revealed to be a chief justice, of the state.
Chapter 3 (The Red Codebook) finially introduces us to the films real star, Musidora, as Irma Vep. Philippe works to decode the book and discovers his house is under surveillance, by the Vampires. he sneaks out, in disguise, and follows a clue to a cafe, The Howling Cat, where he notices a sign for Irma Vep, who performs a song for the crowd, many of whom then go below, to an exclusive area. Philippe works out the name Irma Vep is an anagram of Vampire and knows she is part of the gang. The Grand Vampire assigns Irma to retrieve the codebook. Philippe sneaks back home. mazamette arrives and shows a poison pen he stole from the Grand Vampire. Later, he returns with the maid, whose brother has been injured in a car accident and she must leave to tend to him. An agency sends over a new maid, which is Irma Vep, in disguise. Philippe recognizes her and hatches a plan. Irma leaves a window open, so that members of the gang can sneak in and kill Philippe. He shoots them, but Irma had reloaded the gun with blanks and they escape. The gang kidnaps his mother and holds her for ransom, but she uses the poison pen to kill her warder and escape.
Chapter 4 (The Spectre) Sees The Grand Vampire and Irma match wits with a new opponent, a rival criminal, named Juan-Jose Moreno. The Grand Vampire, disguised as a real estate broker, sets Moreno up in a flat, with a safe, which is gimmicked so that the gang can steal the contents from the room next door (where Irma Vep hides). Moreno becomes involved in the Vampires scheme to steal a courier shipment of banknotes, to another branch. Irma is placed at the bank and is the alternate courier. The gang murders the main courier, and Irma is tasked to take the banknotes. However, the courier turns up, much to Irma's surprise. He then disappears down a manhole, with the package. We learn it is Moreno, in disguise, having found the courier and assumed his identity. He puts the package in his room safe, as well as the body of the courier. the Vampires open the reverse door and steal the money. Philippe has traced Irma and brings in the police, who capture Moreno, but he denies killing the courier and explains how he found the body.
Chapter 5 (Dead Man's Escape) finds the magistrate, from Chapter 1, now promoted and in charge of Moreno's case. Moreno appears to commit suicide, via a cyanide pill; but, it is revealed that it only made him appear dead, as he wakes up in his cell, ambushes a guard, and escapes in his uniform. The Vampires abduct Phillipe, stashing him in a large basket, from a costume shop (used to deliver bulk costumes). Philippe escapes by tumbling down a long stairway and is freed by passersby. He traces the basket to the shop and to the Grand Vampire. He learns that he is throwing a ball. Moreno and his goons confront Philippe at a cafe and abduct. Mazamette finds Moreno's hideway and makes a skeleton key. Moreno takes Philippe to the warehouse and threatens to hang him unless he provides info on the Vampires. he feeds him info about the ball. They hold him prisoner while they check it out. At the ball, the guests find themselves locked in the ballroom, as gas is fed through the vents. then, the Vampires come in and rob the entire unconscious crowd and make of with the loot. Moreno sneaks onto the cargo area of their vehicle and steals the loot. Mazamette finds Philippe and frees him.
Chapter 6 (The Hypnotic Eyes) Moreno learns of the murder of a notary, by the Vampires. He uses his hypnotic powers to enslave a maid and then sets off to locate the Vampires. Philippe and mazamette see a newsreel about the killing and recognize The Grand Vampire and Irma Vep, in the crowd, at the scene of the crime. They head to Fountainbleau to find them. The Grand Vampire is disguised as a Count, while Irma Vep is cross-dressed as a boy, the Count's son. Irma notices a news story about a wealthy American, who had $200, 000 stolen by a robber, Raphael Norton, who fled with an actress accomplice, Edith Flower, to France. Irma notices that two Americans, The Werners, seem agitated by the announcement and deduces they are the robbers. The Count and his son ingratiate themselves into the Werner's circles. Meanwhile, Philippe and Mazamette, cycling to Fountainbleau, observe Horatio Werner ride to a secluded spot and hide something. They check it out and find the stolen money. Meanwhile, Irma, in her black outfit, breaks into the Werner's room, to look for the loot. She is ambushed and carried off by Moreno, who has come to the hotel. He drags her to his room and tears off her mask, revealing Irma's face. he cloroforms her and replaces her with the hypnotized maid, in an identical bodystocking and mask. The maid delivers the treasure map of where the loot is hidden to the Grand Vampire and he sends an accomplice to collect it, only to have her ambushed by Moreno's men. They find the loot gone. Moreno then warns the Grand Vampire of holding Irma and wants a ransom. However, he is smitten by her and uses his hypnotic powers to force her to write a confession of her crimes. He programs Irma to kill the Grand Vampire.
The chapters are not uniform in length, but, based on the needs of the story. They range from about 15 minutes, for The Ring That Kills, to 54 minutes, for The Hypnotic Eyes. Chapters 3 through 6 really get into the exciting elements of the film, with Irma Vep entering things and then the rivalry between Moreno and the Vampires. Although Philippe is ostensibly the hero, Irma Vep is more the character we are interested in, due to the charisma of Musidora and the active nature of Irma, within the story. The Grand Vampire is the schemer; but, Irma is the one who does the work. She becomes the protagonist, especially as Moreno captures her. We are kind of rooting for Irma and the Vampires to get one over on the Werners and for Irma to elude Moreno; but that also allows Philippe to finally win one, as he gets the loot first and the reward money helps Mazamette settle his debts and put him in a more comfortable life. Mazamette is largely the comic relief and the actor, Marcel Levesque, plays him rather broadly and much in the traditions of the clown, without going for outright slapstick.
From reading about it,, the script was a bare bones plot, with the actors improvising situations, which probably explains part of the varying lengths and also how Irma becomes such a central figure, as Musidora definitely connects with the viewer and is a far more interesting character than the Grand Vampire. Also, Moreno tends to upstage him, as well. Philippe seems there mostly to react to the Vampires, as they, like Fanomtas, are the real motivators of the story. There are no cliffhangers, despite that having been recently popularized by the American serial, The Perils of Pauline. Part of the motivation in doing this project was to head off another potentially popular American serial, The Mysteries of New York, by Pathe (released as The Exploits of Elaine, in America). Feiullade was inspired to make a heroine the center of the story, but made her a criminal one, like Fantomas. I also read that he was shooting Judex, at the same time, though both productions also had to deal with personnel leaving for the war effort, as World War 1 was in full swing.
The serial, apart from obvious sets (and minimalist ones, in some cases), has a very realistic look, compared to contemporary films.
As I have mentioned, the new HBO+ mini-series, Irma Vep, both shows clips of the original chapters and remakes those same scenes, with the modern actors. This has provided Alicia Vikander a chance to run around in costume, as they recreate the ballroom robbery and then Moreno does the theft of the loot, from the vehicle roof. Lars Eidinger is fun, at Gottfried, the actor who plays Moreno, as he gets the tone of the thing and his part, but is such a self-important schmuck that you watch him get himself into trouble, with his mouth, then have to back down, when he says he will do the scene without a harness, until the producer threatens to have him blackballed in Europe. We also see how the role of Irma starts to affect Mira, the actress playing Irma, as she becomes more amoral in her actions, toying with Zoe, the costumer who is in love with her, and meeting with her ex-boyfriend, who comes to her for comfort, after his new girlfriend miscarries their baby. They soon tumble into bed, showing the shallowness of both, in light of the loss suffered by the mother. You also see the actor playing Philippe complaining every time his ego is bruised by feeling upstaged by the Vampires and Moreno, but then easily manipulated by the director (who has to refrain from beating him senseless). You have to wonder if Edouard Mathe, the actor who played Philippe, in the original, felt that way, as he is subordinate to the villains throughout the whole thing, much as Juve and Fandor were subservient to Fantomas (both in the stories and the serial). The 60s Fantomas films solve this dilemma, a bit, with Jean Marais in the dual role of Fantomas and Fandor, making Fandor a more active protagonist to Fantomas, while Juve is the comic relief of the thing (and played by comedic actor Louis Funes). The tv version is becoming all kinds of meta, as the original 1996 film is referenced and this adaptation references it as much as Feiullade, while expanding on the material and the musings of modern filmmaking, including the money people (in this case, a perfume company that wants Mira secured for the ad campaign for a new product, while her agent plays hardball). Mira and Rene, the director, struggle with art vs commercial appeal.