Judex (1916 film)

Judex is the title of a 1916 silent French film serial concerning the adventures of Judex, who is a pulp hero predating The Shadow, created by Louis Feuillade and Arthur Bernède.

Judex
Scene from the film
Directed byLouis Feuillade
Written byArthur Bernède
Louis Feuillade
Produced byGaumont Film Company
StarringRené Cresté
Musidora
René Poyen
Édouard Mathé
Gaston Michel
Yvonne Dario
CinematographyAndré Glatti
Léon Klausse
Music byRobert Israel (new score)
Distributed byGaumont
Release date
  • 19 January 1917 (1917-01-19)
Running time
300 minutes (total)
CountryFrance
LanguagesSilent film
French intertitles

Plot

The story is complex and is told in 12 chapters. The basic plot involves a corrupt banker named Favraux, who is the target of Judex's revenge. It is eventually revealed that Judex's real identity is Jacques de Trémeuse, a man trying to avenge his family ruined by Favraux. Complicating matters is Favraux's beautiful and innocent daughter Jacqueline, with whom the avenger has fallen in love. A final element comes in the form of Diana Monti and her criminal gang who are working at cross purposes with Judex.

Cast

Production

Development

On May 16, 1916, novelist Arthur Bernède pitched director Louis Feuillade a concept for a 12-part cinematographic novel, which would be simultaneously serialized in text and film, with story revisions by Feuillade.[1]

Feuillade had made two earlier serials, Fantômas and Les Vampires, about cunning criminals. Though popular with audiences, the serials drew criticism for glorifying outlaws. Judex, by contrast, was a heroic persona, but one who had all of the sinister trappings of the flamboyant villains who were popular at the time.

Casting

Judex was played by French matinee idol René Cresté and Diana was played by Musidora, who had previously played the villainess Irma Vep in Les Vampires.

Episodes

These are the episode titles in French (with English translation)[2]

  1. L'ombre mystérieuse (The Mysterious Shadow)
  2. L'expiation (Atonement)
  3. La meute fantastique (The Fantastic Hounds)
  4. Le secret de la tombe (The Secret of the Tomb)
  5. Le moulin tragique (The Tragic Mill)
  6. Le môme réglisse (The Licorice Kid)
  7. La femme en noir (The Woman in Black)
  8. Les souterrains du Château-Rouge (The Dungeons of the Chateau Rouge)
  9. Lorsque l'enfant parut (When the Child Appears)
  10. Le coeur de Jacqueline (The Heart of Jacqueline)
  11. L'Ondine (The Water Sprite)
  12. Le pardon d'amour (The Forgiveness of Love)

The twelve numbered episodes average 25 minutes in length each.

Sequel Episodes

These are the episode titles in French (with English translation)[3]

  1. Le mystère d’une nuit d’été (A Midsummer Night's Dream)
  2. L’adieu au bonheur (Farewell To Happiness)
  3. L’ensorcelée (The Bewitched)
  4. La chambre aux embûches (The Treacherous Room)
  5. La forêt hantée (The Haunted Forest)
  6. Une lueur dans les ténèbres (A Glimmer In The Darkness)
  7. La main morte (The Dead Hand)
  8. Les captives (The Captives)
  9. Les papiers du Dr. Howey (Dr. Howey's Papers)
  10. Les deux destinées (The Two Destinies)
  11. Le crime involontaire (Unintentional Crime)
  12. Châtiment (Retribution)

The twelve numbered episodes average 25 minutes in length each.

Release

The first text episode of Judex was published in the January 12, 1917 issue of Le Petit Parisien, a week before the film debut on January 19, 1917. Each text episode was published before the corresponding film episode, which built up anticipation. The text episodes ran from January 12 to April 6, 1917, and the film episodes ran from January 19 to April 7, 1917.[1]

The international release of the serial was delayed until late 1917 in Europe, while a North American release didn't occur until the National Film Theatre arranged a screening in February 1965.[4]

A sequel serial titled La Nouvelle Mission de Judex (lit. "New Mission Of Judex," or The Further Exploits Of Judex in Europe[5]) ran in Le Petit Parisien from January 11 to April 4, 1918, and the film episodes ran from January 25 to April 15, 1918.[1]

See also

References
  1. Besnier, d'Annie (2002). Preface to Judex : grand roman historique. Internet Archive. [Paris] : Fayard. ISBN 978-2-213-61274-4.
  2. "Silent Era : Progressive Silent Film List - Judex". www.silentera.com. Retrieved 2019-03-28.
  3. "Silent Era : Progressive Silent Film List". www.silentera.com. Retrieved 2023-07-05.
  4. "National Film Theatre Will Focus On Famous Films". The Intelligencer. December 10, 1964. p. 27. In February, the National Film Theatre will present the first North American screening of Louis Feuillade's 1916 feature, Judex.
  5. "Rene Crest - A French Actor Who Pleases British Audiences". Picture Show. November 29, 1919.
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