Judex

This is an exceptionally outstanding 2-DVD set which already rates highly just for its presentation of excellent notes and an informative 20-minute documentary on the making of the musical score, but this unusual French serial already stands alone as a great work of early cinema deserving all five stars. Made during my favourite period of the silent era, namely the mid to late 1910s, "Judex" strikes me as being far ahead of other films made in the same year, not to mention something of a novelty because silent serials like these are unfortunately quite rare for us today. The 12 episodes, along with a prologue and an epilogue, run for over five hours but it feels like just over one hour because the story is so interesting and the scenes move along at just the right pace to hold the viewer's attention from the very start all the way through each exciting episode. Director Louis Feuillade had already been successful with a similar serial a year earlier, namely "Les Vampires" which is also compelling viewing, but in some ways "Judex" is more elegant and refined, and as far as plots and suspenseful storytelling are concerned, it could still complete with modern-day serials like "24", in my opinion. For anyone tiring of contemporary themes with all its true-to-life horrors, "Judex" is the perfect escape into another world without terrorism and nuclear warfare, where well-dressed people living in grand homes drove gorgeous vintage cars when they were still brand new. The only echo of real life perhaps is the pivot character Favreau, an unscrupulous banker who ruined many people's lives. Unlike the real world, however, a mysterious character called Judex arises to avenge those victims, and as in all first-class stories, the identity of Judex and his real motives are only gradually revealed half way through the fascinating sequence of events. All characters were no doubt carefully chosen and played their roles very convincingly, such as the female villain who continually foils Judex's plans for her own personal gain. Such a fiendish character in the form of an attractive young woman might already surprise some viewers who think that all such women of the silent era were meek, romantic and harmless. But my favourite characters are the two charming and delightful young child actors, especially `the Licorice Kid' whose style is both natural and very professional at the same time. Although serious overall, there is a romantic and somewhat surreal feel to the whole film, along with subtle humour mostly in the form of the private investigator with a very big nose. "Judex" also strikes the right balance between relationships, action and the triumph of goodness and justice, while at the same time taking the viewer on a most enthralling ride through France of 1916. Beautifully restored with colour tinting, this serial is perfectly complemented with a high standard classical music accompaniment arranged by Robert Israel, who talks about the making of this score in the bonus feature documentary in this DVD set. More than just an essential part of any good silent film collection, I'm sure that "Judex" would also be enjoyed by the general viewer looking for an escapist adventure to another world and time but still containing all the essential ingredients of an entertaining and satisfying cinema experience.

As a long time fan of silent films I was familiar with JUDEX from a number of reference books and from the 1963 remake by Georges Franju which is not without interest and should also be revived. Therefore it was an unexpected pleasure to discover that Flicker Alley (the people who gave us GARDEN OF EDEN with Corinne Griffith a few years back) in conjunction with Turner Classic Movies was issuing a newly restored version of the original 1916 version.Louis Feuillade (1873-1925) was the undisputed master of the movie serial. He took what was regarded as the cheapest form of cinematic entertainment and turned it into an art form. Although not as erotic or as violent as LES VAMPIRES his previous effort, JUDEX benefits from a tighter storyline, more fully developed characters, and some of the most remarkable photography to come out of that era. The plot is simple and is basically a reworking of THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO. A young man plans to avenge himself against the unscrupulous banker who ruined his family but his plans are compromised when he falls in love with the banker's daughter.The complete film runs over 5 hours and is divided into 12 chapters. While each episode doesn't end in a cliffhanger like most American serials, the storyline is intriguing enough that you'll want to keep going just to see how it all works out. The performances by the French cast are restrained by silent film standards and use a great deal of subtle pantomime which is very effective. The real star however is the photography. Feuillade uses a mostly stationary camera but the compositions of his shots and what he does within them especially in the outdoor scenes is truly remarkable. It is easy to see why he was known as the D. W. Griffith of France.The film has been color tinted to 1916 standards and features solid musical accompaniment from Robert Israel which ranges from solo piano to orchestral. Having finally seen FANTOMAS (which I rate to be Feuillade's best) along with LES VAMPIRES which introduced Musidora, JUDEX ranks a close second. Although coincidental, it's amazing how similar the character of Judex is to Batman. Another winner from Flicker Alley, this DVD is an absolute must for all silent film buffs and to anyone interested in the cinema of crime. Now it's time for the Blu-Ray.

I have missed watching this serial a few times over the last several years on TCM, but reading about it intrigued me. I have a couple of hundred old serials, and only one or two are silent serials. Since I love serials, I knew I would enjoy this one. I liked it more than I expected! I don't normally pay so much for any movie, but I am very glad I bought this one. I think I waited until the price had gone down some before buying it. I see it's higher now.It's been a while now since I watched it, but I think it was around five hours long. It may have been longer. Picture quality was quite impressive, considering the age of this movie.It offers a unique look at a different countryside from my own, and from a very old time which is VERY different from now. The story was good, highly detailed, with interesting characters, some very nasty villains, a hero with a surprising lack of interest in following the law, and with many impressive capabilities. Also an extremely surprising look at how a street orphan and other children possibly really behaved back then.As the story and images in this was quite interesting to me, I personally rate it five stars due to my own enjoyment of it.