Judex (1916 film)

1916 film

Judex

Theatrical release poster

Directed by| Louis Feuillade
Written by| Arthur Bernède
Louis Feuillade
Starring| René Cresté
Musidora
René Poyen
Édouard Mathé
Gaston Michel
Yvonne Dario
Cinematography| André Glatti
Léon Klausse
Music by| Robert Israel (new score)
Distributed by| Gaumont

Release date

* 19 January 1917 (1917-01-19)

Running time

| 300 minutes (total)
Country| France
Languages| Silent film
French intertitles

Judex is 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.

## Plot

[edit]

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

[edit]

* René Cresté \- Jacques de Tremeuse a.k.a. Judex
* Musidora \- Diana Monti aka Marie Verdier
* René Poyen \- Le môme Réglisse
* Édouard Mathé \- Roger de Tremeuse
* Gaston Michel \- Pierre Kerjean
* Yvonne Dario \- Comtesse de Tremeuse
* Yvette Andréyor \- Jacqueline Aubry
* Juliette Clarens \- Gisèle
* Jean Devalde \- Robert Moralés
* Georges Flateau \- Vicomte de la Rochefontaine
* Louis Leubas \- Le banquier Favraux
* Marcel Lévesque \- Cocantin
* Olinda Mano \- Le petit Jean

## Production

[edit]

### Development

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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.

* The Mysterious Shadow

* Atonement

* The Fantastic Hounds

* The Secret of the Tomb

* The Tragic Mill

* The Licorice Kid

* The Woman in Black

* The Dungeons of the Chateau Rouge

* When the Child Appears

* The Heart of Jacqueline

* The Water Sprite

* The Forgiveness of Love

## Sequel Episodes

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

* Judex
* Judex (1934 film)
* Judex (1963 film)
* List of film serials
* List of film serials by studio

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c Besnier, d'Annie (2002). Preface to Judex : grand roman historique. Internet Archive. [Paris] : Fayard. ISBN 978-2-213-61274-4.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
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.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Judex (film).

* Judex at IMDb
* Judex at the TCM Movie Database
* Judex at Cool French Comics

* v
* t
* e

Films directed by Louis Feuillade

Film serials|

* Fantômas (1913–14)
* Les Vampires (1915–16)
* Judex (1916)
* Tih Minh (1918)
* Barrabas (1920)
* Parisette (1921)
* The Two Girls (1921)

Short films|

* A Roman Orgy (1911)
* La hantise (1912)
* Bout de Zan et l'embusqué (1915)

Authority control databases: National |

* United States

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