Judex (1963 film)
Encyclopedia
Judex is a French-language crime film
remake of the 1916 French film serial of the same name concerning the adventures of pulp hero Judex
. Directed by French filmmaker Georges Franju
, the film stars Channing Pollock
as Judex
/Vallieres , Édith Scob
as Jacqueline, Francine Bergé
as Diana and Michel Vitold as Favraux.
was writing an article on French film, and while doing research he was approached by a production manager with an idea for a film, when he suggested to do a film on Judex. The story came to Jacques Champreux who was the grandson of the original creator of Judex, Louis Feuillade
. Champreux has been a fan of director Georges Franju
and asked him to make the film, who accepted despite having a larger desire to remake Fantômas
. Franju was not very interested in the character or original story of Judex stating that "Judex is the only film of Feuillade that isn't good Feuillade", but desired to recreate the film in style of early French cinema that he remembered from his childhood. Jacques Champreux's idea for the film was to combine Franju's film style with the elements of the story in the original Judex and started writing the screenplay with that in mind. Champreux and Franju had the film open with a costume ball where everyone is wearing animal masks. This scene is influenced by French cartoonist J.J. Grandville, who depicted people with the heads of animals and birds.
, who was a famous conjurer
in cabaret circles, was cast as Judex. Pollock had been in several films beforehand and the backing producers wanted to make him into a Rudolph Valentino
-type star. Franju and Champreux made his character into more of a magical character rather than a "dispenser of justice". Many actresses were thought of for the role of Diana Monti, originally played by Musidora
in the Feuillade's Judex. Franju and Champreaux wanted someone who would "still look good even in the dark" and originally desired to have Brigitte Bardot
as Diana Monti which excited their producers. After seeing Les Abysses
at the Cannes Film Festival
, they chose Francine Bergé
who also played the role of Michele in the film. Franju cast Édith Scob
as Jacqueline who he had worked with on his previous films, including Eyes Without a Face
and Thérèse Desqueyroux.
. The general reception for the French critics of Judex was fairly positive, with most critics applauded the homage to the original silent film serial while noting the problems that arose when with the over-conscientious approach to style and atmosphere. A critic from L'Express
wrote that the film was "pure entertainment, pure charm, a total success". while another from Les Nouvelles littéraires called the film's pacing "lazy" and the film direction "nonchalant, not to say laborious". Claude Mauriac
of Le Figaro littéraire wrote that the film did not let the audience relate to the action as it was to caught up attracting them to the "plastic beauty" of the film. The film opened up to generally positive review in the United States
as well. Variety
wrote a positive review stating that the film was "...a successful homage to the French film serials of the early, silent days...[the film] does not send up this form of pic but rather captures its essential simplicity, adventurousness and innocence." Time
also wrote a positive review stating "Judex has too much low-key charm and seriousness to be wildly funny, but Director Franju seems content to woo a minority taste." The New York Times
wrote a negative review, stating that Judex "suffers from several afflictions, one of which is ambiguity. It is hard to tell whether Georges Franju, who made it, wants us to laugh at it or take it seriously."
Modern reception has been generally positive. Jonathan Rosenbaum
of the Chicago Reader wrote that Judex was "one of the better features of [Franju's] middle period". Time Out wrote that the film is "superbly elegant" and an "enjoyable tribute to the adventure fantasies of Louis Feuillade
".
series. This release also included the 1973 film Nuits Rouges
also directed by Franju.
Crime film
Crime films are films which focus on the lives of criminals. The stylistic approach to a crime film varies from realistic portrayals of real-life criminal figures, to the far-fetched evil doings of imaginary arch-villains. Criminal acts are almost always glorified in these movies.- Plays and films...
remake of the 1916 French film serial of the same name concerning the adventures of pulp hero Judex
Judex
Judex is the title of a 1916 silent French movie serial concerning the adventures of Judex who is a pulp hero, similar to The Shadow, created by Louis Feuillade and Arthur Bernède.-Concept:...
. Directed by French filmmaker Georges Franju
Georges Franju
-External links:* at Allmovie...
, the film stars Channing Pollock
Channing Pollock (magician)
Channing Pollock was an American magician and film actor.-Magician:As one of the most sophisticated and charismatic practitioners of his craft; strikingly handsome with an enigmatic stage presence, he was best known for an act in which he would elegantly produce doves out of thin air and he was...
as Judex
Judex
Judex is the title of a 1916 silent French movie serial concerning the adventures of Judex who is a pulp hero, similar to The Shadow, created by Louis Feuillade and Arthur Bernède.-Concept:...
/Vallieres , Édith Scob
Édith Scob
Edith Scob is a French actress, best known for her role as the daughter with a disfigured face in Eyes Without a Face.Edith Scob has had several roles in European film and television and is married to Georges Aperghis....
as Jacqueline, Francine Bergé
Francine Bergé
Francine Bergé is a French film and stage actress .- Filmography :*1962 : Les Abysses*1963 : Judex*1964 : La Ronde*1965 : La Religieuse...
as Diana and Michel Vitold as Favraux.
Plot
The plot revolves the banker Favraux, receiving a threatening note from Judex demanding that he pay back people he has swindled. He is later drugged by Judex and locked away. Meanwhile the former governess Diana, kidnaps Jacqueline to try to get the banker's money.Production
The production of Judex happened by chance. French writer Francis LacassinFrancis Lacassin
Francis Lacassin, 18 November 1931 – 12 August 2008 , was a French journalist, editor, writer, screenplay writer and essayist.He's starting to work for the Jean-Jacques Pauvert's magazine Bizarre in 1964. He was writing about fantastic and detective literature in Magazine Littéraire, worked...
was writing an article on French film, and while doing research he was approached by a production manager with an idea for a film, when he suggested to do a film on Judex. The story came to Jacques Champreux who was the grandson of the original creator of Judex, Louis Feuillade
Louis Feuillade
Louis Feuillade was a prolific and prominent French film director from the silent era. Between 1906 and 1924 he directed over 630 films...
. Champreux has been a fan of director Georges Franju
Georges Franju
-External links:* at Allmovie...
and asked him to make the film, who accepted despite having a larger desire to remake Fantômas
Fantômas
Fantômas is a fictional character created by French writers Marcel Allain and Pierre Souvestre .One of the most popular characters in the history of French crime fiction, Fantômas was created in 1911 and appeared in a total of 32 volumes written by the two collaborators, then a subsequent 11...
. Franju was not very interested in the character or original story of Judex stating that "Judex is the only film of Feuillade that isn't good Feuillade", but desired to recreate the film in style of early French cinema that he remembered from his childhood. Jacques Champreux's idea for the film was to combine Franju's film style with the elements of the story in the original Judex and started writing the screenplay with that in mind. Champreux and Franju had the film open with a costume ball where everyone is wearing animal masks. This scene is influenced by French cartoonist J.J. Grandville, who depicted people with the heads of animals and birds.
Casting
Channing PollockChanning Pollock (magician)
Channing Pollock was an American magician and film actor.-Magician:As one of the most sophisticated and charismatic practitioners of his craft; strikingly handsome with an enigmatic stage presence, he was best known for an act in which he would elegantly produce doves out of thin air and he was...
, who was a famous conjurer
Conjuration
Conjuration is used in many video games, mainly RPGs, where it is usually referred to as summoning.* A notable example is the Final Fantasy franchise which incorporates summoning of monsters to fight alongside the characters....
in cabaret circles, was cast as Judex. Pollock had been in several films beforehand and the backing producers wanted to make him into a Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino was an Italian actor, and early pop icon. A sex symbol of the 1920s, Valentino was known as the "Latin Lover". He starred in several well-known silent films including The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, The Sheik, Blood and Sand, The Eagle and Son of the Sheik...
-type star. Franju and Champreux made his character into more of a magical character rather than a "dispenser of justice". Many actresses were thought of for the role of Diana Monti, originally played by Musidora
Musidora
Musidora was the stage name of Jeanne Roques, a popular French silent film actress. She became famous for her vamp roles in such film serials as Les Vampires and Judex, in which she developed a persona comparable to that of Theda Bara...
in the Feuillade's Judex. Franju and Champreaux wanted someone who would "still look good even in the dark" and originally desired to have Brigitte Bardot
Brigitte Bardot
Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot is a French former fashion model, actress, singer and animal rights activist. She was one of the best-known sex-symbols of the 1960s.In her early life, Bardot was an aspiring ballet dancer...
as Diana Monti which excited their producers. After seeing Les Abysses
Les Abysses
Les Abysses is a 1963 French crime film directed by Nikos Papatakis. It was entered into the 1963 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Francine Bergé as Michelle* Colette Bergé as Marie-Louise* Pascale de Boysson as Elisabeth Lapeyre...
at the Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
, they chose Francine Bergé
Francine Bergé
Francine Bergé is a French film and stage actress .- Filmography :*1962 : Les Abysses*1963 : Judex*1964 : La Ronde*1965 : La Religieuse...
who also played the role of Michele in the film. Franju cast Édith Scob
Édith Scob
Edith Scob is a French actress, best known for her role as the daughter with a disfigured face in Eyes Without a Face.Edith Scob has had several roles in European film and television and is married to Georges Aperghis....
as Jacqueline who he had worked with on his previous films, including Eyes Without a Face
Eyes Without a Face
Eyes Without a Face is a 1960 French-language horror film adaptation of Jean Redon's novel, directed by Georges Franju, and starring Pierre Brasseur and Alida Valli. During the film's production, consideration was given to the standards of European censors by setting the right tone, minimizing...
and Thérèse Desqueyroux.
Cast
- Channing PollockChanning Pollock (magician)Channing Pollock was an American magician and film actor.-Magician:As one of the most sophisticated and charismatic practitioners of his craft; strikingly handsome with an enigmatic stage presence, he was best known for an act in which he would elegantly produce doves out of thin air and he was...
as Judex/Vallieres - Édith ScobÉdith ScobEdith Scob is a French actress, best known for her role as the daughter with a disfigured face in Eyes Without a Face.Edith Scob has had several roles in European film and television and is married to Georges Aperghis....
as Jacqueline - Francine BergéFrancine BergéFrancine Bergé is a French film and stage actress .- Filmography :*1962 : Les Abysses*1963 : Judex*1964 : La Ronde*1965 : La Religieuse...
as Diana - Michel Vitold as Favraux
- Jacques JouanneauJacques JouanneauJacques Jouanneau was a French actor. He was born in Angers, France.- Filmographie :* 1953 : Capitaine Pantoufle : The barman of Goéland* 1954 : Les Intrigantes : The reporter...
as Cocantin - Théo Sarapo as Morales
Release and reception
Judex was released on December 4, 1963 in FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The general reception for the French critics of Judex was fairly positive, with most critics applauded the homage to the original silent film serial while noting the problems that arose when with the over-conscientious approach to style and atmosphere. A critic from L'Express
L'Express (France)
L'Express is a French weekly news magazine. When founded in 1953 during the First Indochina War, it was modelled on the US magazine TIME.-History:...
wrote that the film was "pure entertainment, pure charm, a total success". while another from Les Nouvelles littéraires called the film's pacing "lazy" and the film direction "nonchalant, not to say laborious". Claude Mauriac
Claude Mauriac
Claude Mauriac was a French author and journalist, eldest son of the author François Mauriac.He was the personal secretary of Charles de Gaulle from 1944 to 1949, before becoming a cinema critic and arts person of Figaro. He is the author of several novels and essays, and co-scripted the movie of...
of Le Figaro littéraire wrote that the film did not let the audience relate to the action as it was to caught up attracting them to the "plastic beauty" of the film. The film opened up to generally positive review in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as well. Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
wrote a positive review stating that the film was "...a successful homage to the French film serials of the early, silent days...[the film] does not send up this form of pic but rather captures its essential simplicity, adventurousness and innocence." Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
also wrote a positive review stating "Judex has too much low-key charm and seriousness to be wildly funny, but Director Franju seems content to woo a minority taste." The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
wrote a negative review, stating that Judex "suffers from several afflictions, one of which is ambiguity. It is hard to tell whether Georges Franju, who made it, wants us to laugh at it or take it seriously."
Modern reception has been generally positive. Jonathan Rosenbaum
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Jonathan Rosenbaum is an American film critic. Rosenbaum was the head film critic for the Chicago Reader from 1987 until 2008, when he retired at the age of 65...
of the Chicago Reader wrote that Judex was "one of the better features of [Franju's] middle period". Time Out wrote that the film is "superbly elegant" and an "enjoyable tribute to the adventure fantasies of Louis Feuillade
Louis Feuillade
Louis Feuillade was a prolific and prominent French film director from the silent era. Between 1906 and 1924 he directed over 630 films...
".
Home video
A Region 2 release of Judex was released on August 25, 2008 by Eureka in their Masters of CinemaMasters of Cinema
The Masters of Cinema organization began as a website dedicated to the most well-regarded film directors in the world. Founded by a diverse international group of like-minded film enthusiasts: Jan Bielawski, a mathematician; Doug Cummings, a graphic artist and freelance critic; Trond Trondsen, a Ph.D...
series. This release also included the 1973 film Nuits Rouges
Nuits Rouges
Nuits Rouges is a film directed by Georges Franju. The film was released in the U.S. in an English-dubbed version by New Line Cinema under the title Shadowman in 1975.The movie is based on the TV series L'Homme Sans Visage....
also directed by Franju.