Les vampires (1915)
Country: FR
Technical: bw 421m
Director: Louis Feuillade
Cast: Musidora, Edouard Mathé, Marcel Lévesque, Jean Aymé
Synopsis:
A journalist and his undertaker friend Mazamette are always one step ahead of the police in tackling a ruthless gang of criminals led by Le Grand Vampire and his right hand, Irma Vep (get it?)
Review:
Actually we get through about three Grands Vampires (only Irma seems to be invincible), and there is definitely that serial sense of a potentially limitless narrative being written about two episodes ahead. Never mind, this is a hugely important milestone in the movies, not just as a serial, but as an early example of French 'polar' and a star vehicle (for Musidora). The daring, and not always flattering, adoption of the body stocking for her exploits is an iconic feature that left its mark (viz. Olivier Assayas), and the stunt work is impressive, the players scaling tall buildings without harness. Locations are in and around Paris, and what with the war raging only miles away, the wintry shots of leafless trees, secluded houses and deserted roads are oddly poignant.
Country: FR
Technical: bw 421m
Director: Louis Feuillade
Cast: Musidora, Edouard Mathé, Marcel Lévesque, Jean Aymé
Synopsis:
A journalist and his undertaker friend Mazamette are always one step ahead of the police in tackling a ruthless gang of criminals led by Le Grand Vampire and his right hand, Irma Vep (get it?)
Review:
Actually we get through about three Grands Vampires (only Irma seems to be invincible), and there is definitely that serial sense of a potentially limitless narrative being written about two episodes ahead. Never mind, this is a hugely important milestone in the movies, not just as a serial, but as an early example of French 'polar' and a star vehicle (for Musidora). The daring, and not always flattering, adoption of the body stocking for her exploits is an iconic feature that left its mark (viz. Olivier Assayas), and the stunt work is impressive, the players scaling tall buildings without harness. Locations are in and around Paris, and what with the war raging only miles away, the wintry shots of leafless trees, secluded houses and deserted roads are oddly poignant.
Country: FR
Technical: bw 421m
Director: Louis Feuillade
Cast: Musidora, Edouard Mathé, Marcel Lévesque, Jean Aymé
Synopsis:
A journalist and his undertaker friend Mazamette are always one step ahead of the police in tackling a ruthless gang of criminals led by Le Grand Vampire and his right hand, Irma Vep (get it?)
Review:
Actually we get through about three Grands Vampires (only Irma seems to be invincible), and there is definitely that serial sense of a potentially limitless narrative being written about two episodes ahead. Never mind, this is a hugely important milestone in the movies, not just as a serial, but as an early example of French 'polar' and a star vehicle (for Musidora). The daring, and not always flattering, adoption of the body stocking for her exploits is an iconic feature that left its mark (viz. Olivier Assayas), and the stunt work is impressive, the players scaling tall buildings without harness. Locations are in and around Paris, and what with the war raging only miles away, the wintry shots of leafless trees, secluded houses and deserted roads are oddly poignant.