Directed by Louis Feiullade
Written by Louis Feuillade
1915/France
Societe des Essablissements L. Gaumont
IMDb page
First viewing/YouTube
One of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
Philippe Guérande: [writing] It is several months since we have heard about the Vampires. But can’t we see their crafty hands behind those recent sinister and mysterious headlines?
This early serial is a ton of fun.
Phillipe Guerande is an intrepid newspaper man on the trail of a sinister gang of thieves and assassins known as the Vampires. Truth be told, he operates more like a sleuth and is accompanied most of the time by his faithful and brave comic-relief sidekick Mazamette. The Vampires operate like a secret amoral Masonic lodge. Nothing is as it seems.
I liked this a whole lot. It combined the supernatural, the lurid, and the comic very neatly. I loved that this did not spend forever bringing the viewer up to date at the beginning of every episode. I viewed it over several days.
Fan highlights
Totally agree. A lot more fun than I expected. It does not waste any time
My reaction exactly. I tried to comment on your review of this but that option isn’t available. Maybe because the post was so old. On to more D.W. Griffith. Sigh.
I recommend Judith of Bethuliah.
Some of Griffith’s films play better than others and I’ve been thinking of re-watching some of his films (that I liked) over the decades. (Orphans of the Storm, Way Down East, Broken Blossoms)
But Judith of Bethuliah is the one that I love. I saw it for the first time about five or six years ago, and I’ve seen it four or five times since then. It’s blessedly short and very exciting.
It’s Broken Blossoms next for me though you have made me want to watch Judith.