Judex

Louis Feuillade's groundbreaking 1916 serial Les Vampires created such a sensation that French censors, offended by the subversive humor, requested that he tone down his subsequent work. Feuillade sadly followed their advice and his next serial, the 12-part silent Judex (1917) seriously lacks the wicked fun and outlandish humor of its predecessor. Virtually unknown outside of France and unavailable for many years, Judex is an adventure/romance/revenge story involving the eponymous hero's (a mysterious crusader against evil) sworn mission to bring justice against a banker who wronged Judex's family. Complicating matters considerably is the fact that Judex is deeply in love with the banker's daughter. Wild criminal elements and breakneck chases are thrown in for good measure, but on the whole Judex feels more like a second-tier offering than a rediscovered classic. As the central character, René Cresté's Judex is so stiffly self-righteous that it is impossible to have any genuine emotions for him; easier to root for is the grand Musidora as the enjoyable arch-villainess Diana Monti. Boasting a solid DVD transfer and a fine original score by Robert Israel (who also discusses the music in a bonus featurette) that is often more interesting than the film it backs, this is an optional purchase, at best. (P. Hall)