Nearing the end of ICM's French film challenge,I started searching for DVDs that I've been meaning to check for ages. Despite getting it after seeing the magnificent Eyes Without A Face,I somehow have not got round to seeing Master of Cinema's double bill from auteur Georges Franju,which led to me deciding to finally witness Franju's first take on Judex.
View on the film:
Abridging the 12 hour run-time of the 1916 original in their modern adaptation, the screenplay by Jacques Champreux and Francis Lacassin brilliantly keep to the spirit of the films roots,with the ransom demand, the kidnapping of Jacqueline and the end of reel heroic rescue by Judex hitting the frantic atmosphere of classic cinema serials. Keeping close to the pace of a serial, the writers struggle to get out of a disjointed tone,as the plan by the baddies becomes stretched out,and Judex is saved to appearances at the end of acts.
Lovingly paying tribute to Feuillade with Silent-movie style fade-ins and a classy dedication, director Georges Franju & cinematographer Marcel Fradetal build upon the Fantasy stylisation of Eyes Without A Face,with the bird mask intro of Judex and the climbing up of walls by him and his gang. Whilst the cast have more alluring costumes, Franju twists his visceral horror of Eyes into the serial origins with the return of a bird cage as a motif, Diana's kidnapping of Jacqueline holding tension on a knife-edge,and an astonishing shot following someone falling to their death.
Eyeing another collaboration with Franju, Edith Scob gives an excellent,expressive performance as Jacqueline,whose face gets caught in a wide-eyed state of fear. Creeping around dressed as a nun, Francine Bergé gives an outstanding performance as Diana,who is given a ruthlessness by Bergé which shines each time she pulls a knife out. Swinging into action at every end of act, Channing Pollock gives a dashing performance that keeps the heroic Judex flying in the air.
View on the film:
Abridging the 12 hour run-time of the 1916 original in their modern adaptation, the screenplay by Jacques Champreux and Francis Lacassin brilliantly keep to the spirit of the films roots,with the ransom demand, the kidnapping of Jacqueline and the end of reel heroic rescue by Judex hitting the frantic atmosphere of classic cinema serials. Keeping close to the pace of a serial, the writers struggle to get out of a disjointed tone,as the plan by the baddies becomes stretched out,and Judex is saved to appearances at the end of acts.
Lovingly paying tribute to Feuillade with Silent-movie style fade-ins and a classy dedication, director Georges Franju & cinematographer Marcel Fradetal build upon the Fantasy stylisation of Eyes Without A Face,with the bird mask intro of Judex and the climbing up of walls by him and his gang. Whilst the cast have more alluring costumes, Franju twists his visceral horror of Eyes into the serial origins with the return of a bird cage as a motif, Diana's kidnapping of Jacqueline holding tension on a knife-edge,and an astonishing shot following someone falling to their death.
Eyeing another collaboration with Franju, Edith Scob gives an excellent,expressive performance as Jacqueline,whose face gets caught in a wide-eyed state of fear. Creeping around dressed as a nun, Francine Bergé gives an outstanding performance as Diana,who is given a ruthlessness by Bergé which shines each time she pulls a knife out. Swinging into action at every end of act, Channing Pollock gives a dashing performance that keeps the heroic Judex flying in the air.