Category: 1916

  • Judex (1916, Louis Feuillade)

    The first chapter of Judex doesn’t get a chapter title; it’s just the prologue. While the action in the prologue leads directly into the action of the first chapter, throwing young, wealthy widow Yvette Andréyor into despair (financial and emotional), the first titled chapter ends up having less to do with where Judex is going…

  • Judex (1916, Louis Feuillade), Epilogue

    Judex’s epilogue further wraps things up for the cast. There’s some definite resolution for young René Poyen as far as his living situation, some humor with Marcel Lévesque, and some humility from Louis Leubas. René Cresté and Yvette Andréyor get a romantic send-off, with Cresté finally able to wear something nicer than his Judex costume.…

  • Judex (1916, Louis Feuillade), Episode 12: Love's Forgiveness

    The title of the episode is Love’s Forgiveness so there’s not much in the way of surprises. René Cresté risks it all by reuniting Yvette Andréyor with father Louis Leubas, then discovers mom Yvonne Dario has already told Andréyor all and she–Andréyor–is in love with him–Cresté. The multiple deceptions and whatnot don’t bother her. There’s…

  • Judex (1916) ch11 – The Water Goddess

    So while Yvonne Dario is still consoling Yvette Andréyor about deceiving her–again, it’s not clear how much of the blame Dario takes on herself, which should be a lot since she made René Cresté vow to kill Andréyor’s father–Cresté goes off to save Andréyor’s father. On the way, he meets up with his brother, Édouard…

  • Judex (1916, Louis Feuillade), Episode 11: The Water Goddess

    So while Yvonne Dario is still consoling Yvette Andréyor about deceiving her–again, it’s not clear how much of the blame Dario takes on herself, which should be a lot since she made René Cresté vow to kill Andréyor’s father–Cresté goes off to save Andréyor’s father. On the way, he meets up with his brother, Édouard…

  • Judex (1916, Louis Feuillade), Episode 10: Jacqueline's Heart

    Jacqueline’s Heart is a very short episode. Nine minutes or so. And nothing much happens except René Cresté plays fast and loose with his multiple identities and Yvette Andréyor finds his make-up kit. Overhearing Andréyor wish his sweet old man persona would show up, Cresté obliges. A note from Andréyor’s father–no longer imprisoned (at least…

  • Judex (1916, Louis Feuillade), Episode 9: When the Child Appeared

    This chapter begins with the principals removed from their problems and living it up on the Mediterranean. Édouard Mathé and mother Yvonne Dario have taken Yvette Andréyor, Olinda Mano, and (of course) René Poyen away from the troubles in Paris to a beautiful seaside estate. Somewhere they can all just relax, safe from Musidora’s evil…

  • Judex (1916, Louis Feuillade), Episode 8: The Underground Passages of the Chateau-Rouge

    The Underground Passages of the Chateau-Rouge shows the audience the most of Judex’s base so far. There’s a finished bedroom and some castle interior hallways. Not just the ruins and then laboratory. Some of it is revealed when brothers René Cresté and Édouard Mathé show their mom, Yvonne Dario, around the base. She wants to…

  • Judex (1916, Louis Feuillade), Episode 7: The Woman in Black

    The Woman in Black introduces the first new character to Judex since the first chapter. There’s the prologue and then the first chapter; The Woman is the first new character since the first chapter. It’s Judex’s mom, played by Yvonne Dario (mostly in some awesome old age makeup–Judex is great with the old age makeup).…

  • Judex (1916, Louis Feuillade), Episode 6: The Licorice Kid

    The Licorice Kid–René Poyen–gets his own chapter. Sort of. Poyen figures into it quite a bit, but it’s not his chapter. He doesn’t even save the day (he does help save the day). While Yvette Andréyor is safe, René Cresté is still very sad she doesn’t like him after he threatened to kill her father…

  • Judex (1916) ch05 – The Tragic Mill

    The Tragic Mill earns its title. Villains Musidora and Jean Devalde kidnap currently sickly damsel in distress Yvette Andréyor and take her to an old mill. The kidnapping–Andréyor’s second in Judex (so far)–happens only before René Cresté arrives to protect her. While the villains bicker over who has to actually murder Andréyor (it seems like…

  • Judex (1916, Louis Feuillade), Episode 5: The Tragic Mill

    The Tragic Mill earns its title. Villains Musidora and Jean Devalde kidnap currently sickly damsel in distress Yvette Andréyor and take her to an old mill. The kidnapping–Andréyor’s second in Judex (so far)–happens only before René Cresté arrives to protect her. While the villains bicker over who has to actually murder Andréyor (it seems like…

  • Judex (1916, Louis Feuillade), Episode 4: The Secret of the Tomb

    I was wondering how Judex was going to move forward–the last chapter ended with villains Musidora and Jean Devalde foiled in their kidnapping of Yvette Andréyor. This chapter begins with Musidora suspicious of Judex’s warnings. She convinces Devalde to investigate and they head to the graveyard. Because why wouldn’t you immediately assume there’s something fishy…

  • Judex (1916) ch03 – The Fantastic Hounds

    The Fantastic Hounds seems like a silly name for the chapter, but it turns out Judex’s dog pack is rather fantastic. They aren’t just able to sniff out kidnapped Yvette Andréyor, they’re able to rescue her. Sure, a ten or twenty dog pack is intimidating, but they execute their mission perfectly. Kudos to whoever trained…

  • Judex (1916, Louis Feuillade), Episode 3: The Fantastic Hounds

    The Fantastic Hounds seems like a silly name for the chapter, but it turns out Judex’s dog pack is rather fantastic. They aren’t just able to sniff out kidnapped Yvette Andréyor, they’re able to rescue her. Sure, a ten or twenty dog pack is intimidating, but they execute their mission perfectly. Kudos to whoever trained…

  • Judex (1916, Louis Feuillade), Episode 2: The Atonement

    The Atonement might be a peculiar chapter for Judex; since it’s only the second one, however, maybe it’s going to be the norm. It starts with Judex gently intimidating his captive–Louis Leubas. At first, it seems like Leubas is going to be doing some atoning. It’s also where Feuillade has some continuity issues–which the intertitles…

  • Judex (1916) ch01 – The Mysterious Shadow

    The first chapter (proper) immediately follows the prologue, with Yvette Andréyor taking over the lead (possibly for the rest of Judex). Unlike her father, she’s swayed by the mysterious Judex’s demand–half her father’s fortune was to go to charity or he’d be killed. Andréyor, shedding herself of gold-digging fiancé Georges Flateau, gives away the entire…

  • Judex (1916, Louis Feuillade), Episode 1: The Mysterious Shadow

    The first chapter (proper) immediately follows the prologue, with Yvette Andréyor taking over the lead (possibly for the rest of Judex). Unlike her father, she’s swayed by the mysterious Judex’s demand–half her father’s fortune was to go to charity or he’d be killed. Andréyor, shedding herself of gold-digging fiancé Georges Flateau, gives away the entire…

  • Judex (1916) ch00 – Prologue

    The prologue to Judex mostly concerns banker Louis Leubas. He’s rich, he’s French, he’s corrupt. He wants to carry on with a younger woman–Musidora–but he’s got a widowed daughter (Yvette Andréyor) and a grandson living with him. So he decides to marry off Andréyor to a presumably suitable suitor (Georges Flateau) and settle in with…

  • Judex (1916, Louis Feuillade), Prologue

    The prologue to Judex mostly concerns banker Louis Leubas. He’s rich, he’s French, he’s corrupt. He wants to carry on with a younger woman–Musidora–but he’s got a widowed daughter (Yvette Andréyor) and a grandson living with him. So he decides to marry off Andréyor to a presumably suitable suitor (Georges Flateau) and settle in with…