There's a world of difference between the natural and "found" surrealism of Louis Feuillade's wonderful lighthearted 1914 French serial and the darker, studied surrealism and campy piety of Georges Franju's 1964 feature-length remake. Yet in Franju's hands the material has its own kind of magic and wonder (as well as deadpan humour), and this is one of the better features of his middle period, which also yielded Les yeux sans visage (aka The Horror Chamber of Dr. Faustus). Judex (Channing Pollock) is a cloaked hero-avenger who abducts the villainous banker Favraux in order to prevent the evil Diana (Francine Bergé in black tights) from stealing a fortune from the banker's virtuous daughter (Edith Scob). Some of what Franju finds here is worthy of Cocteau, and as he found when he attempted another pastiche of Feuillade's work in colour, black and white is essential to the poetic ambience. Since the original Feuillade serials, among the supreme glories of movie history, are rarely screened, this film, ironically, may be the best place to find the true origins of Batman.

Direction: Georges Franju.

Screenplay: Jacques Champreux and Francis Lacassin, based on the original film by Arthur Bernède and Louis Feuillade.

Photography: Marcel Fradetal.

Editing: Gilbert Natot.

Art Direction: Robert Giordani.

Music: Maurice Jarre.

Channing Pollock......................................Judex / Vallière

Francine Bergé........................Marie Verdier / Diana Monti

Édith Scob......................................................Jacqueline

Michel Vitold.......................................................Favraux

Jacques Jouanneau............................................Cocantin

Sylva Koscina........................................................Daisy

Théo Sarapo........................................................Morales