Film Review
The second instalment in Louis Feuillade's five-part Fantômas serial sees
a substantial shift towards the more familiar action thriller, making this a spectacular
contrast to the first film in the series. Although perhaps less atmospheric and
menacing than the first film, Juve contre Fantômas has other pleasures, most notably
the rapid sequence of action scenes. Within minutes of escaping a terrible train
disaster, our heroes are fighting for their lives amidst a raging inferno at a distillery,
and more is to come!
The characters of Juve and Fantômas are also more fully developed and it is clear
that what is developing is a bitter fight to the death. Less spectre-like and abstract
than in the first film, Fantômas is now revealed to be a dangerous, fully-fledged
villain, thoroughly consumed by evil.
The relentless pace of this film is quite breathtaking, and is quite remarkable that Feuillade
had achieved such a mastery of the suspense thriller so long before Hitchcock and other
masters of the genre, and with comparatively primitive film-making technology.
The film ends with a truly brilliant cliff-hanger which provides an irresistible inducement
to watch the next thrilling instalment in the series.
© James Travers 2001
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Next Louis Feuillade film:
L'Agonie de Byzance (1913)
Film Synopsis
Police Inspector Juve has good reason to think that his formidable archenemy
Fantômas is up to his old tricks when the body of a woman, badly disfigured,
is found at the private residence of Dr Chaleck. Accompanied by his
faithful ally, the journalist Fandor, Juve follows Chaleck as he makes his
way across Paris. The mysterious doctor meets up with an attractive
young woman named Joséphine, who hands him a note. As Chaleck
goes on his way, Juve continues to tail him, whilst Fandor keeps a close
eye on the enigmatic Joséphine. It transpires that the latter
has as her lover a man named Martialle, who works for a distillery company.
To conclude a business deal, Martielle has to take a large sum of money by
train. Suspecting foul play, Fandor boards the train, just before Fantômas
shows up with his gang of villains and steals the money. The distillery
worker and the journalist only just manage to avoid being killed in a spectacular
train crash. The cunning Fantômas then lures Juve to the distillery
by sending him a telegram signed with Fandor's name. Caught in their
enemy's trap, the inspector and the journalist fire shots at each other before
they realise their mistake.
Narrowly escaping a fierce ambush, Juve and his friend return to Paris to
visit the home of Lady Bentham, Fantômas's former lover and partner
in crime. Intrigued by rumours that the house is haunted, they decide
to wait here and see what develops. Sure enough, a foul apparition
present itself, in the form of the vile Lady Bentham. It seems she
is to assist Fantômas in his latest criminal escapade - which is to
murder Juve in just a few days' time. The plan is for someone to visit
the inspector one night and murder him in his sleep...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.