Comments on: Judex, from Feuillade to Franju http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2007/08/14/judex-from-feuillade-to-franju/ • • • Being a journal by artist and designer John Coulthart, cataloguing interests, obsessions and passing enthusiasms. Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:33:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Paul http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2007/08/14/judex-from-feuillade-to-franju/comment-page-1/#comment-86796 Paul Sun, 16 Nov 2008 08:04:17 +0000 http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/?p=2248#comment-86796 I first saw Georges Franju's film of "Judex" at a viewing session for local Film Societies in the UK. At the time it had not long been released. The strange surreal quality emphasised by the black and white print made an impression upon me that never left my mind. When I finally got a VCR, I hunted down a copy of this film - presumably the official print is still languishing on the production company's shelf somewhere - and succeeded in obtaining an American copy with subtitles. "Judex" is one of those films that has a special place in film history and still retains its air of mystery. The DVD industry has made it possible for many of these 'lost' films to once again have the light of day, but not in the case of "judex" so far. However as a bonus, some of the original silent series of "Fantomas" have now been released on DVD, and I am able to bring my video copy of "Judex" together with the original concept (accepting that Judex came after Fantomas at the time). As we enjoy the CGI effects of films these days, many people are no longer aware of the imagination that brought stories to the cinema at its beginning. And this seems to me to be a great shame for there remains a quality in the early films that is sometimes lost in the excesses of finance and computer generation of films today. To see and appreciate these early films can enhance the enjoyment of the later developments in the cinema as there are elements in many films that have a continuity through time. I first saw Georges Franju’s film of “Judex” at a viewing session for local Film Societies in the UK. At the time it had not long been released. The strange surreal quality emphasised by the black and white print made an impression upon me that never left my mind. When I finally got a VCR, I hunted down a copy of this film – presumably the official print is still languishing on the production company’s shelf somewhere – and succeeded in obtaining an American copy with subtitles. “Judex” is one of those films that has a special place in film history and still retains its air of mystery. The DVD industry has made it possible for many of these ‘lost’ films to once again have the light of day, but not in the case of “judex” so far. However as a bonus, some of the original silent series of “Fantomas” have now been released on DVD, and I am able to bring my video copy of “Judex” together with the original concept (accepting that Judex came after Fantomas at the time). As we enjoy the CGI effects of films these days, many people are no longer aware of the imagination that brought stories to the cinema at its beginning. And this seems to me to be a great shame for there remains a quality in the early films that is sometimes lost in the excesses of finance and computer generation of films today. To see and appreciate these early films can enhance the enjoyment of the later developments in the cinema as there are elements in many films that have a continuity through time.

]]> By: Log » Blog Archive » Judex http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2007/08/14/judex-from-feuillade-to-franju/comment-page-1/#comment-48600 Log » Blog Archive » Judex Thu, 20 Mar 2008 04:35:15 +0000 http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/?p=2248#comment-48600 [...] of my favorite films, Judex (1963) directed by Georges Franju, screened at Anthology Film Archives last night, and on third [...] [...] of my favorite films, Judex (1963) directed by Georges Franju, screened at Anthology Film Archives last night, and on third [...]

]]> By: John http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2007/08/14/judex-from-feuillade-to-franju/comment-page-1/#comment-30216 John Wed, 15 Aug 2007 11:43:38 +0000 http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/?p=2248#comment-30216 Yes, that pesky band comes up a lot when you're searching for things. I've not heard anything by them but I did like Propaganda a lot in the Eighties (well, their first album). They had a bit of a Fritz Lang obsession and did a great single, Dr Mabuse. I've added a couple more links above since Jess Nevins' site (and book) is a great resource. Yes, that pesky band comes up a lot when you’re searching for things. I’ve not heard anything by them but I did like Propaganda a lot in the Eighties (well, their first album). They had a bit of a Fritz Lang obsession and did a great single, Dr Mabuse.

I’ve added a couple more links above since Jess Nevins’ site (and book) is a great resource.

]]> By: Wiley http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2007/08/14/judex-from-feuillade-to-franju/comment-page-1/#comment-30185 Wiley Wed, 15 Aug 2007 03:49:07 +0000 http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/?p=2248#comment-30185 Every time someone mentions Fantomas I can't help but help but think of Mike Patton's band of the same name which, though good, (esp. 'Delirium Cordia') I really wish had a more insidious, offstage gathering menace kind of sound, one worthy of their name, rather than the camp metal sound they are more famous for. Perhaps the most recent bearer of that Fantomas / Dr. Mabuse / Moriarty archtype of the unseen and unstoppable 'evil' mastermind, is that damn old man in those damn Saw movies. I guess evolution has never applied to abstract concepts. Every time someone mentions Fantomas I can’t help but help but think of Mike Patton’s band of the same name which, though good, (esp. ‘Delirium Cordia’) I really wish had a more insidious, offstage gathering menace kind of sound, one worthy of their name, rather than the camp metal sound they are more famous for.

Perhaps the most recent bearer of that Fantomas / Dr. Mabuse / Moriarty archtype of the unseen and unstoppable ‘evil’ mastermind, is that damn old man in those damn Saw movies. I guess evolution has never applied to abstract concepts.

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