Judex

1963 crime movie

Rating: 16/20

Plot: A crooked financier gets some threatening love letters in which the mysterious Judex threatens to kill him unless he gives back money he's apparently stolen from others. There's a funky bird party where Judex shows up to perform some magic tricks and kill the host. Or does he? After his daughter decides that she doesn't want the inheritance, a criminal female gets involved and things get a little complex. Manigances! 

It's the bird heads that got me, Channing Pollock showing off sleight of hand trickery with some doves while all these bird-headed people look on. It's entirely unclear to me how the murder actually happens because I didn't see Favraux actually drink from the glass Judex handed him. But maybe there was some more sleight of hand that I missed. This Georges Franju movie is based on a French serial from the 19-teens, a masked criminal saga from Louis Feuillade who also did Fantomas. Franju pays homage respectfully. The stylistic touches are subtle ones, but this does have a flavor. Judex's story is a little hard to take seriously, but that's part of the charm. I'm not exactly sure when it's supposed to take place, but there are some science fiction touches that don't really seem to belong anywhere. Judex has mechanical secret doors and a nifty surveillance system. More of that kind of shit, and this would have been like a less-comic Batman (the television one). The title character is interesting although I wish he would have done a little more. He's a cool cat though. The first shot of him with his bird mask is amazing, a slow pan from his feet all the way to the crest. There are some other great visuals, too--a woman floating, a nun in the middle of the road, the villainous woman in her cat burglar or equally-sexy nun outfits. I don't always understand Francine Berge's character's decision-making, but I enjoyed watching her trying to execute it all. Georges Melies' son Andre is also a doctor in this movie. I also really enjoyed the music here, especially during the title sequence. It's the second great Maurice Jarre score I've heard in the past week. Anyway, really cool movie, probably more so if you have any interest in 60's homages to silent cinema or somewhat-confusing French crime capers or Georges Franju.