Judex **** (1963, Channing Pollock, Francine Bergé, Edith Scob, Théo Sarapo, Sylva Koscina, Michel Vitold) – Classic Movie Review 10,125

Favraux: ‘Judex.’

Judex: ‘It’s a Latin word meaning judge or avenger.’

Channing Pollock stars as avenging caped crusader Judex, who fights evil banker Favraux (Michel Vitold), in the 1963 French crime thriller film Judex, director Georges Franju’s capably made, fast moving and highly regarded 1963 homage to the old Louis Feuillade silent-movie classic serial (of 1916).

Favraux refuses to pay back the money to the people he has swindled after receiving a do-or-die note signed by Judex, a kind of mix of Batman and Robin Hood.

Judex holds the supposedly dead Favraux, apparently dead after a midnight toast at his masked ball but actually drugged and locked away by Judex, in order to trap Diana Monti (Francine Bergé) and stop her getting her hands on the banker’s inheritance after she kidnaps the banker’s widowed daughter Jacqueline (Edith Scob).

Franju’s talent for mystery and intrigue ensures that Judex is atmospheric, exuberant and entertaining.

Also in the cast are Edith Scob, Jacques Jouanneau, Sylva Koscina, Théo Sarapo, Benjamin Boda, Philippe Mareuil, René Génin, Jean Degrave, Roger Fradet, André Méliès, Philippe Mareuil, Luigi Cortese, Ketty France and Suzanne Gossen.

Judex is directed by Georges Franju, runs 98 minutes, is made by Comptoir Français du Film Production and Filmes Cinematografica, is released by Comptoir Français du Film (1963) (France), Continental Distributing (1966) (US) and Contemporary Films (1967) (UK) , is written by Jacques Champreux (adaptation and dialogue) and Francis Lacassin (adaptation and dialogue), based on a screenplay by Arthur Bernède and Louis Feuillade, is shot in black and white by Marcel Fradetal, is produced by Robert de Nesle, is scored by Maurice Jarre, with production designs by Robert Giordani.

It is part of the The Criterion Collection (2014) (USA) (DVD).

Before becoming an actor in the early sixties, the Sacramento, California-born Channing Pollock was a master magician.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,125

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