This is an excellent silent film and an artistic masterpiece! It centers on the exploits of a group of ingenious and resourceful jewel thieves also referred to as Vampires, who seek sexual and psychological domination over Paris' elite. Their methods include the use of poisonous gas, weapons, kidnapping, and disguises as tools to achieve domination. Although there is a leader that gives the vampires their orders, the group is really led by a captivating woman named Irma Vep who assumes a variety of disguises in order to carry out the gang's evil schemes. A relentless newspaper reporter named Philippe Guérande is on the trail of the vampires and seeks to have them imprisoned. His sidekick is Mazamette, a former member of the vampire gang who has reformed himself and assists Philippe in tracking down the bold and brazen group. Mazamette serves as Philippes' right hand man, informer and loyal friend. He also provides the comic relief in the film. This is a superb spectacle of French and silent cinema that mixes drama, mystery, horror and comedy and weaves it into a very complex and appealing epic. A big part of what makes this film so much fun is that it has a strong story line and features very imaginative and surreal situations that create the feeling of fantasy, but the brazen crimes and sometimes horrifying events that take place are very realistic. The film was shot in the deserted back streets and alleys of Paris during World War 1, which ultimately enhances the film's eerie atmosphere. It's easy to be drawn into this film, as the performances of its stars are very captivating, almost hypnotic and the cinematography is so evocative, you'll feel compelled to see what happens next. Many of the characters assume various identities and wear many hats in this film, for example; Irma Vep who is the main criminal, poses as a secretary at a bank, a maid, and a switchboard operator at a hotel. Musidora gives a stunning performance as the devious but very alluring Irma Vep. Edouard Mathé is fantastic as Philippe Guérande, the always efficient, intelligent and polite newspaper reporter. Marcel Levesque turns in an absolutely hilarious performance as Philippe Guérande's faithful, but loopy sidekick Oscar Mazamette. Delphine Renot also gives a good performance as Philippes' mother, who also gets caught up in the action when she is kidnapped and then later sent on a wild goose chase. Under Louis Feuillade's outstanding direction, these stars helped create an atmospheric and innovative entry into the silent film genre. This is a spectacular movie that deserves multiple viewings! Those who enjoy silent films and appreciate the incorporation of surrealism into motion picture will enjoy this epic the most, but the plot is so engaging and the performances so mesmerizing, anyone can enjoy this film! It's also a great place to start if you're just discovering the magic of silent and/or French cinema. The film has been corrected to the projection speed at which it was originally filmed, features new color tints, new title cards (subtitles) in English, and a memorable music score that adds to the excitement. Don't let this one pass you by!
Buy Les Vampires: 2-Disc Kino Classics Edition (1915) Now
OK, this DVD is a bit expensive; nor is it admittedly for everyone, but for those who are willing to take a risk will find that great cinema dates much earlier than they ever thought.It is said of director Louis Feuillade, that this work is the first film of the silent era that doesn't require putting into a historic framework and I agree. At times this film will shock you in how "contemporary" it feels.
The DVD is a decent quality transfer in 1.33:1 standard screen. The episodes are tinted (yellow for interiors, blue for night scenes, red for love scenes, etc.). I recommend setting your DVD player to black & white for the best picture. The score is a mostly piano soundtrack reminicent of Chopin, which was recorded recently, but is remarkably fitting. The title cards are in present-day English.
This film is a ten-part crime series spanning a total of over 7 hours. Each episode runs approximately 40 minutes or so. The style is slightly comedic, full of espionage, and alot of fun, not very unlike watching a Bond movie today, minus the sexuality. My advice, buy this DVD and set aside a week to watch an episode or two a night. It truly is one of the supreme pleasures of film.
Read Best Reviews of Les Vampires: 2-Disc Kino Classics Edition (1915) Here
The first thing to note about this film is that it is not about vampires, at least not in the traditional (bloodsucking, garlic, crosses) sense of that word. Instead, we have a glorious series of tales about a criminal gang and the attempts of a reporter and his sidekick to catch up with them. The viewer may sympathise with these attempts, but it is hard not to chear on Irma Vep and her 'vampire' colleagues. She is one of the great silent characters and everyone in the film, as well as the viewer, may be said to be half in love with her, half afraid of her. This film, or series of films, is very long, but it draws the viewer in, especially if viewed over a few successive days. Eventually one feels almost a part of the film's world. This world it should be remembered is the world of 1915-16, the first world war is raging nearby. It is quite staggering to think that a film like this could be made under these circumstances. This DVD is very well produced. The picture is almost invariably clear and there is no jerkiness in the movements of the actors. The tinting is subtle and adds to the mood of the scenes. The music has a series of recurrent themes which one begins to recognize and welcome as they reappear. The added bonus of two short features, featuring actors from the film, serves mainly to emphasise the production's wartime origins. One is for the relief of war orphans, the other an exhortation to serve France at the front. This film is not at all well known. It is to be hoped that this fine DVD can give it some lasting fame all these years later.Want Les Vampires: 2-Disc Kino Classics Edition (1915) Discount?
Director Louis Feuillade's LES VAMPIRES is not just one of the all-time great serials, it is one of the greatest examples of cinema in general from the World War 1 period. It has a sophistication both in terms of narrative and acting style that even exceeds many celebrated American films of the same era.The 10 part serial follows the exploits of a criminal organization known as the Vampires who spread fear and mayhem throughout Paris by killing, looting, and kidnapping. Plucky journalist Phillipe Guerande and his sidekick Mazamette set out on a crusade to rid the city of this evil threat.
LES VAMPIRES is a truly enjoyable viewing experience on many levels. It was shot in and around Paris during 1915-16 and the war torn, abandoned locations Feuillade chose for backgrounds add immeasurably to the heightened realism and chilling, doom-filled atmosphere of the film. Because of where and when it was made, it is a valuable, fascinating historical and cultural record preserved on film. It also has all the ingredients of the best serials: black-hooded villains, car chases, cryptograms, daring escapes, sweet-smelling poison gas... and topping it all off is beautiful French actress Musidora as the seductive Irma Vep ( an anagram of "vampire" ), strategist of the criminal gang and the mistress of their leader who is known as the Grand Vampire. But where American serials of the time used predictable plotlines, LES VAMPIRES takes unexpected twists and turns so that it evokes the feeling that anything and everything might happen. The film was hugely popular and it became the forerunner of the mystery/crime thriller genre, inspiring such great filmmakers as Fritz Lang and Luis Bunel.
Although widely available, the 1998 English version from Image Entertainment is not the best there is on this film. If you have a multi-region player I STRONGLY recommend the 2006 French language DVD edition from Gaumont Video. Granted, the intertitles are in French, but the print quality is far superior your jaw will drop, it is that good. Keep the English version if you feel you need the translation, but once you've watched the film a few times it's easy to follow regardless of the language. Or, you can always learn to read French. The bottom line is, for a film as great as this one, nothing but the best quality available will suffice.
LES VAMPIRES was almost lost until amazingly a print was found before it would have been literally carried away as garbage! The decomposing nitrate was stored in film cans and had no beginning/end titles or intertitles, making it virtually impossible to recognize what it was. Hence, the cans were put atop a dumpster to be hauled off. Fortunately, it was discovered in time and LES VAMPIRES was saved from oblivion so that we can savor it today, fully restored, its power to thrill and captivate intact and undiminished.
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