October 9, 2010
FANTOMAS
A recent screening of Danger Diabolik for my film students and nights reading macabre mystery maestro, Richard Sala, set a devilishly fun tone for the weekend. With master criminals, fiendish plots, and evil lairs on the brain, I wanted to remind Spy Vibers that Kino International has recently released a DVD collection of Louis Feuillade's Fantomas. Fans of Feuillade's Les Vampires, Judex, and Fritz Lang's Dr. Mabuse films will want to check this out! You can also learn more about the pulp character, Fantomas, here. The official trailer for the cliffhanger serial from Kino uses conventions that remind me of Roman Coppola's excellent homage to Barbarella, Danger Diabolik, and David Holtzman's Diary- CQ. Who is Fantomas? Spy Vibers will also want to check out the Fantomas series of films made in the 1960s with actor (and Jean Cocteau partner), Jean Marais. I've included a clip below that offers a healthy dose of secret-lair-baddie vibe! Have a great weekend!