Customer Reviews

Les Vampires

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4 star:		(2)
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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!

This is a treat indeed! Not reviewing the film (which is really good) I would like to discuss the technical data. The transfer is quite good, although not the best possible (i.e. the special features - two ultrashorties - are of amazingly good quality), but this is in no way the fault of the producers of this DVD. The picture is gently toned in sepia, green or blue thus assisting the scene. The new soundtrack is really superb: a small concert orchestra (possibly a septet) plays typical silent film horror music, with sometimes the popular tunes of the period melted in effortlessly. I have sometimes used this DVD simply for the purposes of music! The included booklet is very useful as well. All in all - you are unlikely to find a better silent movie, transferred in correct speed, with great score, very sensible actors, and good quality. Not to mention the MOOD...! My only complaint is that all the old French texts have been dropped and have been replaced with still image texts in English, but that really is not important. Grrrrrreat job, thanks!

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.

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.

For the addicts, the french cinemathèque has saved and restored 5 Feuillade movies of Fantomas (1913-1914)available on DVD on the french site of Amazon : ensure that your player can read DVD from Zone 2 (ie Europe and Japan) As it is silent, almost no language barrier (some scene title in French) And it is Huge, Historic

I just viewed the 10 part restored silent film Les Vampires. As a serial fan from the age of the Saturday matinee days, I have to say that this far overshadows any of the cliffhangers.

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 historic 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.

If you have any appreciation for classic cinema, this collection of serials is a must-own DVD set. The cloak-and-dagger Parisian underworld is fascinatingly immersive, the early-cinema film techniques are ingenious, and Musidora is a truly bewitching and alluring antiheroine.

That said, I have to comment on the availability and pricing of this DVD set (which, by the way, is well-produced and features a beautiful restoration of the films). I bought this a couple of years ago, brand-new, for around 30 bucks from an eBay seller. This was during a period when it was supposedly out of print, and, indeed, it wasn't in stock or available from online retailers.

Not long ago, the DVDs were back in print, listed as being in stock and sold through Amazon at a discounted price of about 30 dollars (or a little more), with a list price of $69.99.

Now, maybe a couple of months later, it's seemingly unavailable again, and there are Marketplace sellers with new copies listed between $120 and $600! There's even an old double-sided, single-disc edition (mine is two single-sided discs, not a flipper disc), used, currently listed for $500!

Buyer definitely beware. This set has frequently gone in and out of print, so don't rush to make a purchase you'll regret. As of this review, it's possible to track down cheap, new copies from reputable sellers on other sites (one rhymes with shme-shmay), not to mention the Unbox download purchase from Amazon. Of course, that may well change, but it's just as likely that these DVDs will be back in print someday soon and available as part of Amazon's inventory.

Sellers have the right to make as much money as they can (and considering the outrageous fees and commissions certain sites [cough cough] take from third-party sellers, I understand the necessity of a seemingly high listing price), but this has been an issue in the past with these DVDs.

I think the term cinema was invented for films like Les Vampires. It moves... but in a dream state. It is easy to see why this film (and other's by Feuillade) had such a huge and important impact on the Avant-Garde of the early teens. It maybe the first film to show that 'anything' is possible, and there is no absolute order in this world. So, this is my favorite all time movie.

Tosh Berman

Recent inquiries to Image Entertainment about the availability of this disc indicate they are still waiting for stock to arrive in their warehouse. Other websites imply some sort of production problem with the disc that made it temporarily unavailable. Don't pay an outrageous amount for this title. It shall return!