Georges Franju (1912-1987)
co-founder of the Cinématèque française in 1936 with Henri Langlois, went on to become an acclaimed filmmaker of short documentary films. He began to make feature film in 1958, amongst which were his three fantastic films, Eyes without a Face, Judex and Shadowman. This switch to the fantastic brought him much criticism and [...]
NUITS ROUGES
(Shadowman)
France – 1973 – 105min. – in French
Cast: Jacques Champreux, Gayle Hunnicutt, Jacqueline Chaplin
The arch-criminal Shadowman, or the man without a face, is out to steal the treasure of the Templar Knights from the surviving members of the sect in Paris. His accomplices include a nameless, beautiful but sadistic woman, who takes chilling delight [...]
LES YEUX SANS VISAGE
(Eyes without a Face)
France – 1959 – 90 min. – in French
Cast: Pierre Brasseur, Edith Scob, Alida Valli
The arrogant and cruel surgeon, Professor Génessier, has disfigured his beautiful daughter in a car crash. He tries to restore her beauty by attempting face transplants. His accomplice, Louise, morally blinded by her love for [...]
JUDEX
France – 1963 – 103min. - in French
avec Channing Pollock, Francine Bergé, Edith Scob
The corrupt banker Favraux is giving a masked ball to celebrate his daughter Jacqueline’s engagement. He receives a letter condemning him to death at midnight if he does repent – signed imperiously “Judex”. What follows is a series of kidnappings, plots, betrayals, [...]
