Severed head. Ring that kills. Red code book. Spector. Dead man's escape. Hypnotic eyes. Satanas. Thunder master. Poisoner. Terrible wedding.
Notes:
A ten-episode silent film serial with English titles and intertitles and an added orchestral score. Musidora (Irma Vep), Jean Ayme (The First Grand Vampire), Louis Leubas (Satanas, the Second Grand Vampire), Moriss (Venemous, the Third Grand Vampire), Edouard Mathé (Phillipe Guèrande), Marcel Levesque (Mazamette). Originally produced as a French film serial in 1915-1916 with the title Les Vampires. "Special contents of this edition c1998 by Film Preservation Associates."
Contents:
Part 1. Episodes 1-4. The severed head ; The ring that kills ; The red code book ; The spector (ca. 114 min.) -- part 2. Episodes 5-6. The dead man's escape ; Hypnotic eyes (ca. 90 min.) -- part 3. Episodes 7-8. Satanas ; The thunder master (ca. 93 min.) -- part 4. Episodes 9-10. The poisoner ; The terrible wedding (ca. 107 min.).
Summary:
A ten-episode seven hour serial set in Paris in 1915. The Vampires (Les Vampires) is the name of an arch-criminal gang of brilliant and bloodthirsty thieves led by the indomitable and electrifying Irma Vep. The gang's exploits include the use of kidnapping, poisonous gas, heavy artillery, sexual domination, and murder to gain physical and psychological power over Paris' elite. Considered by critics as Feuillade's best work, this serial is a blend of realism, fantasy, horror and comedy. While any episode can be viewed as a complete film, each features the crusading journalist Phillipe Guèrande and his comical side kick Mazamette, as they relentlessly track down the brazen and resourceful gang. At the gang's center is the seductive, raven-haired Irma Vep (an anagram of vampire), played by Musidora, surrealist icon, and originator of the liberated screen siren. In all her charms she is like a true vampire: feared and desired by her male and female victims, cohorts and stalkers.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.