Judex

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Judex

1963

1h 35m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

9 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

Vigilante hero Judex (Channing Pollack) goes after Favraux (Michel Vitold), a crooked banker who defrauded scores of unwitting lenders. To make him pay for his crime, Judex slips the swindler a potion at the engagement party of his daughter Jacqueline (Edith Scob). Favraux appears to drop dead; one grave-digging expedition later, Judex has revived the big shot to administer justice! But the avenger will still have to keep one eye on Favraux's scheming governess, Diana Monti (Francine Bergé).

Noel Murray

The Dissolve

Judex's pacing is syrupy and its tone hazy, like a halting, half-remembered dream of a movie that may have never existed.

Rated: 4/5

Jun 16, 2014

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J. Hoberman

Village Voice

Nostalgic homage to Louis Feuillade's silent serials.

Sep 1, 2004

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Penelope Houston

The Spectator

A luminous, haunting adventure.

Apr 11, 2016

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...an entirely ineffective curiosity that's best left forgotten.

Rated: 1/4

Dec 24, 2014

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Christopher Long

Movie Metropolis

In shaving off 210 minutes or so, Franju eliminates all the backstory along with any concern for motivation or logic.

Rated: 7/10

Aug 3, 2014

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Eric Melin

Scene-Stealers.com

Franju's lack of serious coaching in the acting department shows how little he cared for things like motivation and subtlety. Instead he gets his kicks fashioning surreal set pieces that transcend the melodrama that the plot seems designed to support.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 25, 2014

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martin f

It starts as what seems to be a light-hearted detective story with absurd/occult elements but it quickly turns into a chase movie with comedic bad guys. No one makes sense here, most of the twists come from nowhere, feel too convenient, and are unimpactful. There is a lot of abandoned storylines, potholes and last minutes introductions. Even what seem to be the main characters just disappear in the backseats of the movie. It does feel like a condensed of a bigger story, which it what this movie is, based on a 1916 serial film. This gives it a strange charm but it is still not an excuse to not at least trying to have a minimum of fluidity. You could define that as a collection of the best moments of a TV shows removing any backstory or development. The films is saved by its beautiful visuals, its classy costumes, its more than charming actresses and by its (close to be) esoteric shots. The whole bird ball scene is captivating and worth the watch.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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s r

A culturally confusing tale involving masked super heroes that fight for justice against those who take advantage of the innocent. Saw it on TCM.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

The great Georges Franju's fascinating homage to the old silent serial hero Judex. Beautifully shot, the film is visually stunning while still recalling aspects of its silent forebearers. The characters themselves may seem a bit flat (especially the hero), but the visuals in the film make up for that. Well worth seeking out.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

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Audience Member

Directed by the great Georges Franju, this 1963 bore has greatness hidden in its core, but what is shown is truly unimpressive.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

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Audience Member

Fast paced twists and turns without dying by a thousand cuts. Clearly told adventure with ruthless bad guys, likeable and fallable heroes, and just a slight overdose of cheeky coincidences. Brilliant really. Must see the original 12 part drama series.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

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Audience Member

I enjoyed this French crime-thriller directed by Georges Franju who co-founded the Cinematheque in France. The print on DVD looked great. The story plays almost like a French Batman, and is almost a silent film at times, as it is based on and pays tribute to Louis Feuillade's serials. Worth a watch if you like old French crime thrillers, I certainly enjoyed it.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

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Georges Franju

Director

Channing Pollack

Judex

Francine Bergé

Diana Monti

Edith Scob

Jacqueline Favraux

Michel Vitold

Favraux

Theo Sarapo

Morales

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Synopsis

Vigilante hero Judex (Channing Pollack) goes after Favraux (Michel Vitold), a crooked banker who defrauded scores of unwitting lenders. To make him pay for his crime, Judex slips the swindler a potion at the engagement party of his daughter Jacqueline (Edith Scob). Favraux appears to drop dead; one grave-digging expedition later, Judex has revived the big shot to administer justice! But the avenger will still have to keep one eye on Favraux's scheming governess, Diana Monti (Francine Bergé).

Director: Georges Franju
Producer: Robert de Nesle
Screenwriter: Jacques Champreux, Francis Lacassin
Production Co: Comptoir Français du Film Production (CFFP), C.F.P.C., Filmes Cinematografica
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Canadian French
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 9, 2016
Runtime: 1h 35m

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