Rare Cinematic Gems Exploring the Legacy of The Vampires: Hypnotic Eyes: Cult Guide

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Satanas, having committed suicide in prison, Venenos becomes the head of the Vampires. He learns that Philip is engaged to be married and orders Irma Vep to take an apartment in the same building and watch the girl. Irma learns that the betrothal dinner is soon to be celebrated. Venenos is advised and tells the caterer that the dinner has been postponed one day. The Vampires impersonate the caterer and his assistants. They poison the wine, and the janitor, who has been given some, drinks it and dies. His wife rushes into the banquet just in time to save the guests, who are about to drink to Philip and the girl. The Vampires switch off the lights and escape. Philip writes in code to his fiancée and tells her to go with her mother to a villa at Chailly. Irma Vep, accompanied by her maid, lies in wait for the limousine. It arrives with a wardrobe trunk strapped upright on the running board. Irma is at work spraying the interior of the automobile with a powerful anesthetic when Normandin steps out of the trunk. The women overpower him and Irma hides in the trunk. On arrival at Chailly, Irma telephones to Venenos, and is afterward captured by Philip Guard, who is soon joined by Normandin, who has escaped from the Vampires. Venenos rescues Irma and the pair escape in an automobile and escapes as the men continue after Venenos, who jumps from a bridge to a moving train and elude Philip and Normandin.

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A cine-roman following the fates of a Portuguese nobleman, a Carmelite nun, and a mysterious lookalike.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Parisette perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

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The creeping black assassin Fantômas, the criminal lord of Paris and master of disguise, has won the first round. But the equally resourceful Inspector Juve swears to win the second.

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An intrepid reporter and his loyal friend battle a bizarre secret society of criminals known as The Vampires.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Fantomas: The Man in Black perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

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Inspector Juve is tasked to capture the infamous criminal genius Fantômas who, ruthless and particularly elusive, changes his appearance and holds Paris' high society in a crippling grasp.

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Having committed murder in Belgium, Fantômas is sentenced to life imprisonment. Juve conceives the idea that if Fantômas is set free, he can follow him back to France and capture him and the remaining members of his gang once and for all.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Les Vampires perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

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The efforts of lawyer Jacques Varese and journalist Raoul de Nerac who attempt to expose and destroy the criminal organization led by a sadistic banker Rudolph Strelitz.

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As a token of his esteem for Captain George Cooper's prospective father-in-law, Lord Peters, the Rajah of Palakotta presents the captain with a casket of precious jewels. Cooper writes to his fiancée, telling her of this gift he will give her on his return. The notorious cracksman, Clement Rocca, robs the mail-train and reads the letter. He determines to steal the casket. He goes to the English hotel where the colonel and his daughter are staying. He meets them. At the same hotel is detective Harry Derwent. His suspicions are stirred by the action of Rocca. A telegram from Captain Cooper tells the time that his father and himself will arrive. The colonel and his daughter accept Rocca's invitation to join him in a shooting trip on an island off the coast. On arriving at the island, the criminal, on a pretext, leaves his guests. He returns to the mainland, knowing when the tide rises the island will be completely submerged. Not all his own way, however, is the criminal going to conduct his nefarious schemes, for Derwent is on the alert. On the previous night he had seen through a hole bored in the floor separating their rooms that Rocca is supplied with disguises. He had also learned of secret meetings with a man in an out-of-the-way cave, which is accessible only by a dangerous footpath. Capt. Cooper and his father duly arrive and the casket is deposited in the hotel safe. Captain Cooper goes for a walk on the cliffs. Half an hour later he is found insensible. The receipt for the casket has been stolen from the captain's pocketbook. It is Rocca's work. An accomplice, disguised as an orderly, goes to the hotel and is handed the casket on the strength of having the receipt. Cooper and the detective, arriving at the hotel, find that the box is gone. The captain gives chase to an automobile disappearing down the road. The detective hastens to keep watch over the cave. He hides behind a projecting piece of rock. In the interior, Rocca's accomplice hands over the casket. Derwent cautiously proceeds to the mouth of the cave, revolver in hand. He encounters Rocca. Before the latter recovers from the surprise Derwent snatches the precious package from him. There is a struggle. The thief loses his hold on the slippery rocks and staggers back over the edge, into the sea, disappearing forever. The colonel and his daughter, marooned on Bird's Island, have to swim for it when the tide rises. They keep afloat until they are picked up by a fishing smack. They don dry clothes loaned them by sailors and are soon back at the hotel. Captain Cooper returns from the unsuccessful pursuit of the casket. A happy reunion takes place when Detective Derwent enters with the jewels.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Fantômas: In the Shadow of the Guillotine perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

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A twelve-part serial following the adventures of the masked vigilante Judex as he fights against criminals led by the corrupt banker Favrauxom.

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The Vampires do not give up their attempts on the life of Philip Guard even after he is married. The wife of the janitor who was accidentally poisoned by wine meant for Philip's wedding is now in Philip's employ. She is anxious to avenge her husband's death, and consults a fortune teller. The fortune teller is a Vampire. By hypnotizing her visitor, the woman influences her to open the door of Philip's home to the Vampires. Normandin has fallen in love with Augustine, and has followed her to the fortune teller. She will not reveal the reason for her visit and he watches her day and night. It is this vigilance which finally rewards him by finding the Vampires descend on Philip's home. The Vampires are put to flight when they are discovered trying to asphyxiate Philip and his wife. While Philip and Normandin go for the police, Augustine and Jane, Philip's wife, are kidnapped and carried to a house in the suburbs. Normandin, pursuing the automobile, fires a shot that punctures the lubricating oil tank. This drips, leaving a trail which Normandin follows slowly but successfully on a bicycle. Philip and Normandin find that Jane and Augustine are kept prisoners in a cellar of the house. Philip leaves his revolver with his wife while he and Normandin go for the police. The official raiding party arrives while the marriage of Irma Vep and Venenos is being celebrated. Every exit is watched, and the police break in upon the Vampires. All are killed or captured, but a count shows that Irma Vep is missing. She has secured a revolver dropped by a policeman and hurried to the cellar to be revenged upon Jane and Augustine for the death of her companions. Jane, however, defends herself by shooting Irma, who drops at the feet of Normandin and Philip who have also hurried to the cellar. Thus the last Vampire is accounted for, and Philip has freed France of the terrible criminal menace. Normandin marries Augustine, and the two pair live happily ever after.