According to this movie, 'Judex' is an old fashioned word for a judge and the film is about the attempts of a man, Judex, to punish a rich evil-doer as well as his fight against a criminal gang run by a pretty lady. I have no idea how close this is to the original movie serial, a five-hour silent from 1916. Both, apparently, were set about the same time...just before WWI.

When the film begins, you learn that a very corrupt banker, Favreaux, has received a threat from the unknown Judex--promising to punish him for his many nasty deeds. Before Judex has a chance to strike, you see some of Favreaux's evil, you certainly are cheering for justice--and justice is served by Judex exactly when he promised. However, there are some serious complications--the dead Favreaux might not exactly be dead AND an evil woman and her criminal gang are afoot and might complicate things for Judex and Favreaux's sweet and innocent daughter.

This film sure plays a lot like a movie serial. Again and again, narrow and ridiculous escapes occur just like with most serials. For example, one highly illogical scene shows the band of crooks kidnap the daughter and they just toss her in the river...hoping she'll drown. When she doesn't, they then kidnap her AGAIN! Such odd happenings are definitely not unusual for old-time serials but for the early 1960s it does seem antiquated and silly. Despite this and quite a few other illogical moments, the film has some cool moments as well such Judex's cool high tech gadgets as well as the masks worn at the ball. All in all, a fun film but also one that is hard to take very seriously...especially the way that the baddies all conveniently off themselves in the final moments of the film!

Favraux, an unscrupulous banker, receives a threatening note, signed by "Judex", demanding that he pay back the people he has swindled. He refuses, and apparently dies after a midnight toast at his masked ball.

Franju has taken a page from the early French serials with this tale, calling to mind such classics as Fantomas (which gets a nice nod). The story could be told in several chapters, but luckily for us it was all put together in one film. The incredible costumes, the twists and turns of crime and justice... this is perfection.

The name of Franju does not seem to be well-known in the United States, which is unfortunate. Between this and "Eyes Without a Face", he is something of a master and should be recognized as such.

French remake of a 1914 serial involving a "crime fighter" who uses masks and deception to right wrongs and such. Similar in someways to a more real batman. This remake has Judex-the Latin for judge- going after a banker who swindled people by telling him that if he didn't repay the money he would die. And die he does-or so it appears as Judex spirits the man away and hold him prisoner. From there it gets complicated. Good but unremarkable as a whole mystery/adventure story set in the late 1800's thats perfect for late night viewing since its the sort of thing I used to run across at 2am. Worth a look if you run across it but I don't know if I'd go out of my way to see it.