JUDEX (1916). 12 chapters. Tinted.

JUDEX is the title of a 1916 silent French film serial concerning the adventures of Judex, a character created by Louis Feuillade and Arthur Bernèdl, resembling Emma Orczy's The Scarlet Pimpernel and pioneering the mysterious pulp heroes, such as The Shadow or Batman.

PLOT:
The story is complex and is told in 12 chapters. The basic plot involves a corrupt banker named Favraux, who is the target of Judex's revenge. It is eventually revealed that Judex's real identity is Jacques de Trémeuse, a man trying to avenge his family ruined by Favraux. Complicating matters is Favraux's beautiful and innocent daughter Jacqueline, with whom the avenger has fallen in love. A final element comes in the form of Diana Monti and her criminal gang who are working at cross purposes with Judex.

CAST:
René Cresté - Jacques de Tremeuse a.k.a. Judex
Musidora - Diana Monti aka Marie Verdier
René Poyen - Le môme Réglisse
Édouard Mathé - Roger de Tremeuse
Gaston Michel - Pierre Kerjean
Yvonne Dario - Comtesse de Tremeuse
Yvette Andréyor - Jacqueline Aubry
Juliette Clarens - Gisèle
Jean Devalde - Robert Moralés
Georges Flateau - Vicomte de la Rochefontaine
Louis Leubas - Le banquier Favraux
Marcel Lévesque - Cocantin
Olinda Mano - Le petit Jean
PRODUCTION:
On May 16, 1916, novelist Arthur Bernède pitched director Louis Feuillade a concept for a 12-part cinematographic novel, which would be simultaneously serialized in text and film, with story revisions by Feuillade.[1]

Feuillade had made two earlier serials, Fantômas and Les Vampires, about cunning criminals. Though popular with audiences, the serials drew criticism for glorifying outlaws. Judex, by contrast, was a heroic persona, but one who had all of the sinister trappings of the flamboyant villains who were popular at the time. He inspired other avengers, such as Johnston McCulley's El Zorro, Lester Dent's The Shadow, and Bob Kane's The Batman.

CAST:
Judex was played by French matinee idol René Cresté and Diana was played by Musidora, who had previously played the villainess Irma Vep in Les Vampires.

EPISODES:
These are the episode titles in French (with English translation)

1. L'ombre mystérieuse (The Mysterious Shadow)
2. L'expiation (Atonement)
3. La meute fantastique (The Fantastic Hounds)
4. Le secret de la tombe (The Secret of the Tomb)
5. Le moulin tragique (The Tragic Mill)
6. Le môme réglisse (The Licorice Kid)
7. La femme en noir (The Woman in Black)
8. Les souterrains du Château-Rouge (The Dungeons of the Chateau Rouge)
9. Lorsque l'enfant parut (When the Child Appears)
10. Le coeur de Jacqueline (The Heart of Jacqueline)
11. L'Ondine (The Water Sprite)
12. Le pardon d'amour (The Forgiveness of Love)
The twelve numbered episodes average 25 minutes in length each.