After a long delay in seeing it,I was pleased to find 1963's Judex to be a very stylish affair,with directing auteur Georges Franju continuing to build on the visual motifs from Eyes Without A Face. Reading in the detailed booklet included in the Masters of Cinema set that this is his last film,I got set to see Franju's final credit.
View on the film:
Planned as a TV movie but quickly turned around to a cinema release, (the low budget makes it appear a number of "standing" sets were used)director Georges Franju leaves Silent movie-style fade- ins/fade-outs as the lone continuation of a his visual motifs,to instead go and explore a new style of film making: Kitsch. Not helped by the rather heavy script from Jacques Champreux, Franju gives would-be wacky set-pieces a tired feel with restrained camera moves instead of the lively, fluid shots that they deserve. Sounding more relaxed with the music, the score by Franju has a jiving playfulness that is missing from the returning appearance of Judex.
View on the film:
Planned as a TV movie but quickly turned around to a cinema release, (the low budget makes it appear a number of "standing" sets were used)director Georges Franju leaves Silent movie-style fade- ins/fade-outs as the lone continuation of a his visual motifs,to instead go and explore a new style of film making: Kitsch. Not helped by the rather heavy script from Jacques Champreux, Franju gives would-be wacky set-pieces a tired feel with restrained camera moves instead of the lively, fluid shots that they deserve. Sounding more relaxed with the music, the score by Franju has a jiving playfulness that is missing from the returning appearance of Judex.