[Movie] dans FANTOMAS (1964)

Another dive into oldies of French cinema. God, when you look at it you think - they could do it, they really could. This level was shown back in '64, it's not just last year, but half a century ago. What Hollywood, French cinema was a thing back then.

Fantomas was a complete sensation as I remember it. The dubbing was done not only professionally, but also was stamped by the French party A, so all main voice actors had to receive a green light from original creators to dub. Also it's basically a highlight of my childhood. Since I'm quite old, let's be honest, when I was a kid there was no Internet, no broadcasting/cable, you could watch such movies on TV, but basically if you missed it you're out, there was no re-broadcast, which also highlighted the rating. You can imagine my fascination after I tell you that my grandma asked neighbors to let me watch it with them, since the electricity in our house malfunctioned. I was delighted. But only finding secrets of cinema you can truly appreciate the immense work that was put together. 

Fantomas is a notorious evildoer, he changes faces, while his original mask is this blue face. Blue face before all blue faces. I can imagine how hard it was to get into that rubber. He especially likes inventing all types of methods how to rob elegantly with charm, but can change style if it should follow some purpose.

At first he was like a myth, due to his change of faces, some people could not even believe him. Until one day the reporter who faked Fantomas interview was kidnapped and was given an ultimatum to change the content of the paper. Btw French were always advanced, just look at her they play lovers, she looks like his daughter, but how gorgeous she is and also that obvious outline of her breasts without a bra. In other countries this would be condemned, while I also think that's a bit erotic even for me, and I'm a woman and this gets me shy *^_^*

I like how they created almost a Bond car, I'm not sure who invented it first but with decades of Bond we got used that all his cars are modified. Anyway I like how they put these metal rods as a mean to trap a person. No matter how lame it would look today, for those years it's innovative.

Taking the face of the reporter Fantomas goes onto his next target, what supposed to be a trap for him, but became a chance to loot. What is amazing during the entire movies are stunts. You can see that actors done a great deal of physical performance themselves, although not without a stand-in, but still. Climbing ladders,

climbing the crane and hanging in the air,

flying off on a helicopter, again climbing the ladder.

Many things were actually achieved by smart editing of several scenes put together. Like for actions when the car chase was shot from outside with obvious stunt doubles, but also from the inside, which changed to main actors who were sitting in a safe place with the road shots pasted in. Plus the speeded up shots that simulated speeding car. Not to mention the shot of the road. All combined added to a thrilling chase.

Editing was also helpful when Fantomas changed his face. You could see how different he was, even if he was played by real actors, but their featured were exagerrated to give a plastic, unrealistic feeling. Same change of the shot gave the idea that he changed his face to another. Like here, he took off his wig

took another face/mask that he out on and

next shot you see him changed and doing all weird moves around his face, giving you the idea that he moves his face to fit. Again the make-up also gave this plastic and unrealistic feeling, which made you see the difference between one and the other.

Here are some shots from the car ride and change of shots from all kinds of angles, including aerial shots, but you could see the driver was a pro drifter.

I personally found this shot interesting, since the car basically hit the stone fence for real. And unlike anywhere else it's a real hit and a real fence.

Next driving was completely on another level. I think this car should be a really good one, since they easily drove on all different angles.

but also followed the off-road and it looked as amazing.

Two-wheeling was a bit too much though, but I'm sure viewers at that time were ecstatic :D

Judging from the storyline Fantomas is more of a blockbuster in comparison to the modern cinema. Since there is more action, especially several chasing scenes. The story of the movie itself is really easy. Fantomas was known as a thief legend, but the reporter and his lover decided to push things further, they faked an interview with Fantomas, which led to the reporter being kidnapped and given ultimatum to change it for better. Other thing kept the reporter from doing his part, but his editor published another paper which again led to reporter being taken to Fantomas lair. Fantomas is also like a mad scientist having many advanced technologies. He also wants to create someone who will be under his full command and loyal, wanting to get reporter's brain for it (lol))). As means of punishment Fantomas uses reporter's face to steal jewellery from the obvious trap laid by police, he also did not cover his face, so the commissar saw him in the open (which is why real reporter was detained when he got back). Same goes for using commissar's face, he basically set the both of them up, pushing the blame. The car scene was when reporter and his lover were helped out of the Fantomas lair, but were given a parting gift, a car that had faulty breaks. Second chase was already after Fantomas himself.

Where he escaped on his personal submarine. This is basically the difference between this and "good guys win", since Fantomas it seems has many things under control, very cunning, smart and acts fast.

But this is also an open ending of sorts for possible continuation. And oh boy it sure got the continuation it deserved.