Paula Hammond - Features EditorMasked villainy, spy gadgetry, and Louis de Funès’ slapstick… Fantomas has it all. And this month, France’s most beloved crime caper returns with three more films of globe-trotting heists, and unforgettable set-pieces.
Eureka Entertainment’s Fantomas Returns! The Fantomas Trilogy, 1964-1967, arrives on HD blu-ray on 24th Novermber — just in time for gift-giving season.
Created by crime writers Marcel Allain and Pierre Souvestre, the criminal mastermind Fantômas is best known outside of France as the antagonist of the silent serial that bears his name, directed by early cinematic pioneer Louis Feuillade. Within France, though, he is most famously associated with André Hunebelle’s beloved Fantômas trilogy. Released between 1964 and 1967, Hunebelle’s films revived the character with a comedic twist in the era of four-colour comic books, Bondmania and a boom in French popular cinema.
In the first film of the trilogy, Fantômas seeks revenge on Jérôme Fandor (both played by Jean Marais in dual roles) after the journalist publishes an unflattering article about him. The master of disguise begins by framing Fandor for a series of crimes before moving on to impersonate Juve (Louis de Funès), bumbling commissaire of the Parisian police.
In Fantômas Unleashed, the villain kidnaps scientists to work on a new super weapon, leading Fandor and Juve on a trip to Rome in an attempt to thwart his plans.
Finally, Fantômas vs Scotland Yard transports Fandor and Juve to an old dark house when Fantômas decides to tax the rich – beginning with the wealthy owner of a Scottish castle, Lord McRashley (Jean-Roger Caussimon).
Drawing on a huge range of influences, from The Pink Panther and James Bond to Silver Age superheroes and Dr Mabuse, Hunebelle’s Fantômas films are colourful adventures featuring breathtaking stuntwork, sweeping scores by Michel Magne and standout performances by comedian Louis de Funès, one of the most beloved figures in the history of French cinema.
The Masters of Cinema series is proud to present the Fantômas trilogy on Blu-ray for the first time on home video in the UK. Presented on blu-ray for the first time on home video in the UK, from restorations by Gaumont Film Company, these cinematic classics are strictly limited to 2,000 copies.
