I had read about this film but had never had a chance to view it, or so I thought. I acquired a copies of all three films and watched them. I loved this one, with its style and wit. Jean Marais is outstanding in the dual roles of hero and villain and Louis de Funes is equally good as the hapless Inspector Juve. The film is lightweight but that is its strength. It never gets bogged down in overly serious drama so it can revel in the absurd plot, which is often far more entertaining than even the best drama. It certainly screams the 60s, which is probably my favorite decade, from a design standpoint. Fantomas' lair is a triumph of set design and the flying Citroen is beautifully over the top.
As it turned out, in viewing the film, I realized I had seen part of it before, as I had a vivid memory of the rooftop chase, when Fantomas escapes using a crane. This is a great film for a rainy day or quiet weekend. It won't go down as a masterpiece of cinema, but it will entertain you for a couple of hours, which is far more than you can say for a lot of movies these days. Check it out if you stumble across it.
As it turned out, in viewing the film, I realized I had seen part of it before, as I had a vivid memory of the rooftop chase, when Fantomas escapes using a crane. This is a great film for a rainy day or quiet weekend. It won't go down as a masterpiece of cinema, but it will entertain you for a couple of hours, which is far more than you can say for a lot of movies these days. Check it out if you stumble across it.