Les Vampires [Blu-ray]

This review is of the Kino Blu-ray edition.This two disc set contains ten films varying in length from 15 to 60 minutes. Each story is complete within itself (no cliffhangers), yet part of an overall story arc. "Les Vampires" refers to a gang of criminals terrorizing Paris of 1915. There are rival gangs and gang leaders vying for supremacy. The nominal head of the vampires is a woman named Irma Vep -- an anagram of vampire. An investigative reporter tries to track down the gang, providing the overall story arc. Comedy relief is provided by the reporter's sidekick, a reformed Vampire, who often muggs into the camera. There are kidnappings, bombings, poison gas attacks, assassinations of police officials -- you name it, the Vampires are up for it! This is a silent film with musical accompaniment, and occasional off-screen sound effects (door bells, telephones).Image quality: The image is clear and sharp, though a little contrasty. The film has not been cleaned up, so there are numerous scratches, specks and white spots. In short, it looks like a 100-year old film, so don't expect perfection. Night scenes are tinted blue, but there was no other tinting. Tinting was common in silent films of the era, with a whole range of colors used to suggest different times of day and lighting conditions, but only night scenes were tinted in this film.Silent films told their stories visually, with only occasional intertitles where an explanation was necessary. The Kino discs have English intertitles, and translations of on-screen letters and notes.Highly recommended.

OK, this DVD is a bit expensive; nor is it admittedly for everyone, but for those who are willing to take a risk will find that great cinema dates much earlier than they ever thought.It is said of director Louis Feuillade, that this work is the first film of the silent era that doesn't require putting into a historic framework and I agree. At times this film will shock you in how "contemporary" it feels.The DVD is a decent quality transfer in 1.33:1 standard screen. The episodes are tinted (yellow for interiors, blue for night scenes, red for love scenes, etc.). I recommend setting your DVD player to black & white for the best picture. The score is a mostly piano soundtrack reminicent of Chopin, which was recorded recently, but is remarkably fitting. The title cards are in present-day English.This film is a ten-part crime series spanning a total of over 7 hours. Each episode runs approximately 40 minutes or so. The style is slightly comedic, full of espionage, and alot of fun, not very unlike watching a Bond movie today, minus the sexuality. My advice, buy this DVD and set aside a week to watch an episode or two a night. It truly is one of the supreme pleasures of film.

A great dvd of an incredible French serial. Considering that it was shot in 1915 makes it even more significant. The story was ahead of its time focusing on the chase and capture of a criminal gang. Great acting, story (even funny at times) and photography. The transfer was well done. This is a must dvd for anyone interested in films.

Love this Serial. It is over a 100 years old! Yet they upped it into a very nice Blu-ray disc. The period detail alone is worth the price. It all seems so quaint by today's standards. Automobiles racing along public highways at over 30mph! But still, men noticed women and women noticed those men. Oo-la-la! 7 serial episodes, each about 40 minutes long. Silent, with musical background music. The French were in WWI up to their knees the whole time this was being produced. Amazing! Not too pricy and when WAS the last time you watched a 100+ year-old movie, anyway?

KINO is the masters that bring cinema to Blu-ray. There line of silent films on blu-ray is amazing and utterly flooring at the art form and craftmanship they put into there products. Les Vampires is one of those forgotten about serial films. This is the film to own for it's old school mastery at telling a cliffhanger story. Perfection in performing and leaving you ready for more. The special features are awesome and the transfer of this film is mastery at it finest. Never has this film been such clarity. They honored this film. KINO tends to always create mastery. Highly recommend for the quality given to this transfer and to the reality of this being lost by time. Les Vampires is a film that goes up there with silent perfection. It's different and it's unique and is something that stands out. I absolutely loved this and KINO's transfer of this film is amazing. www.abucketofcorn.com

Louis Feuillade's1915 serial "Les Vampires" is a Must-See for thriller fans - this is where the genre was invented! (along with Feuilade's "Fantomas" and "Judex") Multiple secret criminal conspiracies, whose criminal masterminds, with high-tech weapons, mystify the police and battle each other to the death, while an intrerpid journalist risks life and limb to expose them. Musidora as Irma Vep portrays the screens' original "Bad Girl" with seductive, exotic flair, and has entranced fans even after a century. Cat-suits go back a long way! Graphic violence. Revenge. Needless brutality and cruelty. Sensuality. Sounds contemporary. What's not to like? Ten episodes, from about 1/2 hour to one hour each. Think of it like a tv series, don't try to watch it in one sitting. It's NOT a "cliff hanger", like other series of the time.