Les Vampires (1915-1916)

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ½

Les Vampires (1915-1916) -- L. Feuillade

For a 7 1/2 hour silent film serial seen nearly 100 years later, its striking major accomplishment is that it is fun.  An intrepid reporter and his wacky friend Mazamette chase the evil criminal gang The Vampires through 10 episodes full of secret doors, letters with invisible ink, poison gas (or poison champagne), kidnappings, robberies, incredible stunts, and general mayhem.   Feuillade never moves his camera (although he does cut frequently within scenes) but within the scene there is movement, deep focus, and a great use of framing.  To this eye, it is modern enough, in technique and story, that I'm ready to start a conspiracy that it is a faux silent film (actually directed by Kubrick, taking a break from directing the moon landing for NASA).