"Les Vampires" is a French silent movie from 1915, released on Blu-Ray in USA, and composed by the following ten chapters.
1) The Severed Head: The investigative reporter Philippe Guérande, from The Globe, is investigating the gang The Vampires. His chief is informed that Inspector Durtal, who was in charge of The Vampire investigation, was found dead with the severed head missing, in Saint-Clément-sur Cher and asks Philippe to go to the place. Philippe's mother tells him to look for an old family friend, Dr. Nox, who lives in the location. Meanwhile, Dr. Nox receives the American Mrs. Simpson, who has just bought his mansion. Philippe arrives and is welcomed by Dr. Nox. During the night, Philippe finds a threat note from The Grand Vampire on his bed and finds a secret opening in the wall. On the next morning, Mrs. Simpson finds that she was robbed during the night. Philippe leaves them and goes to the Examining Magistrate, and they plot a plan to find what happened in the mansion. And soon they learn the truth. My vote is eight.
2) The Deadly Ring: Count de Noirmouller reads on the gossips of the newspaper that the ballerina Marfa Koutiloff, who will perform the ballet The Vampires, would be engaged of Philippe Guérande. He buys a poisoned ring and gives to Marfa, who dies on the stage while performing the play. Phillipe recognizes Dr. Nox, who is the Grand Vampire, in the havoc and follows him by taxi. However, he is captured by The Vampires gang and brought to a hideout, where they intend to interrogate and execute him. He is locked with a guard, and soon he recognizes him as Mazamette, who did not forget his promise and helps Philippe to release. But they are locked inside the room and the Grand Inquisitor is coming. My vote is six.
3) The Red Cryptogram: Philippe is trying to decipher a red notebook he stole from the pocket of the Grand Inquisitor's body with the list of crimes committed by The Vampires. He fakes illness to The Globe and sees that his house is under surveillance by the gangsters. He disguises and leaves the house through the chimney and goes to "The Howling Cat" night club that is presenting Irma Vep, an anagram for vampire. The Grand Vampires asks Irma to recover the red notebook. Meanwhile, Mazamette gives a poison pen that he stole from The Grand Vampire to Philippe. Soon Irma arrives at Philippe's house posing as maid, but he recognizes her. His mother receives a telegram informing that her brother had a car accident. Before leaving the house, Philippe gives the poison pen to her. She is kidnaped by Father Silence who wants her to write a ramson rote. Philippe fakes that is sleeping and Irma and the Grand Vampire search the red notebook in his room. He shoots them but they escape, and he learns later that his revolver was loaded with blanks. My vote is seven.
4) The Spectre: The Grand Vampire poses of the real estate broker Mr. Treps and is visited by the businessman Juan-José Moréno, who wants to rent and apartment with a safe. Mr. Treps takes Moréno to an apartment with the safe open in the rear to the next door neighbor, where Irma Vep lives. They find a bag inside with black clothes and the Grand Vampire believes Moréno is a thief. Irma poses of the bank secretary Miss Juliette Bertaux, and she learns that Mr. Metadier shall take 300,000 francs to another branch of the bank. Juliette is the substitute carrier for Mr. Metadier, in case of impossibility. The Vampires kill Metadier and his body is thrown off the train. But on Monday, Mr. Metadier arrives in the bank and takes the money. Philippe investigate the case and recognizes Irma Vep. But how Mr. Metadier arrived in the bank? My vote is seven.
5) The Corpse's Escape: The Examining Magistrate is promoted and moves to Paris. He summons Moréno that commits suicide in front of him swallowing a cyanide pill. It is late night, and the morgue is closed, so his body is left in a cell. But he actually has lured the authorities and is alive, and during the night, he wakes up and kills the police officer in watch. He takes his clothes and flees from the jail, but Mazamette has insomnia and sees his hideout. Meanwhile the Vampires kidnap Philippe, but he succeeds to escape and looks for the costumer designer Pugenc since he was locked in a box number 13 from his company. Pungenc has just delivered police uniforms to Moréno and his gang. Further, Philippe learns that the box was delivered to the Baron de Mortesalhues, who is another identity of the Grand Vampire, and will promote a ball to the Parisien high society. Moréno kidnaps Philippe to hang him but proposes to exchange his life per a way to revenge against the Vampires. Philippe tells about the ball, and they spare his life and keep him tied-up to check the information. What will the Grand Vampire and Moréno do? My vote is eight.
6) The Eyes that Mesmerize: Moréno reads on the newspaper that a Fontainebleau notary has been murdered by the Vampires. Moréno is a powerful hypnotizer and controls his new maid. Meanwhile, Philippe and Mazamette see on the movie theater that the Grand Vampire and Irma Vep are involved in the foregoing murder. They ride bicycles to Fontainebleau and see the American tourist, Horatio Werner, riding a horse in a suspect way. They follow him and find a box below a large rock, and they take it. Meanwhile, the Grand Vampire learns that the American millionaire George Baldwin, has been robbed in a fortune by the criminal Raphael Norton, and Geroge has promised a reward for who that captures the thief. When he sees the reaction of Werner after reading the note, he believes that Werner is Norton ad sets a plan in course. My vote is six.
7) Satanas: After killing the Grand Vampire under Moréno's hypnotism, Irma Vep becomes his mistress. Out of the blue, they have a mysterious visitor at home. The man uses a needle under his glove to paralyze Moréno and tells that he knows that he killed the Grand Vampire that is inside a trunk. Further, he identifies himself as Satanas, the chief of the Grand Vampire. The gang dumps the trunk in the Seine River, and later, Moréno and Irma go to a cabaret. They receive a note from Satanas saying that he will show his power at two o'clock. He fires a cannon at the cabaret at the precise hour. In the morning, Moréno and Irma surrender to Satanas, but he offers them a chance to work with him. He tells them that the American millionaire George Baldwin will be at the Park Hotel, and he asks for his signature. However, Moréno plots an elaborated plan with his associated Fleur-de-Lys and Irma Vep to rob Baldwin. My vote is seven.
8) The Lord of Thunder: Irma Vep receives a life sentence at a penal colony in Algeria and learns that Moréno was executed. She is ready to embark in a ship when she receives the visit of Satanas posing as a priest, asking her to stay at the stern of the ship that will blow-up. Satanas explodes the vessel with his cannon and all the prisoners are considered dead. Meanwhile, Philippe concludes that the shell that exploded the cabaret came from Montmartre and Mazamette goes with his son investigate the area. Satanas comes to Philippe's home, paralyses him with his needle under his glove and leaves a time bomb inside his top hat and a note saying that the Vampires are avenging the death of Irma Vep. My vote is seven.
9) The Poison Man: After the suicide of Satanas, the chemistry Vénénos is the new chief of the Vampires and Irma Vep is his closest assistant. When she learns that Philippe is engaged of Jane Bremontier, she plots a scheme to get rid of Philippe and his friends. Fleur-de-Lys and Irma Vep rent an apartment above Jane's flat and Vénénos calls off the catering order to the Béchamel House. On the scheduled day of the dinner party, the Vampires bring the catering with poisoned champagne to kill all the guests.
10) The Bloody Wedding: Philippe and Jane are married, and they hire the widow of the poisoned concierge, Augustine Chalet, to be their chambermaid. The Vampires keep Philippe's house under surveillance, and they learn that Augustine is disturbed and wanting to know who poisoned her husband. She receives a note, saying that the medium Madame D'Alba can contact the spirits. Augustine visits the psychic, who is a Vampire, and is hypnotized to open Philippe's front door at 2:00 AM. During the night, Mazamette, who is attracted by Augustine, sees her opening the door, but he shoots the Vampires that flee. Philippe, Mazamette and Augustine go to the police, and Jane is abducted by the Vampires that also kidnap Augustine. Now the only lead to be followed by Philippe is an oil track from their car that was hit by Mazamette.
"Les Vampires" is a great French police story from 1915. The plot is certainly too long and dated in the present days, but the viewer has the chance to appreciate the lifestyle of 1915/1916 in France. The investigating reporter Philippe Guérande is a curious character, acting like a detective, giving instruction to the police and shooting bad guys without any consequence. His friend and partner Mazamette is supposed to be the funny part of the show. However, is a confused character that begins as a thief and family man, but later there is no information about his wife and only one son appears in one episode and vanishes. The villains, especially Irma Vep, are excellent. The size of the revolvers is very small. My vote is eight, for the historical importance of this film.
Title (Brazil): "Os Vampiros" ("The Vampires")
1) The Severed Head: The investigative reporter Philippe Guérande, from The Globe, is investigating the gang The Vampires. His chief is informed that Inspector Durtal, who was in charge of The Vampire investigation, was found dead with the severed head missing, in Saint-Clément-sur Cher and asks Philippe to go to the place. Philippe's mother tells him to look for an old family friend, Dr. Nox, who lives in the location. Meanwhile, Dr. Nox receives the American Mrs. Simpson, who has just bought his mansion. Philippe arrives and is welcomed by Dr. Nox. During the night, Philippe finds a threat note from The Grand Vampire on his bed and finds a secret opening in the wall. On the next morning, Mrs. Simpson finds that she was robbed during the night. Philippe leaves them and goes to the Examining Magistrate, and they plot a plan to find what happened in the mansion. And soon they learn the truth. My vote is eight.
2) The Deadly Ring: Count de Noirmouller reads on the gossips of the newspaper that the ballerina Marfa Koutiloff, who will perform the ballet The Vampires, would be engaged of Philippe Guérande. He buys a poisoned ring and gives to Marfa, who dies on the stage while performing the play. Phillipe recognizes Dr. Nox, who is the Grand Vampire, in the havoc and follows him by taxi. However, he is captured by The Vampires gang and brought to a hideout, where they intend to interrogate and execute him. He is locked with a guard, and soon he recognizes him as Mazamette, who did not forget his promise and helps Philippe to release. But they are locked inside the room and the Grand Inquisitor is coming. My vote is six.
3) The Red Cryptogram: Philippe is trying to decipher a red notebook he stole from the pocket of the Grand Inquisitor's body with the list of crimes committed by The Vampires. He fakes illness to The Globe and sees that his house is under surveillance by the gangsters. He disguises and leaves the house through the chimney and goes to "The Howling Cat" night club that is presenting Irma Vep, an anagram for vampire. The Grand Vampires asks Irma to recover the red notebook. Meanwhile, Mazamette gives a poison pen that he stole from The Grand Vampire to Philippe. Soon Irma arrives at Philippe's house posing as maid, but he recognizes her. His mother receives a telegram informing that her brother had a car accident. Before leaving the house, Philippe gives the poison pen to her. She is kidnaped by Father Silence who wants her to write a ramson rote. Philippe fakes that is sleeping and Irma and the Grand Vampire search the red notebook in his room. He shoots them but they escape, and he learns later that his revolver was loaded with blanks. My vote is seven.
4) The Spectre: The Grand Vampire poses of the real estate broker Mr. Treps and is visited by the businessman Juan-José Moréno, who wants to rent and apartment with a safe. Mr. Treps takes Moréno to an apartment with the safe open in the rear to the next door neighbor, where Irma Vep lives. They find a bag inside with black clothes and the Grand Vampire believes Moréno is a thief. Irma poses of the bank secretary Miss Juliette Bertaux, and she learns that Mr. Metadier shall take 300,000 francs to another branch of the bank. Juliette is the substitute carrier for Mr. Metadier, in case of impossibility. The Vampires kill Metadier and his body is thrown off the train. But on Monday, Mr. Metadier arrives in the bank and takes the money. Philippe investigate the case and recognizes Irma Vep. But how Mr. Metadier arrived in the bank? My vote is seven.
5) The Corpse's Escape: The Examining Magistrate is promoted and moves to Paris. He summons Moréno that commits suicide in front of him swallowing a cyanide pill. It is late night, and the morgue is closed, so his body is left in a cell. But he actually has lured the authorities and is alive, and during the night, he wakes up and kills the police officer in watch. He takes his clothes and flees from the jail, but Mazamette has insomnia and sees his hideout. Meanwhile the Vampires kidnap Philippe, but he succeeds to escape and looks for the costumer designer Pugenc since he was locked in a box number 13 from his company. Pungenc has just delivered police uniforms to Moréno and his gang. Further, Philippe learns that the box was delivered to the Baron de Mortesalhues, who is another identity of the Grand Vampire, and will promote a ball to the Parisien high society. Moréno kidnaps Philippe to hang him but proposes to exchange his life per a way to revenge against the Vampires. Philippe tells about the ball, and they spare his life and keep him tied-up to check the information. What will the Grand Vampire and Moréno do? My vote is eight.
6) The Eyes that Mesmerize: Moréno reads on the newspaper that a Fontainebleau notary has been murdered by the Vampires. Moréno is a powerful hypnotizer and controls his new maid. Meanwhile, Philippe and Mazamette see on the movie theater that the Grand Vampire and Irma Vep are involved in the foregoing murder. They ride bicycles to Fontainebleau and see the American tourist, Horatio Werner, riding a horse in a suspect way. They follow him and find a box below a large rock, and they take it. Meanwhile, the Grand Vampire learns that the American millionaire George Baldwin, has been robbed in a fortune by the criminal Raphael Norton, and Geroge has promised a reward for who that captures the thief. When he sees the reaction of Werner after reading the note, he believes that Werner is Norton ad sets a plan in course. My vote is six.
7) Satanas: After killing the Grand Vampire under Moréno's hypnotism, Irma Vep becomes his mistress. Out of the blue, they have a mysterious visitor at home. The man uses a needle under his glove to paralyze Moréno and tells that he knows that he killed the Grand Vampire that is inside a trunk. Further, he identifies himself as Satanas, the chief of the Grand Vampire. The gang dumps the trunk in the Seine River, and later, Moréno and Irma go to a cabaret. They receive a note from Satanas saying that he will show his power at two o'clock. He fires a cannon at the cabaret at the precise hour. In the morning, Moréno and Irma surrender to Satanas, but he offers them a chance to work with him. He tells them that the American millionaire George Baldwin will be at the Park Hotel, and he asks for his signature. However, Moréno plots an elaborated plan with his associated Fleur-de-Lys and Irma Vep to rob Baldwin. My vote is seven.
8) The Lord of Thunder: Irma Vep receives a life sentence at a penal colony in Algeria and learns that Moréno was executed. She is ready to embark in a ship when she receives the visit of Satanas posing as a priest, asking her to stay at the stern of the ship that will blow-up. Satanas explodes the vessel with his cannon and all the prisoners are considered dead. Meanwhile, Philippe concludes that the shell that exploded the cabaret came from Montmartre and Mazamette goes with his son investigate the area. Satanas comes to Philippe's home, paralyses him with his needle under his glove and leaves a time bomb inside his top hat and a note saying that the Vampires are avenging the death of Irma Vep. My vote is seven.
9) The Poison Man: After the suicide of Satanas, the chemistry Vénénos is the new chief of the Vampires and Irma Vep is his closest assistant. When she learns that Philippe is engaged of Jane Bremontier, she plots a scheme to get rid of Philippe and his friends. Fleur-de-Lys and Irma Vep rent an apartment above Jane's flat and Vénénos calls off the catering order to the Béchamel House. On the scheduled day of the dinner party, the Vampires bring the catering with poisoned champagne to kill all the guests.
10) The Bloody Wedding: Philippe and Jane are married, and they hire the widow of the poisoned concierge, Augustine Chalet, to be their chambermaid. The Vampires keep Philippe's house under surveillance, and they learn that Augustine is disturbed and wanting to know who poisoned her husband. She receives a note, saying that the medium Madame D'Alba can contact the spirits. Augustine visits the psychic, who is a Vampire, and is hypnotized to open Philippe's front door at 2:00 AM. During the night, Mazamette, who is attracted by Augustine, sees her opening the door, but he shoots the Vampires that flee. Philippe, Mazamette and Augustine go to the police, and Jane is abducted by the Vampires that also kidnap Augustine. Now the only lead to be followed by Philippe is an oil track from their car that was hit by Mazamette.
"Les Vampires" is a great French police story from 1915. The plot is certainly too long and dated in the present days, but the viewer has the chance to appreciate the lifestyle of 1915/1916 in France. The investigating reporter Philippe Guérande is a curious character, acting like a detective, giving instruction to the police and shooting bad guys without any consequence. His friend and partner Mazamette is supposed to be the funny part of the show. However, is a confused character that begins as a thief and family man, but later there is no information about his wife and only one son appears in one episode and vanishes. The villains, especially Irma Vep, are excellent. The size of the revolvers is very small. My vote is eight, for the historical importance of this film.
Title (Brazil): "Os Vampiros" ("The Vampires")