Original subtitles

Gaumont and the Centre National du Cinéma et de I'image animée,

in collaboration with the Cinématheque francaise, present

Directed by

THE FALSE MAGISTRATE

(original release May 1914)

Based on the Novel Le Magistrat cambrioleur

by Mr. Pierre Souvestre and Mr. Marcel Allain

Set Design Mr. Robert-Jules Garnier

Photography and Editing Mr. Georges Guérin

CAST

Fantémas / The Fake Judge Pradier Mr. René Navarre

Inspector Juve / The Austrian Delegate Mr. Edmond Bréon

The Marquis de Tergall Mr. Mesnery

Baby Face Mr. Laurent Morlas

and

The Marquise de Tergall Miss Germaine Pelisse

The Marquis and Marquise de Tergall have suffered a reversal of fortune.

The marquis has persuaded his wife to sell her jewels

in order to meet pressing needs.

Mr. Chambeérieux Jeweler, Le Mans

I hereby accept,

after conferring with my wife, the Marquise,

your offer of 250,000 francs

for the jewels we wish to sell.

I'll be in Saint-Calais next Wednesday

at the Hotel Européen, room 30,

where I usually stay,

I shall expect you at 9:00 in the morning.

I'll hand the jewelry box over to you

in exchange for 250,000 francs in cash.

Sincerely, Marquis de Tergall

Rosa has already overhead everything

when the bell summons her back to the salon.

Mr. Chambérieux Sapphire Jewelers

The following Wednesday, early in the morning,

a young priest leaves room 29

of the Hotel Européen in Saint-Calais.

Meanwhile, in room 30,

the marquis completes his painful transaction

with the jeweler Chambérieux.

"Didn't we agree on payment in cash?"

Returning from the bank where he cashed the check,

the marquis encounters a second priest coming out of room 29.

Chambérieux, awaiting the marquis's return,

thought it best to put the jewelry box in a dresser drawer.

Meanwhile, leaving Saint-Calais...

At the Hotel Européen,

Investigating Judge Morel begins taking statements.

Chambérieux is still accusing the marquis

when the judge has an idea.

A sinner seeking absolution

requests you come to the small chapel on the road to Le Mans

on Wednesday at 9:00.

The priest having been cleared, the marquis returns to his chateau

~ with the 250,000 francs from the sale in his pocket.

At Chateau Tergall.

The marquis, badly wounded,

finally reaches the chateau.

He tells his wife of the crime

he just fell prey to:

the theft of 250,000 francs

following that of the marquise's jewels

at the Hotel Européen.

Shortly thereafter, Rosa, the maid,

is visited in her room by Baby Face,

who gives her the banknotes

stolen from the marquis

and asks her to conceal them,

sealing the deal with a kiss.

Summary of missing scenes

Part One THE PRISONER OF LOUVAIN

DARING JEWEL THEFT IN SAINT-CALAIS, SARTHE

Another crime by Fantomas?

Yesterday, the Marquise de Tergall's jewels mysteriously disappeared

as they were being sold.

Through a hole in the wall, the thief snatched the jewelry box from a drawer.

Police are investigating,

but the devilish crime calls Fantomas to our mind.

To be continued... Jérome Fandor

Inspector Juve is also suspicious of Fantomas

when he receives a police report

which he immediately hands to his young friend,

the journalist Jérome Fandor.

FILE #147 THE FANTOMAS AFFAIR

Fantomas, condemned to death by a Belgian court

for a murder committed in Belgium (see File #163).

As is customary in their country,

the death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment.

Fantémas is incarcerated in Louvain's prison under number D33.

Juve makes a decision.

He gives Fandor a letter to hand over to the police chief

in case there's trouble.

Dear Chief of Police,

My life's goal has been to arrest Fantomas

and hand him over to the executioner myself.

Currently, the bandit eludes us,

and it's probable he'll eventually find a way to escape.

Here's my plan.

I go to Belgium.

I help Fantomas escape and take his place.

He's tailed to France where your men arrest him.

Then my friend Fandor points out in The Capital

that Fantomas cannot be both under arrest in France

and imprisoned in Louvain.

We demand the extradition of the man in Belgium,

and I return home in police custody.

Confrontation. I'm recognized and set free.

Fantomas finally meets Deibler, the executioner.

Sincerely, Juve.

Shortly thereafter, Fantomas, in his cell in Louvain's prison,

receives signals from an invisible accomplice

who is none other than... Juve.

The following day,

a delegate from Austria's penitentiary bureau participates,

as a special guest,

in the monthly prison inspection.

"Excuse me, gentlemen.

I believe I left my glasses in the cell."

At the inspector's request, the guard goes to turn on the lights.

Inspectors Michel and Léon,

sent from Paris on Juve's orders,

await the escaped prisoner

to follow him back to France.

At the station.

Part Two

CHARLES PRADIER, INVESTIGATING JUDGE

Tired of being followed, the bandit regains his freedom.

At the next stop, an inattentive traveler...

Not having heard the departure whistle,

the man had just enough time to leap into the baggage car.

CHARLES PRADIER INVESTIGATING JUDGE

Protean Fantomas!

He's already procured the needed articles for his deadly incarnations...

At Saint-Calais station.

A chauffeur from the Hétel Européen awaits the newly-appointed judge.

The next morning at the Hotel Européen.

"Good morning, Your Honor.

Your predecessor, Judge Morel, is expecting you."

At the courthouse,

District Attorney Bernardy welcomes the fake Judge Pradier.

"A cassock,

the chief piece of evidence in the Tergall affair."

Part Three THE BURGLAR JUDGE

The Marquise de Tergall's jewels,

that's what interests Fantomas...

His instinct leads him to a possible lair of the thieves.

Two men emerge.

The first is Baby Face

and the other Ribonard, the fake priest.

This Thursday, 5 o'clock, the church in Bouloire

Meet Ribonard for jewels.

Rosa (the Tergalls' maid) carries on her person

the 250,000 francs stolen from the marquis.

The following day,

the cream of Saint-Calais society is invited

to a hunting party hosted by the Marquis de Tergall.

"I'm sorry, I have a terrible migraine.

I prefer to stay at the chateau."

Among the guests,

the fake Judge Pradier doesn't join the hunt either...

The fake judge has found a compromising letter

written by the marquise.

You know I haven't stopped loving you, despite my marriage.

But I can't meet you today.

Be patient, I beg you. I think I'll soon be free...

I love you, Antoinette.

A Machiavellian idea leads Fantomas to the gas meter.

"Excuse me, dear sir. I had some household duties..."

Shortly thereafter, the guests return from the hunt.

That very evening, the fake judge begins his investigation.

Be patient, I beg you. I think I'll soon be free...

I need 500,000 francs. Otherwise, I'll have you arrested.

The next day, at the church in Bouloire.

"The jewelry box is up there, boss, inside the bell."

Swindled!

A few days later,

the Marquis de Tergall's funeral takes place

at the church in Bouloire.

Pearls, diamonds, rubies and blood rain down on the guests!

Fantémas, as a judge,

ensures all the jewels that fell from the bell tower

are handed over to him.

Part Four THE EXTRADITION FROM LOUVAIN

Learning of the tragic events,

~ Jéréme Fandor has left his office at The Capital

for a room at the Hotel Européen in Saint-Calais.

Fandor now knows

that the man is the Saint-Calais judge

and that he is staying in room 12.

In the mysterious Ribonard affair,

the bandit, near death,

was removed from the church bell in Bouloire,

and, before dying, he said only,

"Fantomas! Fantomas!"

After refusing numerous requests,

the Belgian government has finally agreed

to extradite Fantomas,

who is currently being held in Louvain's prison.

The extradited prisoner will be escorted by the police

to the Saint-Calais courthouse.

A lucky coincidence serves the fake Judge Pradier's plans:

Baby Face and his accomplice, the Student,

have been arrested for a minor offense.

The extradited prisoner will be escorted by the police

to the Saint-Calais courthouse.

In exchange for their freedom,

Fantomas has just ordered the ruffians

to murder Juve as soon as he arrives in Saint-Calais.

In room 12, Fandor discovers

that all the judge's hats

are stuffed with newspaper

to improve the fit,

except for a cap whose label shows

it was made in Louvain.

Louvain and its prison

from which Juve helped Fantomas escape!

The journalist's hunches are confirmed,

and now official reinforcements are called for.

Summary of a damaged scene

TELEGRAMS

National Police, Paris.

Send Inspectors Michel and Léon to Saint-Calais immediately.

Very urgent. Fandor.

Meanwhile, the fake Judge Pradier summons the unfortunate marquise

and her maid.

Dear Marquise de Tergall,

I am unable to furnish the entire sum you requested today,

but tomorrow the 500,000 francs will be at your disposition,

and I'll personally deliver them to you in the morning.

My respectful salutations, Delalauge, Notary Public

Now it is Rosa's turn.

"Search her!"

In front of the prison in Saint-Calais.

Fandor has chanced upon the release of Baby Face and the Student,

known members of the shady gang led by Fantémas.

Fandor's plot.

The Capital newspaper, Paris.

I've learned that Fantomas, the infamous bandit,

is being extradited from Louvain

and arrives tonight at Connerré Station

to be brought to the prison in Saint-Calais.

Midnight, Connerré Station.

It was Fandor who played the prisoner

and Inspectors Michel and Léon, the guards!

Fantomas didn't even flinch

when he ordered his two accomplices to be locked up.

After leaving the judge's office,

Inspectors Michel and Léon

have District Attorney Bernardy sign an unorthodox command.

"What are these enigmas, you ask?"

The following day, at the appointed time.

Fantémas has recognized the prisoner who was extradited from Louvain,

and it is Juve!

Saint-Calais Courthouse

By order of the district attorney,

all the doors in the Saint-Calais courthouse, both inside and out,

are to be locked and guarded by police,

and no one, including judges and other officials,

with the exception of guards and police,

may exit the building until further order.

Bernardy, District Attorney

Meanwhile, - in District Attorney Bernardy's office...

"Show in this Fantomas!"

"And that's not all, District Attorney.

In the office next door,

Judge Pradier... is Fantomas!"

Fantémas summons the chief warden of the prison.

"The slightest breach of this order, the slightest indiscretion,

will cost you your job.

Understood?"

Juve is close to accomplishing his life's goal:

capturing Fantémas...

The following day, Juve summons Fantémas to Bernardy's office.

But the chief warden of the prison arrives alone

and hands the two men the confidential order

written by Pradier the previous day.

Saint-Calais Courthouse

I, Charles Pradier, Investigating Judge, order the prison's chief warden

to personally release at midnight, and in total secrecy,

the prisoner entrusted to him under the name of Fantomas.

The prisoner is, in reality, none other than Inspector Juve,

and his arrest was simply a ruse necessary to my investigation.

Saint-Calais, March 1, 1914, Charles Pradier.

In a stroke of genius,

Fantomas, borrowing his victim's signature one last time,

ordered his own release.

Society should continue to tremble!

THE END

This film was restored in 2013 by Gaumont

with the help of the Centre National du Cinéma et de I'image animée

as part of a program for the restoration and digitization of our film heritage,

and in collaboration with the Cinémathéque francaise.

Frames were scanned in 4K from the original nitrate negative,

the internegative and two prints for any missing shots.

The intertitles were reconstructed based on texts intended for theater owners

that were published in 1913 and 1914 by Gaumont.