Judex

Judex

Year: 1916

Runtime: 384 mins

Director: Louis Feuillade

CrimeDrama

The story unfolds over twelve episodes. After a corrupt banker destroys his family, a determined young man adopts the masked persona of Judex to seek justice. Disguised and relentless, he tracks down criminals, punishes the guilty, and shields the innocent, embodying vigilant vengeance in a classic twelve‑part serial.

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Timeline & Setting – Judex (1916)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Judex (1916). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1910s

Take place in the early 20th century, a time of opulent wealth and social hierarchies. High-society parties, private detectives, and theatrical disguises are common in the setting. The period's melodrama and public spectacle amplify the story's tension between crime, wealth, and vigilante justice.

Location

Favraux Mansion, Masked Engagement Party, Abandoned Castle, Beach

The story moves through a plush mansion where a high-stakes engagement party sets the plot in motion. The mansion hosts a masked gathering full of intrigue, where identities blur and motives are hidden. An abandoned castle later serves as Judex's staging ground to imprison Favraux, while a seaside beach provides a quiet, final moment of reunion for Judex and Jacqueline.

🎭 Mystery 🏰 High Society 🔎 Investigation 🌊 Seaside

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:01

Main Characters – Judex (1916)

Meet the key characters of Judex (1916), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Jacques de Tremeuse / Judex

A mysterious, calculating masked avenger who orchestrates surveillance and reversals to thwart Favraux. He acts as a moral center, balancing risk with a strategic plan to protect Jacqueline and Alice while bringing Favraux's crimes to light.

🗡️ Vigilante 🧭 Mastermind 🕵️‍♂️ Protector

Jacqueline Aubry

Favraux's widowed daughter who must navigate her father's crimes and protect her daughter Alice. She confronts wealth and power with moral clarity, ultimately renouncing most of her inheritance to care for Alice.

👩‍👧 Family 💫 Morality 🎭 Nobility

Banker Favraux

A wealthy banker who built his fortune through swindles and blackmail. He becomes the target of Judex's plans and faces detention, despair, and eventual suicide after Diana's schemes falter.

💳 Wealth 💔 Corruption 🕳️ Downfall

Diana Monti / Marie Verdier

Governess by day and cat burglar by night, she schemes to marry Favraux for his fortune and eliminate him. Her plans are thwarted by Judex, Cocantin, and Daisy, leading to a final violent confrontation.

🕵️‍♀️ Deception 💎 Ambition 🗡️ Femme Fatale

Cocantin

A private detective hired to watch Favraux who, along with Judex, helps foil Diana's abduction attempts and aids in capturing the criminal network.

🕵️‍♂️ Partner 🧭 Investigator 🏺 Ally

Alice

Jacqueline's young daughter who becomes a focal point of the moral decisions surrounding inheritance and safety.

👶 Child 🫶 Safety 🛡️ Innocence

Daisy

A circus acrobat and ally of Cocantin who helps on the rooftop pursuit of Diana, adding a physical and athletic dimension to the chase.

🤸 Acrobatic 🛡️ Ally 🪂 Action

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:01

Major Themes – Judex (1916)

Explore the central themes of Judex (1916), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚖️ Justice

Judex embodies a vigilante form of justice, stepping in when institutions falter. He observes, plans, and executes actions to expose Favraux and recover stolen money. The narrative frames moral accountability as something that can be enforced by clever restraint and daring risk. In the end, justice triumphs through Judex's interventions rather than through the law.

🎭 Disguise

Disguises and hidden identities drive the plot: a masked party, the bird-headed magician reveal, and the governess with a double life. Characters operate behind masks, blurring truth and motive. The theme underscores how appearances can be manipulated to reveal or conceal danger. Masks also heighten suspense as friend and foe are not always who they seem.

💰 Wealth & Corruption

Favraux's vast wealth is built on swindles and blackmail, illustrating how money can corrupt relationships and law. The narrative contrasts opulent privilege with the victims' suffering, and Jacqueline's decision to renounce most of her inheritance to care for Alice highlights the moral cost of wealth. The arc shows how wealth can be a trap when used for exploitation rather than justice. Ultimately, wealth loses its power as truth and courage prevail.

🕊️ Love & Sacrifice

Jacqueline's choice to give up most of her fortune for Alice demonstrates personal sacrifice in the name of family. Diana Monti's pursuit of Favraux for fortune is a perversion of love, driven by greed rather than affection. Judex's protective actions reflect a form of guardianship that prioritizes others' safety over personal gain. The ending reunion with Judex and Jacqueline suggests a hopeful resolution beyond material wealth.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:01

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Judex Summary

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Judex Summary

Judex Timeline

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Judex Timeline

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