Louis Feuillade at 150

A very short entry to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of French filmmaker Louis Feuillade (1873-1925).

Like Max Linder, Feuillade was the son of a wine merchant who dabbled in theatre. He began contributing scenarios to Gaumont around 1905, and within the year was directing, as well. When Alice Guy-Blachere left for the U.S. in 1907, Feuillade was made artistic director at the studio. He was to produce and direct something like 700 films over the remainder of his life.

Among the series Feuillade turned out were the “Baby Apache” comedies (1910-13), which were similar to the Baby Peggy and Shirley Temple series in the U.S. and mystery serials such as Fantomas (1913-14) and Les Vampires (1915) with its sexy heroine, Irma Vep.

Robert Florey, who later worked in Hollywood, was one who learned at his knee. Fritz Lang and Alfred Hitchcock were among his admirers. Feuillade died at the young age of 52, else he likely would have remained a major player in international cinema until the Second World War.

for more on silent film (including lots about France) please see Chain of Fools: Silent Comedy and Its Legacies from Nickelodeons to Youtube.