He’s a master of disguises, owns the most absurd gadgets and even has an airworthy Citroën DS (take that, Aston Martin!). However, Fantomas (Jean Marais) is not a super agent, but a villain who makes the police look ridiculous. You’ve never heard of the French cult figure? Then this evening you have the opportunity to correct this grievance, when the Fantomas trilogy is on TV.
Fantomas would make a good James Bond villain
The character of Fantoma was born a few years after master thief Arsène Lupin and is similarly mysterious. The authors Marcel Allain and Pierre Souvestre gave the criminal genius his first appearance in 1911, and a short time later he became the face of a silent film series.
In the wake of the success of the James Bond films Fantomas came back in 1964, just a little funnier and more playful. French film legend Jean Marais plays the masterful criminal who can assume the form of others and thus fool the police (especially Louis de Funès).
Universe film
Fantomas
The technical gadgets are strongly reminiscent of Ian Fleming’s 007 adventures and Fantomas himself resembles the Blofelds of this world thanks to his appearance and choice of accommodations. The series is clearly a crime comedy, which the presence of Louis “No! Yes! Ohh” de Funès should amply prove.
Nothing came of part 4
After the success of Fantomas in 1964, Fantomas against Interpol followed a year later and Fantomas threatens the world in 1967, all extremely entertaining jokes whose masquerades brighten up every evening.
A fourth part was also originally planned. But then author Marcel Allain sued the producers. He accused the makers of his evil creation, which he accused of being unrecognizable in the family-friendly films, according to an Arte documentary. Fantomas in Moscow was then never filmed.
This is how you can watch the Fantomas films
ZDFneo is showing the first film, Fantomas, today, January 3rd, at 8:15 p.m. Fantomas against Interpol follows at 9:55 p.m. and the trilogy concludes with Fantomas threatens the world at 11:30 p.m.
All three films will be repeated on Friday, January 5th from 8:20am. The classics are also streaming on ARD Plus, Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+ and the Magenta TV media library.