Les Vampires

film by Feuillade

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Last updated

July 17, 2026

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Les Vampires is a French silent film serial directed by Louis Feuillade, released in 1915. It gained immense popularity and became one of Feuillade's most influential works, despite accusations of glorifying crime.1

The film centers on a criminal organization terrorizing Paris. Musidora starred as Irma Vep, a femme fatale and partner to the Grand Vampire, the head of the criminal group. Musidora's portrayal, clad in a form-fitting black leotard and mask, caused a sensation and inspired many future film heroes and artists.2

Les Vampires was a significant success and is considered a masterpiece of the crime serial genre. It played a crucial role in saving the French film industry from foreign competition at the time. The film was restored and released in the United States in 1998.12

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Louis Feuillade
It was followed by Les Vampires (1915), which centres on a group of criminals. Despite allegations that it glorifies crime, the film was a huge hit, and it became one of Feuillade’s most influential works. Judex (1916) and La Nouvelle Mission de Judex (1917–18; “The New Mission of Judex”)…
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It was followed by Les Vampires (1915), which centres on a group of criminals. Despite allegations that it glorifies crime, the film was a huge hit, and it became one of Feuillade’s most influential works. Judex (1916) and La Nouvelle Mission de Judex (1917–18; “The New Mission of Judex”)…
Read More

Musidora
…in his crime serial masterpiece, Les Vampires. Clad head-to-toe in a form-fitting black leotard and wearing an executioner’s mask, Musidora caused a sensation as a femme fatale and the partner of the Grand Vampire who heads Les Vampires, a criminal organization terrorizing Paris. As the first and arguably the most…
Read More
…in his crime serial masterpiece, Les Vampires. Clad head-to-toe in a form-fitting black leotard and wearing an executioner’s mask, Musidora caused a sensation as a femme fatale and the partner of the Grand Vampire who heads Les Vampires, a criminal organization terrorizing Paris. As the first and arguably the most…
Read More