Fantomas (1964) -

Long before modern franchises mastered the "action-comedy" formula, French director delivered a masterclass in genre-bending with the 1964 revival of Fantômas . By blending the dark, pulp roots of the original 1911 novels with a "swinging sixties" aesthetic, this film transformed a terrifying literary killer into a campy, tech-savvy supervillain who paved the way for the Bond-era spy craze. The Plot: A Man of a Thousand Faces

The story kicks off with a daring heist at a high-end jewelry shop, where a British lord (in reality, a disguised Fantômas) pays for millions in gems with a check whose ink vanishes before the clerk’s eyes.

The Laughing Menace: Revisiting André Hunebelle's Fantômas (1964) Fantomas (1964)

Jean Marais (Fandor/Fantômas), Louis de Funès (Juve), Mylène Demongeot (Hélène) Genre: Crime / Comedy / Adventure

A genre mash-up of crime pulp, caper comedy and ‘60s ... - Facebook Scotland Yard (1967)

Whether you’re a fan of vintage gadgets or just want to see Louis de Funès lose his mind over a disappearing check, Fantômas (1964) remains an essential piece of European cinema history.

Enter our two protagonists—or rather, the two men Fantômas loves to torment: Scotland Yard (1967).

The film was so successful it spawned two sequels: Fantômas Strikes Again (1965) and Fantômas vs. Scotland Yard (1967).