Fantômas Returns! | The French master criminal’s 1960s comic capers on Blu-ray make for a fun-tastic triple bill

Marcel Allain and Pierre Souvestre’s iconic fictional French criminal mastermind, Fantômas, first appeared on the silver screen in Louis Feuillade’s silent serial (1913-1918), which Eureka Entertainment released in a box set in December 2024.

Now, almost a year on, Eureka have done it again with another fabulous release,Fantomas Returns!, which brings together director André Hunebelle’s farcically fun 1960s trilogy on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK. (Available now).

Fantômas (dir. André Hunebelle, 1964)
Influenced by the success of Blake Edwards’ 1963 comedy hit The Pink Panther and Peter Sellers’ hilarious turn as Inspector Clouseau, this first caper sees blue-masked supervillain Fantômas (Jean Marais) seeking revenge on journalist Jérôme Fandor (also Marais) after he publishes an unflattering article on him. First, he frames Fandor for a series of crimes, which puts Louis de Funès’ Commissaire Juve on his tail. Then he impersonates the bumbling Juve, setting off a mad chase to track down the master of disguise.

This is a rollicking adventure, with a scene-stealing de Funès giving Marais’ James Bond matinee idol a run for his money in the many action sequences. Super Parisian locations, while Fantômas’ subterranean lair (complete with a gigantic organ) is so Phantom of the Opera-esque. And I wouldn’t be surprised if this inspired Robert Fuest’s The Abominable Dr Phibes, especially Lady Beltham (Marie-Hélène Arnaud), who silently wafts around Fantômas’ hideout much like Phibes’ own mute assistant Vulnavia in the 1971 Vincent Price comedy horror. There’s also another possible Phibes link in a scene involving a drill and a hosepipe (check it out and let me know what you think).

Disc One Special Features
• Audio commentary with genre film expert Tim Lucas
• International Supercrooks: Interview with Leon Hunt on Fantômas and his connection to other European supervillains in the 1960s (new)
• Juve and De Funès: Interview with French cinema expert Mary Harrod on Louis de Funès, French comedy and the Fantômas trilogy (new)
• 1080p HD presentation from a restoration by Gaumont Film Company
• Choice of original French mono audio tracks with optional English subtitles (Theatrical mix or Home Video mix)

Fantômas Unleashed (AKA Fantômas se déchaîne, 1965)
This second caper opens with an animated title sequence re-enacting the first film’s antics. Having received the Legion of Honour, Louis de Funès’ Juve continues his pursuit of Fantômas, who desires to be master of the world, by kidnapping scientists to build him a super weapon. Jean Marais reprises his dual roles as Fantômas and LePoint du Jour reporter Fandor, and Mylène Demongeot returns as his photographer girlfriend Hélène, who becomes his new object of affection.

This one proudly wears its Bond nods – ‘00-whatever’ references, mid-century modern villain’s lair inside a submerged volcano, wacky gadgets – on its sleeve, while the hilarious disguises must have ‘so totally’ influenced the ones Peter Sellers adopts in the 1970s Pink Panther movies. The sequel also boasts a starry line-up of 1960s cars, including a covetable Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider and a 1965 Citroën DS 19 with wings. This is my fave of the three.

Disc Two Special Features
• Audio commentary with film historian David Kalat (new)
• 1080p HD presentation from a restoration by Gaumont Film Company
• Choice of original French mono audio tracks with optional English subtitles (Theatrical mix or Home Video mix)

Fantômas vs. Scotland Yard (AKA Fantômas contre Scotland Yard, 1967)
That most feared criminal returns for one final adventure, this time set in a mist-shrouded Scotland, and his latest scheme is a tax on the world’s wealthiest (both privileged and crooks) in exchange for the right to live, starting with a $6million demand on Lord McRashley (Jean-Roger Caussimon).

Cue Fandor and Hélène (who the writers have now totally forgotten was the woman Fantômas wants to live eternity with), as well as Juve and his assistant Inspector Michel Bertrand (Jacques Dynam), off to McRashley’s Scottish castle (actually Château de Roquetaillade in Mazères, near Bordeaux), where they become bait to trap Fantômas. Old dark-house antics ensue, along with more pratfalls from de Funès, while Fandor and Hélène try to prevent McRashley’s guests from being eliminated by Fantômas.

Whilst mostly filmed in the forest of Fontainebleau, south of Paris, it features second-unit Scottish (and London) locations, including a rain-drenched Edinburgh and a neon-lit Piccadilly Circus. Fantômas’ disguise as racketeer Giuseppe reminded me of False-Face in TV’s Batman, who made his two-episode appearance a year before this film was released. The film’s title is a misnomer, as Scotland Yard (AKA London’s Metropolitan Police) is not involved. A fourth film was mooted but never realised – probably a good thing, as this one is a bit hit-and-miss. Mind you, I would have loved to have seen a Fantômas/Dr Mabuse team-up against Diabolik from this era.

Disc Two Special Features
• Audio commentary with film historian David Kalat (new)
• 1080p HD presentation from a restoration by Gaumont Film Company
• Choice of original French mono audio tracks with optional English subtitles (Theatrical mix or Home Video mix)
• Fantômas Unleashed & Fantômas vs. Scotland Yard theatrical trailers