The Vampires: The Severed Head

About the production

Filmed during World War I, the production faced numerous challenges including resource shortages and male cast members being called to military service. Director Louis Feuillade had to work with limited resources and often used real Paris locations instead of studio sets. The severed head prop was considered particularly realistic for its time and caused controversy among audiences. The episode was shot quickly as part of the serial's rapid production schedule, with Feuillade often completing an episode in just a few days.

Themes

Themes & topics

Historical background

Exhibitors around 1915 slotted The Vampires: The Severed Head into mixed bills where shorts, newsreels, and features shared the same program.

Why this film matters

Reference works on 1915 cinema cite The Vampires: The Severed Head when tracing genre and regional production patterns.

Making of

The production of 'The Vampires' serial was remarkable for its time, with Louis Feuillade pioneering techniques that would become standard in cinema. Working under the constraints of World War I, Feuillade had to be incredibly resourceful, often using real locations and natural lighting. The cast worked long hours with minimal safety standards, particularly during action sequences. Musidora, who played Irma Vep, performed many of her own stunts, including dangerous rooftop scenes. The severed head effect was achieved through clever camera angles and editing techniques, though the exact method remains a subject of debate among film historians. The serial's success led to Feuillade creating similar crime serials, though none would match the impact of 'The Vampires'.

What critics said

Trade papers near 1915 listed The Vampires: The Severed Head as program material rather than headline art cinema.

Did you know?

• This is Episode 4 of the 10-part serial 'Les Vampires', titled 'La Tête Coupée' (The Severed Head)
• The film was not about supernatural vampires but about a criminal gang that called themselves 'The Vampires' due to their nocturnal activities and ability to appear and disappear mysteriously
• Irma Vep (an anagram of 'vampire') played by Musidora became one of cinema's first iconic femme fatales
• The serial was banned in several countries for its depiction of crime and violence
• Director Louis Feuillade wrote, directed, and supervised all episodes of the serial
• The severed head scene was so realistic that some audience members reportedly fainted during screenings
• The film was shot on location in actual Paris streets, giving it an unprecedented documentary-like realism
• Each episode was released approximately every two weeks, creating anticipation similar to modern television series
• The serial influenced the German Expressionist movement and film noir
• Musidora's black bodysuit costume became iconic and influenced countless future cat burglar and spy characters

Visual style

The cinematography by André Paulin and Gustave Preiss was revolutionary for its time, employing innovative techniques that would influence cinema for decades. The use of real Paris locations provided an unprecedented documentary realism, while the camera work featured dynamic angles and movement unusual for the period. The film made extensive use of chiaroscuro lighting to create atmosphere and tension, particularly in night scenes. Long takes and deep focus techniques allowed for complex action sequences without cutting. The severed head sequence used clever camera angles and editing to create its shocking effect without showing graphic details. The visual style combined documentary realism with expressionistic elements, creating a unique aesthetic that bridged different cinematic traditions.

Innovations

The film pioneered numerous technical innovations that would become standard in cinema. Feuillade developed sophisticated editing techniques for creating suspense and action, including cross-cutting between parallel storylines. The production used innovative camera movements including tracking shots and unusual angles to enhance dramatic effect. The special effects, particularly the severed head sequence, used clever editing and camera tricks rather than optical effects. The serial format itself was a technical achievement in maintaining continuity and quality across multiple episodes filmed rapidly. The film's location shooting in urban environments presented technical challenges that the crew solved creatively, developing new techniques for shooting in public spaces and managing crowd control.

Music

As a silent film, 'The Vampires' originally featured live musical accompaniment that varied by theater. Large cinemas typically employed full orchestras playing original compositions or adaptations of popular classical pieces. Smaller venues used piano or organ accompaniment, often improvising based on cue sheets provided by Gaumont. The music typically ranged from dramatic classical pieces during tense scenes to popular songs of the era for lighter moments. Modern restorations have featured new scores by composers such as Robert Israel, who created period-appropriate accompaniment using authentic instruments and styles of the 1910s. The original musical cues emphasized the film's dramatic moments, particularly during the revelation of the severed head and Irma Vep's appearances.

Famous quotes

The Vampires are everywhere and nowhere at once - they are the shadows that dance at the edge of vision

In Paris, even the dead have secrets to tell

To catch a phantom, you must become one yourself

The head may be severed from the body, but the truth cannot be separated from justice

Irma Vep - she moves like smoke and strikes like lightning

Memorable scenes

• The shocking reveal of Inspector Michel's severed head in the office, filmed with clever angles to maximize horror without graphic detail
• Irma Vep's first appearance in her iconic black bodysuit, scaling the apartment building with cat-like grace
• The telegram scene where Guérande receives the devastating news, conveying shock through subtle facial expressions
• The rooftop chase sequence across Parisian rooftops, demonstrating innovative location filming techniques
• The final confrontation in the Vampire's hideout, using shadows and silhouettes to create maximum tension

What audiences thought

The serial was enormously popular with French audiences, creating a sensation comparable to modern television hits. People lined up for each new episode, and 'The Vampires' merchandise became widely available. The character of Irma Vep particularly captured the public imagination, with women emulating her distinctive style. Despite official criticism and occasional bans, the serial found ways to reach audiences through underground screenings. International audiences also embraced the film, though some countries censored or banned it entirely. The serial's success established the commercial viability of long-form narrative cinema and proved that audiences could follow complex, continuing stories over extended periods.

Film connections

Influenced by

• Émile Zola's naturalist novels
• French newspaper crime reports
• Gaston Leroux's mystery novels
• Earlier French crime films
• Stage melodramas
• Poe's detective fiction
• Contemporary newspaper serials

This film influenced

• M (1931)
• The Third Man (1949)
• Rififi (1955)
• Le Samouraï (1967)
• Point Blank (1967)
• The French Connection (1971)
• Batman (1989)
• Pulp Fiction (1994)
• The Dark Knight (2008)
• Drive (2011)

Film restoration

The film has been preserved and restored by the Cinémathèque Française and other film archives. Multiple versions exist, including the original French version and various international releases. The most complete restoration was completed in the 1990s using the best available prints from archives worldwide. The film is now part of the permanent collection at several major film institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the British Film Institute. Digital restorations have made the film more accessible while preserving the original visual aesthetic.

Where to watch

• Available on Blu-ray from Criterion Collection
• Streaming on The Criterion Channel
• Available on DVD from Kino Lorber
• Streaming on MUBI
• Available for digital rental/purchase on Amazon Prime Video
• Free streaming on Kanopy (with library access)
• Available on YouTube (public domain versions)
• Screenings at film archives and cinematheques worldwide
• Included in various film streaming services specializing in classic cinema