Crooked banker Favraux has received warning letters from someone who signs himself “Judex,” threatening doom if he fails to make things right with those he has swindled and otherwise betrayed. After he disregards the letters and casually runs down a man who could endanger his position, he keels over, apparently dead, while making an announcement at a masked ball he is hosting — only to awaken imprisoned by the title character, who spares his life because of his daughter’s abandonment of her father’s ill-gotten gains. But others want the riches, too, and thus Judex takes over the role of protector for Favraux’s daughter and granddaughter as well. Sylva Koscina has a small but important role as a circus acrobat. A competent feature-length thriller based on Louis Feuillade’s well-crafted 1916 serial.

  Recommended. Otto finds this one pleasing enough to relax.

Movie 115 for 2021.