René Cresté
Encyclopedia
René Cresté was a French
stage and film actor and director of the silent film
era. Cresté is possibly best recalled as Judex
, the title character in the Louis Feuillade
-directed crime-adventure serial Judex, which ran in twelve installments in theaters from 1917 until 1918.
, France
, he began his acting career on the stages of Paris in distinguished theatrical roles in plays such as Claudine à Paris (Claudine in Paris), written by and performed alongside Colette
, Ruy Blas by Victor Hugo
and Adrienne Lecouvreur by Eugene Scribe
.
in 1908. Little is known of his first film appearances as they are considered lost. In 1912 he began appearing in a series of mystery shorts directed by Léonce Perret
. He then began appearing in a number of films directed by Louis Feuillade for Gaumont studios. At the onset of the First World War, Cresté enlisted in the French army and actively participated in the fighting. Injured and demobilized, he resumed his acting career at Gaumont studios by the end of 1915.
In 1916, Feuillade and writer Arthur Bernède
began to develop a surrealistic character called 'Jacques de Tremeuse' (aka 'Judex
') - a mysterious avenger who sports a signature long dark cloak and wide-brimmed slouch hat. The character's arch-nemesis was the callous banker Favraux, who had carelessly driven thousands of people into bankruptcy. The character of Judex
is widely recognized as one of cinema's first superhero
es.
René Cresté was eventually cast as 'Judex
' and the serial began production in 1917 and was released the same year in its first installment to critical and public praise. The serial also starred Musidora
, Édouard Mathé
, Gaston Michel
, René Poyen, Yvette Andréyor
and Yvonne Dario.
Following the success of Judex, Cresté appeared in the 1918 serial Tih Minh
, directed by Feuillade, then founded his own film production company, Films-René-Cresté, for which he produced and directed several ultimately unsuccessful films.
. To support the financial needs of his widow and infirmed daughter, a charity gala was organized by friends of the Cresté family in February 1929. Three months following the event, his only daughter Renée died.
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
stage and film actor and director of the silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
era. Cresté is possibly best recalled as Judex
Judex
Judex is the title of a 1916 silent French movie serial concerning the adventures of Judex who is a pulp hero, similar to The Shadow, created by Louis Feuillade and Arthur Bernède.-Concept:...
, the title character in the Louis Feuillade
Louis Feuillade
Louis Feuillade was a prolific and prominent French film director from the silent era. Between 1906 and 1924 he directed over 630 films...
-directed crime-adventure serial Judex, which ran in twelve installments in theaters from 1917 until 1918.
Early life and career
Born in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, he began his acting career on the stages of Paris in distinguished theatrical roles in plays such as Claudine à Paris (Claudine in Paris), written by and performed alongside Colette
Colette
Colette was the surname of the French novelist and performer Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette . She is best known for her novel Gigi, upon which Lerner and Loewe based the stage and film musical comedies of the same title.-Early life and marriage:Colette was born to retired military officer Jules-Joseph...
, Ruy Blas by Victor Hugo
Victor Hugo
Victor-Marie Hugo was a Frenchpoet, playwright, novelist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, human rights activist and exponent of the Romantic movement in France....
and Adrienne Lecouvreur by Eugene Scribe
Eugène Scribe
Augustin Eugène Scribe , was a French dramatist and librettist. He is best known for the perfection of the so-called "well-made play" . This dramatic formula was a mainstay of popular theater for over 100 years.-Biography:...
.
Judex
René Cresté was signed to a contract to the Gaumont Film CompanyGaumont Film Company
Gaumont Film Company is a French film production company founded in 1895 by the engineer-turned-inventor, Léon Gaumont . Gaumont is the oldest continously operating film company in the world....
in 1908. Little is known of his first film appearances as they are considered lost. In 1912 he began appearing in a series of mystery shorts directed by Léonce Perret
Léonce Perret
Léonce Perret was a prolific and innovative French film actor, director and producer. He also worked as a stage actor and director...
. He then began appearing in a number of films directed by Louis Feuillade for Gaumont studios. At the onset of the First World War, Cresté enlisted in the French army and actively participated in the fighting. Injured and demobilized, he resumed his acting career at Gaumont studios by the end of 1915.
In 1916, Feuillade and writer Arthur Bernède
Arthur Bernède
Arthur Bernède was a French writer, poet, opera libretist, and playwright.He was born in Redon, Ille-et-Vilaine department, in Brittany....
began to develop a surrealistic character called 'Jacques de Tremeuse' (aka 'Judex
Judex
Judex is the title of a 1916 silent French movie serial concerning the adventures of Judex who is a pulp hero, similar to The Shadow, created by Louis Feuillade and Arthur Bernède.-Concept:...
') - a mysterious avenger who sports a signature long dark cloak and wide-brimmed slouch hat. The character's arch-nemesis was the callous banker Favraux, who had carelessly driven thousands of people into bankruptcy. The character of Judex
Judex
Judex is the title of a 1916 silent French movie serial concerning the adventures of Judex who is a pulp hero, similar to The Shadow, created by Louis Feuillade and Arthur Bernède.-Concept:...
is widely recognized as one of cinema's first superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
es.
René Cresté was eventually cast as 'Judex
Judex
Judex is the title of a 1916 silent French movie serial concerning the adventures of Judex who is a pulp hero, similar to The Shadow, created by Louis Feuillade and Arthur Bernède.-Concept:...
' and the serial began production in 1917 and was released the same year in its first installment to critical and public praise. The serial also starred Musidora
Musidora
Musidora was the stage name of Jeanne Roques, a popular French silent film actress. She became famous for her vamp roles in such film serials as Les Vampires and Judex, in which she developed a persona comparable to that of Theda Bara...
, Édouard Mathé
Édouard Mathé
Édouard Mathé was an Australian born French silent film actor.He starred in some 51 films between 1914 and 1924.He appeared Barabbas in 1920...
, Gaston Michel
Gaston Michel
Gaston Michel was a French silent film actor. He starred in some 40 films between 1913 and his death in 1921.He died in November 1921, in Lisbon, Portugal.-Selected filmography:* Judex * Parisette * Barabbas...
, René Poyen, Yvette Andréyor
Yvette Andréyor
Yvette Andréyor was a French actress of the silent era. She appeared in 108 films between 1910 and 1962.She was born and died in Paris, France.-Selected filmography:* Fantômas * Judex...
and Yvonne Dario.
Following the success of Judex, Cresté appeared in the 1918 serial Tih Minh
Tih Minh
Tih Minh is a 1918 French film serial directed by Louis Feuillade.-Cast:* Mary Harald - Tih Minh* René Cresté - Jacques d'Athys* Georges Biscot - Placido* Édouard Mathé - Sir Francis Grey* Louis Leubas - Kistna* Gaston Michel - Dr. Gilson...
, directed by Feuillade, then founded his own film production company, Films-René-Cresté, for which he produced and directed several ultimately unsuccessful films.
Death
René Cresté died in 1922 of tuberculosisTuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. To support the financial needs of his widow and infirmed daughter, a charity gala was organized by friends of the Cresté family in February 1929. Three months following the event, his only daughter Renée died.