The FANTOMAS movies get weaker as they go. This one is out-classed by Feuillade and Fejos but it still shows a fair level of ambition and creams Jean Marais in 'Scope. There are a couple more also-rans.
Alexandre Rignault gets one of his biggest outings and Herrand was coming off his best role in ENFANTS DU PARADIS. However attention goes to Signoret at her most appealing, as the imperiled heroine who takes an active part in the action, blazing away with the pistol and taking the tyre iron to the laboratory fittings.
The old characters are re-assembled for new adventures on an adequate budget. There are multiple disguises, shoot-outs with Tommy guns (on single shot), a death ray in a truck, one of the earliest depictions of a helicopter, a mysterious HQ with a descending roof room - all the good stuff. The result is post war drab and not particularly exciting but it is an interesting part of the spectrum, the old Penny Dreadful now edging on for Diabolik & James Bond.
