Afterthetremendouspopularsuccessofthe 　　Fant?masnovels,bothofthemajorFrench 　　filmstudios—PathéandGaumont— 　　viedfortherightstoproducefilmsbased 　　ontheseries.Gaumontwon,andfrom 　　April1913toMay1914LouisFeuillade 　　directedfiveFant?masfilmswhichcritic 　　DavidThomsonhasdescribedas"thefirst 　　greatmovieexperience."