Afterthetremendouspopularsuccessofthe　　Fantômasnovels,bothofthemajorFrench　　filmstudios—PathéandGaumont—　　viedfortherightstoproducefilmsbased　　ontheseries.Gaumontwon,andfrom　　April1913toMay1914LouisFeuillade　　directedfiveFantômasfilmswhichcritic　　DavidThomsonhasdescribedas"thefirst　　greatmovieexperience."