Joseph Rouletabille (aka Joseph Josephin)

Created by Gaston Leroux
(1868-1927)

JOSEPH ROULETABILLE was a crime-solving, baby-faced cub reporter for the Parisian paper L’époque who regularly outsmarted the police; solving seemingly impossible crimes. His 1907 debut, Le Mystère de la Chambre Jaune by Gaston (Phantom of the Opera) Leroux is considered one of the very first locked room mysteries; a classic of its kind.

The story of the mysterious death of a professor’s daughter, murdered in her own sealed bedroom, is cracked by the arrogant but brilliant Rouletabille, and proved to be instantly popular. Rouletabille went on to star in six more novels by Leroux  (all originally serialized in French magazines) by Leroux, as well as two officially sanctioned sequels by Noré Brunel. There were also several film, radio, television and comic book adaptations,  almost all in French.

In that first novel, we learn that Rouletabille (French slang for gadabout) is a pseudonym of 18-year-old Joseph Josephin, who was raised in a religious orphanage, and has already been around the world and seen it all. Calm, cool, and unflappable, he runs into Ballmeyer, an internationally known criminal (a character possibly inspired by Arsène Lupin), traveling under the alias of  Jean Roussel, and married to a wealthy American heiress, Mathilde Stangerson.

In the second novel, Le Parfum de la Dame en Noir (1909, aka “The Perfume of the Lady in Black”), Rouletabille discovers that he’s the son son of Ballmeyer and Stangerson, but soon after, he’s off to Russia, summoned by the Czar himself, who wants him to investigate a bit of nastiness at the Imperial Court.

And so it goes, with Rouletabille bouncing all over the place, solving one impossible crime after another. He marries the beautiful Ivana Vilitchkov, outwits various criminals, acts as a French secret agent and saves Paris from being destroyed by a German missile in the World War I-set Rouletabille chez Krupp (1920; considered one of the earliest espionage thrillers).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gaston Leroux was a 19th century French detective novelist,  probably best known for writing The Phantom of the Opera. He was also often credited with being the “father of the locked room mystery,” thanks to his penning of  the 1907 novel Le Mystère de la Chambre Jaune, which introduced  crime-solving reporter Joseph Rouletabille. Leroux was born in Paris in 1868 and attended school in Normandy before studying  law in Paris, graduating in 1889. He inherited millions of francs and lived wildly until he nearly reached bankruptcy. Subsequently in 1890, he began working as a court reporter and theater critic for L’Écho de Paris, before turning to fiction.

UNDER OATH

• “Leroux is no exponent of the fair play mystery, and Rouletabille is closer to Arsene Lupin or even Sherlock Holmes than the classic form, but he had a fine sense of drama and the weird, and in the Rouletabille novels he constructed some well done mystery plots with clever solutions, which, in fairness, the reader has half a chance to figure out if he is paying attention.”
  — David Vineyard (January 2011, Mystery*File)

NOVELS

• By Gaston Leroux
• Le Mystère de la Chambre Jaune (1908, aka “The Mystery of the Yellow Room”)
  Originally serialized in L’Illustration in 1907.
• Le Parfum de la Dame en Noir (1909, aka “The Perfume of the Lady in Black”)
  Originally serialized in L’Illustration in 1908.
• Rouletabille chez le Tsar (1913; aka “The Secret of the Night”)
  Originally serialized in L’Illustration in 1913.
• Rouletabille à la Guerre (1914, Le Matin)
  Reprinted as 2 volumes in 1916: Le Château Noir (aka “The Black Castle”) and Les Étranges Noces de Rouletabille (aka “The Strange Wedding of Rouletabille”)
• Rouletabille chez Krupp (1920; aka “Rouletabille at Krupp’s”)
  Originally serialized in Je sais tout in 1917.
• Le Crime de Rouletabille (1921; aka “The Crime of Rouletabille”)
  Originally serialized in Je sais tout in 1923.
• Rouletabille chez les Bohémiens (1923; aka “Rouletabille and the Gypsies”)
  Originally serialized in Le Matin in 1922.
• By Noré Brunel
• Rouletabille contre la Dame de Pique (1947;  aka “The Queen of Spades”)
  Originally serialized in Le Soir in 1947.
• Rouletabille Joue et Gagne (1947; aka “Rouletabille Plays and Wins”)
  Originally serialized in Le Soir in 1947.

• LE MYSTÈRE DE LA CHAMBRE JAUNE
  (1913, Société Française des Films Éclair)
  B&W, Silent
  32 minutes
  Language: French
  Based on characters created by Gaston Leroux
  Directed by Maurice Tourneur and Émile Chautard
  Starring Marcel Simon as ROULETABILLE
  with Jean Garat as Jean Roussel
  Laurence Duluc as Mathilde Strangerson
  and Paul Escoffier as Detective Larsen
  Also starring André Liabel, Fernande van Doren, Maurice de Féraudy, Devalence
• LE PARFUM DE LA DAME EN NOIR
  (aka “ROULETABILLE II: LA DERNIÈRE INCARNATION DE LARSAN)
  (1914, France)
  B&W, Silent
  Language: French
  Based on characters created by Gaston Leroux
  Directed by Maurice Tourneur and Émile Chautard
  Starring Marcel Simon as ROULETABILLE
  with Fernande van Doren, Jacques de Féraudy, Jean Garat, Devalence
• THE MYSTERY OF THE YELLOW ROOM
  (1919, Mayflower Photoplay Company )
  B&W, Silent
  Language: English
  Based on characters created by Gaston Leroux
  Directed by Émile Chautard
  Starring Lorin Raker as ROULETABILLE
  Also starring William Walcott, Edmund Elton, George Cowl, Ethel Grey Terry, Jean Del Val, W.H. Burton, Henry S. Koser, Jean Ewing, William Morrison, Louis R. Grisel, John McQuire, Catherine Ashley, Ivan Dobble
  Still silent, but now silent in English.
• ROULETABILLE CHEZ LES BOHÉMIENS
  (1922, France)
  B&W, Silent
  Serialized (10 episodes)
  Language: French
  Based on characters created by Gaston Leroux
  Directed by Henri Fescourt
  Starring  Gabriel de Gravone as ROULETABILLE
• LE MYSTÈRE DE LA CHAMBRE JAUNE
  (1930, France)
  B&W
  108 minutes
  Language: French
  Based on characters created by Gaston Leroux
  Screenplay by Marcel L’Herbier
  Directed by Marcel L’Herbier
  Starring Roland Toutain as ROULETABILLE
  With Huguette Duflos as Mathilde Stangerson
  Also starring Léon Belières, Edmond Van Daële, Marcel Vibert, Maxime Desjardins, Pierre Juvenet, Henri Kerny, Charles Redgie, Kissa Kouprine, Jean Diéner, Marcel Vallée, Duchange, Georges Tréville
  One of the earliest French talkies—it even kicks off with the credits bering spoken, not shown.
  
• LE PARFUM DE LA DAME EN NOIR
  (1931, Les Films Osso)
  109 minutes
  B&W
  Language: French
  Based on characters created by Gaston Leroux
  Screenplay by Marcel L’Herbier
  Directed by Marcel L’Herbier
  Starring Roland Toutain as ROULETABILLE
  With Huguette Duflos as Mathilde Stangerson
  Also starring Huguette Duflos as Mathilde
  With Marcel Vibert, Léon Belières, Edmond Van Daële, Wera Engels, Kissa Kouprine, Henri Kerny, Michel Kovally
• ROULETABILLE AVIATEUR
  (1932, Les Films Osso)
  100 minutes
  B&W
  Language: French
  Based on characters created by Gaston Leroux
  Screenplay by Pierre-Gilles Veber
  Directed by Steve Sekely
  Starring Roland Toutain as ROULETABILLE
  Also starring Léon Belières, Germaine Aussey, Lisette Lanvin, Théa Dory, Maurice Maillot, Abel Duroy, Léonce Corne, Sándor Góth
  Shot in Budapest; a separate Hungarian-language version Flying Gold (see below) was also produced.
• FLYING GOLD
  (1932, Les Films Osso)
  74 minutes
  B&W
  Language: Hungarian
  Based on characters created by Gaston Leroux
  Screenplay by Pierre-Gilles Veber & István Mihály
  Directed by Steve Sekelyy
  Starring Steven Geray as BÁLINT GYÖRGY
  Also starring Gyula Kabos, Lajos Gárday, Emmi Buttykay, László Dezsõffy, Lajos Gellért, Sándor Góth, Báthory, Gyula Justh, Gyözö Kabók, László Keleti, Gábor Kertész, Zoltán Makláry, Zoltán Pethö, Blanca Valery, Sonja Grygorine, Éva Vass
  Aternative Hungarian-language version of Rouletabille aviateur, with a Hungarian cast.
• EL MISTERIO DEL CUARTO AMARILLO
  (aka “The Mystery of the Yellow Room)
  (1947, Argentina)
  82 minutes
  Language: Spanish
  Based on characters created by Gaston Leroux
  Screenplay by Ariel Cortazzo
  Directed by Julio Saracen
  Starring Santiago Gómez Cou as ROULETABILLE
  Also starring Herminia Franco, Tito Alonso, Floren Delbene, Ilde Pirovano, Agustín Orrequia, Cirilo Etulain, Julia Sandoval, Julia Sandoval, María Esther Buschiazzo, Adolfo Stray, Margarita Burke, Diego Marcote, Nathán Pinzón, Jorge Villoldo, Ángel Walk, Pedro Fiorito
• ROULETABILLE JOUE ET GAGNE
  (1947, Société Générale de Gestion Cinématographique [SGGC])
  95 minutes
  Language: French
  Based on characters created by Gaston Leroux
  Screenplay by Pierre Lestringuez
  Directed by Christian Chamborant
  Also starring
  Starring  Jean Piat as ROULETABILLE
  Also starring Marie Déa, Jérôme Goulven, Lucas Gridoux, Claire Guibert, Léo Lapara, Yette Lucas, Ariane Murator, Monique Mélinand, Claude Nicot, Véra Norman, Roger Vincent, Michel Vitold
• ROULETABILLE CONTRE LA DAME DE PIQUE
  (1948,  Union Française de Production Cinématographique)
  B&W
  88 minutes
  Language: French
  Based on characters created by Gaston Leroux
  Screenplay by Pierre Lestringuez
  Directed by Christian Chamborant
  Starring with Jean Piat as ROULETABILLE
  Also starring Marie Déa, Suzanne Dehelly, , Fernand Gilbert, Jérôme Goulven, Lucas Gridoux, Andrée Guize, Léo Lapara, Yette Lucas, Ariane Murator
• LE MYSTÈRE DE LA CHAMBRE JAUNE(aka “The Mystery of the Yellow Room”
  (1949, Alcina)
  90 minutes
  Language: French
  Based on the novel by Gaston Leroux
  Directed by Henri Aisner
  Starring Serge Reggiani as ROULETABILLE
  Also starring Hélène Perdrière, Serge Reggiani, Pierre Renoir, Léonce Corne, Janine Darcey, Arthur Devère, Marcel Herrand, Robert Le Fort, Fabien Loris, Germaine Michel, Gaston Modot, Lucien Nat, Madeleine Barbulée
• LE PARFUM DE LA DAME EN NOIR
  (1949, Alcina)
  109 minutes
  Language: French
  Based on the novel by Gaston Leroux
  Directed by Louis Daquin
  Starring Serge Reggiani as ROULETABILLE
  Also starring Hélène Perdrière, Lucien Nat, Michel Piccoli, Gaston Modot, Marcel Herrand, Arthur Devère , Yvette Etiévant
• THE MYSTERY OF THE YELLOW ROOM
  ( 2003, Why Not Productions)
  118 minutes
  Language: French
  Based on the novel by Gaston LerouxScreenplay by Bruno PodalydèsDirected by Bruno Podalydès
  Starring Denis Podalydès as ROULETABILLE
  and Pierre Arditi as  Inspector Larsan
  Also starring Jean-Noël Brouté, Claude Rich, Scali Delpeyrat, Sabine Azéma, Michael Lonsdale, Julos Beaucarne, Olivier Gourmet, Isabelle Candelier, Dominique Parent, George Aguilar, Bruno Podalydès
• LE PARFUM DE LA DAME EN NOIR
  (2005, , Why Not Productions)
  115 minutes
  Language : French
  Based on the novel by Gaston Leroux
  Screenplay by Bruno Podalydès
  Directed by Bruno Podalydès
  Starring Denis Podalydès as ROULETABILLE
  and Pierre Arditi as  Inspector Larsan
  Also starring Sabine Azéma, Zabou Breitman, Olivier Gourmet, Jean-Noël Brouté, Pierre Arditi, Vincent Elbaz, Michael Lonsdale, Julos Beaucarne, Isabelle Candelier, Dominique Parent, Bruno Podalydès, Michel Vuillermoz, Roger Roka, Vincent Vedo Velli, Sylvain Solustri

• LE MYSTÈRE DE LA CHAMBRE JAUNE
  (1965, ORTF 1)
  Premiere:  November 27, 1965)
  Based on the novel by Gaston Leroux
  Starring Claude Brasseur as ROULETABILLE
• LE PARFUM DE LA DAME EN NOIR
  (1966, ORTF 1
  Premiere: March 3, 1966
  10 15-minute episode
  Based on the novel by Gaston Leroux
  Starring Philippe Ogouz as ROULETABILLE
• ROULETABILLE CHEZ LE TSAR
  (1966, ORTF 1)
  Premiere: March 17–30, 1966
  10 15-minute episodes
  Based on the characters created by Gaston Leroux
  Starring Philippe Ogouz as ROULETABILLE
• ROULETABILLE CHEZ LES BOHÉMIENS
  1966, ORTF 1
  Premiere: March 31, 1966)
  Ten 15-minute episodes
  Based on the characters created by Gaston Leroux
  Starring Philippe Ogouz as ROULETABILLE

• ROULETABILLE
• (1965-67, Éditions Aventures & Voyages/Mon Journal)
  32 issues
  The first issues adapted the original issues, but after that Rouletabille jumped on the James Bond bandwagon, and became another 1960-era spy. With issue #12, the title merged with its sister magazine Rocambole (which followed the exploits of Pierre Alexis Ponson du Terrail‘s adventurer) and became Rocambole et Rouletabille, although the two characters never met.
• ROULETABILLE
  (1985-89, Daraud)
  Written by Claude Moliterni
  Art by Eugenio Sicomoro, the first three published by Dargaud:
  • Le Crâne de Cristal (1985)
  • La Momie Écarlate (1987)
  • Le Singe d’Or (1989)
• ROULETABILLE
  (1993, Daraud)
  Written by Claude Moliterni
  Art by Eugenio Sicomoro
  • Sida Connection (1993)
• ROULETABILLE
  (1989-96, Claude Lefrancq)
  Written by André-Paul Duchateau
  Art by Bernard C. Swysen
  • Le Fantôme de l’Opéra (1989)
    Rouletabille meets The Phantom of the Opera. Of course he does.
  • Le Mystère de la Chambre Jaune (1990)
  • Le Parfum de la Dame en Noir (1991)
  • La Poupée Sanglante (1992)
  • La Machine à Assassiner (1993)
  • L’Épouse du Soleil (1994)
  • Le Trésor du Fantôme de l’Opéra (1996)

• THE MYSTERY OF THE YELLOW ROOM
• (1998, BBC Radio 4)
  Based on the novel by Gaston Leroux
  Starring Nicholas Boulton as Rouletabille
  With Geoffrey Whitehead as Inspector Larson
• THE PERFUME OF THE WOMAN IN BLACK
• (1999, BBC Radio 4)

FURTHER INVESTIGATION

• Zut! Les Flics Privés
  French Eyes, S.V.P.
• Stop the Presses!
  Reporters, Journalists and Other Newshawks
• … and Throw Away the Key!
  Locked Room & Other Impossible Crime P.I. Mysteries

Respectfully submitted by Kevin Burton Smith.