Cheri-Bibi is the title character of a Gaston Leroux novel (he of the Phantom of the Opera). The character is the greatest escape artist in Europe (ala Houdini). He has come from the bottom up and has interest in a girl from the upper crust who is engaged to an incredible boor. The rich father denies permission for them to marry and he makes the mistake of saying that they will marry even if he is dead. Well, of course, someone shoots the father. What we have is quite a good setup, but eventually it is strained to the limit. Bibi is arrested and in prison for four years and faces execution at the Guillotine. He escapes and seeks revenge. He finally gets the murderer to admit his deed on his death bed, but circumstances make it worthless. He then assumes the identity of the guy. Due to some surgery, he takes on the role of the evil husband, hiding in plain sight. The fact that no one recognizes him, including his former lover, is too much for me. It's an entertaining tale and has a satisfactory conclusion, but that one element takes too much suspension of disbelief.
Review of The Phantom of Paris
