Directing
Jesús Franco
ES, EN, FR, IT cinema · 270 credits
Born
12 May 1930
Died
2 April 2013 (aged 82)
Birthplace
Madrid, Spain
Also known as Clifford Brown · A.L. Mariaux · Jess Franco · Pablo Villa · Juan G. Cabral · Betty Carter
Jesús "Jess" Franco was a Spanish film director, writer, cinematographer and actor. His career took off in 1961 with his cult classic The Awful Dr. Orloff, which received wide distribution in the United States and England. Though he had some American box office success with Necronomicon, his first women-in-prison film Ninety-Nine Women, and his two Christopher Lee films, The Bloody Judge and Count Dracula, he never achieved wide commercial success. Franco moved from Spain to France in 1970 so that he could make more violent and sexual films, and it was at this point that his career began to go downhill commercially, as he turned to low-budget filmmaking with a heavier accent on adult-oriented films. Although he produced a few well-received, low budget horror films in the early 70's, many people in the industry considered him a porn director due to the huge number of X-rated adult films he began churning out. Franco returned to low-budget horror in a brief comeback period from 1980-1983, but after 1983, his career took a second downturn. With the exception of Faceless and Killer Barbies, his films after 1984 are quite disliked and obscure due to their incredibly low budgets. Franco has nevertheless retained a large cult following through the years with his sexually-charged horror films, some of which are regarded as masterpieces by his avid followers.
Known for
Filmography
Fly Story
Director
Juliette
Juliette
Director
Shining Sex
Director
Exorcismo: The Transgressive Legacy of Clasificada “S”
as Self - Archive footage
Inferno Rosso: Joe D'Amato on the Road of Excess
as Self (archive footage)
Wild Session
as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
Drácula Barcelona
as Himself
Soledad Miranda, Flower in the Desert
as Himself (archive footage)
Falks Frauen
2014
Falks Frauen
as (archive footage)
Call Me Jess Redux
as Himself
Clawing! A Journey Through the Spanish Horror
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Al Pereira vs. the Alligator Ladies
as The Director, Writer, Director, Music, Editor, Producer
Revenge of the Alligator Ladies
as Himself, Writer, Director
La cripta de las condenadas
Actor, Director, Writer, Editor, Producer, Original Music Composer
Debris Documentar
as Himself
Tío Jess
as Self
La cripta de las condenadas: Parte II
Director, Producer, Editor, Writer
Paula-Paula
Director, Editor, Screenplay, Director of Photography, Dialogue, Special Effects
Take-Away Spirit
2009
Take-Away Spirit
as J.W. Radek, Additional Dialogue
Idoru
Actor
Coffins of Light
as himself
Por la gracia de Luis
as Himself
Ellos robaron la picha de Hitler
as Padre del Dr. Weissman
A Bad Day at the Cemetery
Director, Screenplay
Montes de Venus
Director
The Well
Actor
Jesús in Furs
as Himself
Jess Franco's Perversion
Director, Writer
Jess Franco's Passion
Writer, Director
Snakewoman
Original Music Composer, Director, Writer
Red Venice
as Jess Franco
Incubus
Director, Writer
Killer Barbys vs. Dracula
Director, Story, Screenplay, Original Music Composer
Vampire Junction
Director, Original Music Composer, Writer
Call Him Jess
as Himself
Blind Target
Director, Original Music Composer
Helter Skelter
Director, Original Music Composer, Writer
Vampire Blues
as The Merchant, Screenplay, Original Music Composer, Director
Dr. Wong's Virtual Hell
as Dr. James Wong, Director, Original Music Composer, Writer
Broken Dolls
Director, Writer
Red Silk
Screenplay, Director
Lust for Frankenstein
Screenplay, Director, Music, Producer
Mari-Cookie and the Killer Tarantula
Director, Original Music Composer, Producer, Screenplay
Tender Flesh
Screenplay, Original Music Composer, Executive Producer, Director
Vampire Killer Barbys
Writer, Director
Downtown Heat
Director, Screenplay, Producer
Jungle of Fear
1993
Jungle of Fear
Director, Executive Producer
El abuelo, la condesa y Escarlata la traviesa
Actor, Screenplay, Director, Editor, Original Music Composer
Don Quixote
Editor, Supervising Film Editor, Dialogue
Mondo Weirdo
Thanks
Esmeralda Bay
as Boat Captain, Producer, Director, Writer
Night of the Eagles
Director, Screenplay, Editor, Art Direction
Flesh-Eating Mothers
as Policeman
Faceless
Director, Writer
Dark Mission: Flowers of Evil
Director, Producer, Writer, Editor
Falo Crest
Director, Cinematography, Writer
Thong Girls
Editor, Director, Screenplay, Writer
Phollastía
Director, Story, Director of Photography
Slave of Crime
Screenplay, Director, Original Music Composer, Editor
¡Biba la banda!
Costumer
Trapped Women
Director, Screenplay, Editor
Girl with the Red Lips
as Professor Karame, Director, Screenplay, Original Music Composer, Director of Photography
Alone Against Terror
Original Music Composer, Screenplay, Director
Golden Temple Amazons
Producer, Director
Lulu's Talking Ass
Screenplay, Director, Story, Original Music Composer
The Voyeur and the Exhibitionist
Director, Writer
The Last from Philippines
Editor, Director, Director of Photography, Producer, Story
Para las nenas, leche calentita
Original Music Composer, Screenplay, Director, Story
Entre pitos anda el juego
Director, Screenplay, Original Music Composer
Sida, la peste del siglo XX
1986
Sida, la peste del siglo XX
Screenplay, Editor, Director
Fury in the Tropics
Director, Director of Photography, Writer, Original Music Composer
Las chuponas
1986
Las chuponas
Director, Writer, Director of Photography
Judoka Shadow versus Doctor Wong
as Dr. Wong, Director, Original Music Composer, Screenplay
Trip to Bangkok, Coffin Included
as Rose Hotel's recepcionist (uncredited), Director, Producer, Music, Screenplay
Angel of Death
Director, Screenplay
White Jungle Slave
Director, Music
Dirty Game in Casablanca
Director, Producer
Bangkok, City of the Dead
Director, Original Music Composer, Screenplay, Editor
Un pito para tres
1985
Un pito para tres
Story, Screenplay, Director, Editor
The Sinister Doctor Orloff
as Manolo, Screenplay, Music, Director
A Crack for Two
as Tom, Screenplay, Director, Original Music Composer
Night Has a Thousand Desires
as Psychiatrist (uncredited), Director, Writer, Director of Photography, Music
Lonely Road
as Doctor Callman, Director, Writer, Director of Photography
Bahia Blanca
as The Miseries (uncredited), Writer, Producer, Story, Screenplay, Director
Lilian, the Perverted Virgin
as Bernardo, Director, Editor, Screenplay
The Sexual Story of O
Screenplay, Editor, Director, Producer
How Much Does a Spy Make?
Director, Writer, Producer
Macumba Sexual
as Recepcionist, Director, Screenplay, Music, Director of Photography, Story
En busca del dragón dorado
as Blind Old Man, Editor, Director, Original Music Composer, Screenplay
Blood on My Shoes
as Abductor, Director, Screenplay, Original Music Composer
The Blues of Pop Street
as Sam Chesterfield, Screenplay, Director of Photography, Director, Original Music Composer
The Night Of Open Sex
as Count, Adaptation, Novel, Director, Music, Director of Photography
Black Boots, Leather Whip
as Matón en cementerio de coches (voice) (uncredited), Editor, Director, Music, Writer
Revenge in the House of Usher
Original Music Composer, Producer, Screenplay, Director
Diamonds of Kilimandjaro
Director, Screenplay, Producer, Director of Photography, Original Music Composer
Cries of Pleasure
Writer, Art Direction, Editor, Director
Voces de muerte
1983
Voces de muerte
Director, Screenplay
The Hotel of Love Affairs
Editor, Director, Screenplay, Original Music Composer
The House of Lost Women
Director, Editor, Screenplay
Cecilia
Producer, Writer, Director
Intimate Confessions of an Exhibitionist
Director, Music
Claire
Director
Mansion of the Living Dead
Screenplay, Director of Photography, Director, Original Music Composer, Editor, Novel
Lake of the Virgins
Original Music Composer, Writer, Director, Editor
The Inconfessable Orgies of Emmanuelle
Editor, Screenplay, Director
Oasis of the Zombies
Screenplay, Director, Editor, Original Music Composer
El huésped de la niebla
1982
El huésped de la niebla
Director, Original Music Composer, Director of Photography
Jailhouse Wardress
as Uncle Jess, Director
Sex Is Crazy
as Film Director, Director, Original Music Composer, Screenplay
Sadomania
as Lucas, Director, Screenplay, Editor, Music
Bloody Moon
as Doctor (uncredited), Director
Zombie Lake
Writer
The Story of Linda
Director
The Girls of the Copacabana
Director, Story, Screenplay
Sexual Perversions of a Married Woman
Director, Writer, Music
Pick-Up Girls
Screenplay, Director, Original Music Composer, Editor
Lola 2000
Director
White Cannibal Queen
as Mr. Martin, Director, Writer
What a Honeymoon
as Dying Man (uncredited), Director, Screenplay, Original Music Composer
Erotic Symphony
Director, Writer
Devil Hunter
Director, Screenplay, Original Music Composer
Two Female Spies with Flowered Panties
Director, Screenplay, Story, Original Music Composer
Wicked Memoirs of Eugenie
Writer, Director
The Sadist of Notre Dame
as Mathis Vogel, Director, Writer
Justine and the Whip
as Strange Guy, Director, Writer, Cinematography
Convoy of Girls
Writer, Director
They Do Everything
Director, Writer
Burning Up Inside
Writer, Director
Women in Cellblock 9
Director, Screenplay
Women Without Innocence
Director, Writer
Cocktail spécial
Director
Kiss Me Killer
as Marcel, Director, Writer
Slaves
as Radeck's Assistant, Director
Greta, the Mad Butcher
as Dr. Milton Arcos (as Jess Franco), Director, Writer
Call of the Blonde Goddess
Director, Writer
Doriana Grey
Director, Writer, Cinematography
Love Camp
Director
Blue Rita
Director, Writer
Sexy Sisters
Director
Barbed Wire Dolls
as Maria's Father (uncredited), Writer, Director of Photography, Director
Downtown
as Al Pereira, Director, Writer, Director of Photography
Midnight Party
as Janos Radeck, Writer, Director
The Troublemakers
Actor, Screenplay, Director
Shining Sex
as Dr. Seward, Director, Story
White Skin Black Thighs
as Graf Anastasio, Screenplay, Director of Photography, Director
Jack the Ripper
Screenplay, Director
Silence of the Grave
Director, Screenplay, Producer
Golden Jail
Director
Women Behind Bars
as Bill, Director, Director of Photography, Editor
Exorcism
as Mathis Vogel, aka Laforgue, Director, Screenplay
The Hot Nights of Linda
as Dr. Roberts (as Jess Franck), Director, Story, Screenplay
Sexorcismes
as Mathis Vogel, Director, Adaptation, Dialogue, Writer
Sexy Erotic Job
Director
Countess Perverse
Director, Writer
The Ticklish Ones
Director, Story
Rolls-Royce Baby
Director
Night of the Skull
as Andy, Director, Screenplay
Celestine
as Sleeping Man, Writer, Director, Director of Photography
Lorna, the Exorcist
as Doctor (uncredited), Director, Writer
The Greedy Ones
Director, Screenplay
How to Seduce a Virgin
Director, Writer
The House of the Lost Dolls
Screenplay
The Lustful Amazons
Director, Screenplay
The Erotic Rites of Frankenstein
as Morpho, Director, Screenplay, Story
Eugenie de Sade
as Attila Tanner, Director, Writer
Female Vampire
as Dr. Roberts, Director of Photography, Director, Editor, Writer
Sinner: The Secret Diary of a Nymphomaniac
as Inspecteur Hernandez, Director, Scenario Writer
Dolls for Sale
Actor, Director
The Sinister Eyes of Dr. Orloff
as Lord Comfort (uncredited), Director, Screenplay
A Virgin Among the Living Dead
as Basilio, Writer, Director
The Other Side of the Mirror
as Roger (uncredited), Director, Screenplay
The Demons
Writer, Director
Lovers of Devil's Island
Director, Screenplay, Story
Nightmares Come at Night
Director, Writer
Tender and Perverse Emmanuelle
Director, Writer
Fifteen Year Old Captain
Director, Music, Writer
The Corpse Packs His Bags
as Gonzales, Screenplay, Director
The Vengeance of Dr. Mabuse
as Crosby / Drunk Man in Nightclub, Original Music Composer, Screenplay, Director
Robinson and His Tempestuous Slaves
as Director, Director
Vampir Cuadecuc
as Self
Daughter of Dracula
as Cyril Jefferson, Director, Writer
Dracula, Prisoner of Frankenstein
Story, Screenplay, Director
Virgin Report
Director
The Devil Came from Akasava
as Tino Celli, Director
She Killed in Ecstasy
as Dr. Donen, Director, Writer
Vampyros Lesbos
as Memmet, Screenplay, Director, Original Music Composer, Special Effects Makeup Artist
X312 - Flight to Hell
as Man at John Somers', Director, Screenplay
Count Dracula
as Van Helsing's servant (uncredited), Director, Screenplay
Eugenie... The Story of Her Journey into Perversion
as Man in Red Ritual Scene (uncredited), Director
The Bloody Judge
Director, Adaptation
The Castle of Fu Manchu
as Insp. Ahmet, Director
Venus in Furs
as Jazz Musician (uncredited), Writer, Director, Story
The Girl from Rio
as Guitar Player, Director
Marquis de Sade: Justine
Actor, Director
Kiss Me Monster
as Abilene's Contact Man (uncredited), Director, Idea, Screenplay
Two Undercover Angels
as Napoleon Bolivard, Screenplay, Director
99 Women
as Official (uncredited), Story, Screenplay, Director
Succubus
as Writer, Director
The Blood of Fu Manchu
Actor, Director, Screenplay, Story
Residence for Spies
as Casino Piano Player (uncredited), Director, Writer
A Man, Eight Girls
Director
Lucky, the Inscrutable
as Ciego / Zoltan / Guitarrista, Director, Screenplay
The Diabolical Dr. Z
as Inspector Tanner, Director, Screenplay
Attack of the Robots
as Piano Player, as Pianist (uncredited), Director, Screenplay
Dr. Orloff's Monster
as Piano Player, Director, Dialogue, Screenplay
Chimes at Midnight
Second Unit Director, Second Unit
Strange Voyage
as Don Venancio
Death Whistles the Blues
as Saxofonista en Club de Nueva Orleans (uncredited), Director, Screenplay
Rififi in the City
Director, Writer
Jaguar
Director, Story
55 Days at Peking
Assistant Production Manager
The Awful Dr. Orlof
as Pianist (uncredited), Director, Story, Screenplay
The Sadistic Baron Von Klaus
Director, Screenplay, Story
Vampiresas 1930
Director, Screenplay
Zorro the Avenger
Screenplay, Story
Queen of the Tabarin Club
Director, Dialogue
Red Lips
Director, Screenplay
Estampas guipuzcoanas número 2: Pío Baroja
1960
Estampas guipuzcoanas número 2: Pío Baroja
Director
Ama Rosa
Writer
We Are 18 Years Old
Director, Writer, Original Music Composer
Oro español
1959
Oro español
Director, Original Music Composer, Screenplay
Las playas vacías
1959
Las playas vacías
Screenplay, Director
Anna Said Yes
as Pianista (uncredited), Delegated Producer
Historias de Madrid
Music, Assistant Director
Fulano y Mengano
Screenplay, Assistant Director
The Tree from Spain
Screenplay, Director, Original Music Composer
El hombre que viajaba despacito
Music, Assistant Director
Around the World in 80 Days
as Extra (uncredited)
The Coyote's Justice
Screenstory, Screenplay, Lyricist, Dialogue, Adaptation, Assistant Director
The Coyote
Dialogue, Adaptation, Lyricist, Assistant Director, Screenplay
Death of a Cyclist
Assistant Director
Comedians
Script Supervisor, Original Music Composer
Merry Christmas
Assistant Director