Jesús Franco

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.

Cast

The Erotic Rites of Frankenstein

The Castle of Fu Manchu

The Devil Came from Akasava

Van Helsing's servant (uncredited)

The Corpse Packs His Bags

Antena Criminal: Making a Jess Franco Movie

Journey into Perversion

The Diabolical Dr. Z

Inspector Tanner

(archive footage)

Inferno Rosso: Joe D'Amato on the Road of Excess

Self (archive footage)

Dr. Wong's Virtual Hell

She Killed in Ecstasy

Jazz Musician (uncredited)

Dr. Orloff's Monster

Attack of the Robots

Piano Player, Pianist (uncredited)

Eugenie de Sade

Barbed Wire Dolls

Maria's Father (uncredited)

Night of the Skull

The Sinister Doctor Orloff

The Vengeance of Dr. Mabuse

Crosby / Drunk Man in Nightclub

Take-Away Spirit

Jailhouse Wardress

The Girl from Rio

Vampyros Lesbos

Women Behind Bars

Mathis Vogel, aka Laforgue

Judoka Shadow versus Doctor Wong

Death Karate in Torremolinos

Man in Red Ritual Scene (uncredited)

Al Pereira vs. the Alligator Ladies

La cripta de las condenadas

Robinson and His Tempestuous Slaves

Radeck's Assistant

La última película de Jess Franco

Orson Welles in the Land of Don Quixote

Sinner: The Secret Diary of a Nymphomaniac

Inspecteur Hernandez

The Rhythm of Jess

Doctor (uncredited)

Call Me Jess Redux

On the Threshold to Another World

Marquis de Sade: Justine

White Cannibal Queen

A Crack for Two

Vampir Cuadecuc

En busca del dragón dorado

The Blues of Pop Street

Sam Chesterfield

Blood on My Shoes

Les emmerdeuses

Girl with the Red Lips

Professor Karame

El abuelo, la condesa y Escarlata la traviesa

Los profundos sueños de Jennifer

The Sadist of Notre Dame

Kiss Me Monster

Abilene's Contact Man (uncredited)

The Night Of Open Sex

The Blood of Fu Manchu

The Sinister Eyes of Dr. Orloff

Lord Comfort (uncredited)

Revenge of the Alligator Ladies

Debris Documentar

Flesh-Eating Mothers

Lucky, the Inscrutable

Ciego / Zoltan / Guitarrista

Justine and the Whip

Angel of Death 2: The Prison Island Massacre

See you later Cowabunga: La maldición del cenachero diabólico!

Night Has a Thousand Desires

Psychiatrist (uncredited)

Camino solitario

Black Boots, Leather Whip

Matón en cementerio de coches (voice) (uncredited)

The Hot Nights of Linda

Dr. Roberts (as Jess Franck)

Around the World in 80 Days

Extra (uncredited)

Esa cosa con plumas

Jesús Franco, manera de vivir

Drácula Barcelona

Two Undercover Angels

Napoleon Bolivard

Martes de Carnaval

Official (uncredited)

Queridos monstruos

Ban the Sadist Videos!

Soledad Miranda, Flower in the Desert

Himself (archive footage)

Coffins of Light

Por la gracia de Luis

What a Honeymoon

Dying Man (uncredited)

El misterio del castillo rojo

Clawing! A Journey Through the Spanish Horror

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)

Daughter of Dracula

Cyril Jefferson

Greta, the Mad Butcher

Dr. Milton Arcos (as Jess Franco)

The Awful Dr. Orlof

Pianist (uncredited)

A Virgin Among the Living Dead

Ladies House of Pleasure

The Miseries (uncredited)

Residence for Spies

Casino Piano Player (uncredited)

Death Whistles the Blues

Saxofonista en Club de Nueva Orleans (uncredited)

Lilian, the Perverted Virgin

Ellos robaron la picha de Hitler

Padre del Dr. Weissman

Pianista (uncredited)

Perversion Stories

White Skin Black Thighs

X312 - Flight to Hell

Man at John Somers'

Exorcismo: The Transgressive Legacy of Clasificada “S”

Self - Archive footage

The Bizarre World of Jess Franco

Macumba sexual: Voodoo Jess

Trip to Bangkok, Coffin included

Rose Hotel's recepcionist (uncredited)

The Other Side of the Mirror

Roger (uncredited)

Crew

Director, Screenplay

The Erotic Rites of Frankenstein

Director, Screenplay, Story

Dracula, Prisoner of Frankenstein

Screenplay, Story, Director

Lust for Frankenstein

Producer, Director, Screenplay, Music

The Castle of Fu Manchu

The Blood of Fu Manchu

Director, Story, Screenplay

Director, Screenplay

The Corpse Packs His Bags

Screenplay, Director

Sexy Erotic Job

The Devil Came from Akasava

Screenplay, Original Music Composer, Director

Story, Director, Screenplay

Mari-Cookie and the Killer Tarantula

Producer, Screenplay, Original Music Composer, Director

Revenge in the House of Usher

Producer, Screenplay, Original Music Composer, Director

Black Boots, Leather Whip

Editor, Director, Music, Writer

Dr. Wong's Virtual Hell

Original Music Composer, Director, Writer

Director, Original Music Composer

Vampire Junction

Original Music Composer, Director, Writer

Attack of the Robots

Director, Screenplay

Dr. Orloff's Monster

Director, Dialogue, Screenplay

Writer, Director, Story

She Killed in Ecstasy

Writer, Director

Eugenie de Sade

Writer, Director

Director, Writer

Night of the Skull

Director, Screenplay

The Awful Dr. Orlof

Director, Story, Screenplay

The Diabolical Dr. Z

Screenplay, Director

Greta, the Mad Butcher

Writer, Director

Barbed Wire Dolls

Director, Writer, Director of Photography

Director, Writer

Writer, Editor, Director, Director of Photography

White Jungle Slave

Director, Music

El lago de las vírgenes

Original Music Composer, Director, Editor, Writer

Alone Against Terror

Screenplay, Original Music Composer, Director

Mansion of the Living Dead

Original Music Composer, Director, Screenplay, Director of Photography, Editor, Novel

Golden Temple Amazons

Producer, Director

Diamonds of Kilimandjaro

Director, Screenplay, Director of Photography, Producer, Original Music Composer

The Vengeance of Dr. Mabuse

Director, Original Music Composer, Screenplay

Cries of Pleasure

Editor, Director, Art Direction, Writer

The Sinister Doctor Orloff

Director, Music, Screenplay

Dark Mission: Flowers of Evil

Producer, Editor, Director, Writer

Take-Away Spirit

Additional Dialogue

The Sexual Story of O

Screenplay, Editor, Producer, Director

Jailhouse Wardress

The Inconfessable Orgies of Emmanuelle

Director, Editor, Screenplay

Screenplay, Original Music Composer, Director

Night of the Eagles

Screenplay, Director, Editor, Art Direction

The Greedy Ones

Director, Screenplay

Original Music Composer, Director, Screenplay, Executive Producer

The Bloody Judge

Director, Adaptation

The Girl from Rio

Oasis of the Zombies

Director, Screenplay, Editor, Original Music Composer

Lulu's Talking Ass

Director, Screenplay, Story, Original Music Composer

Vampyros Lesbos

Director, Screenplay, Original Music Composer, Special Effects Makeup Artist

Erotic Symphony

Director, Writer

Jack the Ripper

Screenplay, Director

Women Without Innocence

Director, Writer

Director, Writer, Director of Photography

Women in Cellblock 9

Screenplay, Director

A Virgin Among the Living Dead

Director, Writer

Lilian, the Perverted Virgin

Director, Screenplay, Editor

Director, Screenplay, Director of Photography, Story, Music

Women Behind Bars

Director, Editor, Director of Photography

The Story of Linda

Convoy of Girls

Writer, Director

Call of the Blonde Goddess

Director, Writer

Director, Writer, Producer

The Sadistic Baron Von Klaus

Director, Screenplay, Story

The Coyote's Justice

Screenstory, Lyricist, Screenplay, Dialogue, Adaptation, Assistant Director

Adaptation, Dialogue, Lyricist, Screenplay, Assistant Director

Director, Screenplay, Music, Editor

Marquis de Sade: Justine

Director, Original Music Composer, Screenplay

Love Letters of a Portuguese Nun

Director, Writer

Judoka Shadow versus Doctor Wong

Director, Screenplay, Original Music Composer

Director, Screenplay

Director, Writer

Two Undercover Angels

Screenplay, Director

Lorna, the Exorcist

Writer, Director

Death Whistles the Blues

Director, Screenplay

Fulano y Mengano

Screenplay, Assistant Director

Director, Writer

They Do Everything

Director, Writer

Director, Special Effects, Director of Photography, Screenplay, Dialogue, Editor

The Sinister Eyes of Dr. Orloff

Director, Screenplay

Writer, Director

Editor, Supervising Film Editor, Dialogue

Lovers of Devil's Island

Director, Story, Screenplay

Director, Writer

White Cannibal Queen

Director, Writer

X312 - Flight to Hell

Director, Screenplay

How to Seduce a Virgin

Director, Writer

The Girls of the Copacabana

Screenplay, Story, Director

Kiss Me Monster

Idea, Director, Screenplay

Countess Perverse

Writer, Director

Lucky, the Inscrutable

Director, Screenplay

Night Has a Thousand Desires

Director, Writer, Music, Director of Photography

Director, Writer

Director, Producer, Screenplay

Nightmares Come at Night

Director, Writer

The Other Side of the Mirror

Screenplay, Director

Director, Writer, Director of Photography

Al Pereira vs. the Alligator Ladies

Director, Writer, Music, Editor, Producer

Chimes at Midnight

Second Unit Director, Second Unit

Vampiresas 1930

Director, Screenplay

We Are 18 Years Old

Director, Writer, Original Music Composer

Jess Franco's Perversion

Writer, Director

Vampire Killer Barbys

Director, Writer

La cripta de las condenadas

Director, Producer, Writer, Editor, Original Music Composer

La cripta de las condenadas: Parte II

Director, Producer, Writer, Editor

Queen of the Tabarin Club

Director, Dialogue

Daughter of Dracula

Director, Writer

Director, Original Music Composer, Writer

Silence of the Grave

Director, Producer, Screenplay

Sinner: The Secret Diary of a Nymphomaniac

Director, Scenario Writer

Killer Barbys vs. Dracula

Director, Story, Original Music Composer, Screenplay

Tender and Perverse Emmanuelle

Director, Writer

Robinson and His Tempestuous Slaves

Girls in the Night Traffic

Revenge of the Alligator Ladies

Writer, Director

The Voyeur and the Exhibitionist

Director, Writer

The Hot Nights of Linda

Screenplay, Director, Story

Director, Story

Montes de Venus

Writer, Story, Producer, Screenplay, Director

Rififi in the City

Director, Writer

The House of the Lost Dolls

Jess Franco's Passion

Director, Writer

Fifteen Year Old Captain

Director, Writer, Music

Around the World in 80 Beds

Two Female Spies with Flowered Panties

Director, Screenplay, Story, Original Music Composer

Screenplay, Director

Residence for Spies

Director, Writer

A Bad Day at the Cemetery

Screenplay, Director

Producer, Director, Writer

White Skin Black Thighs

Screenplay, Director of Photography, Director

The Lustful Amazons

Screenplay, Director

Director, Screenplay

Cinematography, Writer, Director

Writer, Director, Editor, Screenplay

Sexual Perversions of a Married Woman

Writer, Music, Director

Wicked Memoirs of Eugenie

Writer, Director

Les chatouilleuses

Story, Director

A Crack for Two

Screenplay, Director, Original Music Composer

Story, Director, Director of Photography

Cocktail spécial

Les emmerdeuses

Director, Screenplay

Screenplay, Editor, Original Music Composer, Director

Blood on My Shoes

Screenplay, Director, Original Music Composer

Voces de muerte

Director, Screenplay

The Blues of Pop Street

Original Music Composer, Screenplay, Director, Director of Photography

En busca del dragón dorado

Original Music Composer, Screenplay, Director, Editor

The Hotel of Love Affairs

Director, Editor, Original Music Composer, Screenplay

The House of Lost Women

Screenplay, Director, Editor

Dirty Game in Casablanca

Director, Producer

Bangkok, City of the Dead

Screenplay, Original Music Composer, Director, Editor

The Last from Philippines

Producer, Director, Editor, Director of Photography, Story

El abuelo, la condesa y Escarlata la traviesa

Director, Editor, Screenplay, Original Music Composer

Director, Executive Producer

Girl with the Red Lips

Original Music Composer, Director, Director of Photography, Screenplay

In Pursuit of Barbara

Screenplay, Director

Original Music Composer, Editor, Director, Screenplay

Para las nenas, leche calentita

Original Music Composer, Director, Screenplay, Story

Intimate Confessions of an Exhibitionist

Director, Music

The Night Of Open Sex

Novel, Adaptation, Director, Director of Photography, Music

The Sadist of Notre Dame

Director, Writer

Camino solitario

Director, Writer, Director of Photography

Director, Story

El huésped de la niebla

Director, Director of Photography, Original Music Composer

Burning Up Inside

Writer, Director

Entre pitos anda el juego

Director, Screenplay, Original Music Composer

How Much Does a Spy Make?

Director, Writer, Producer

Sida, la peste del siglo XX

Director, Screenplay, Editor

Death of a Cyclist

Assistant Director

Justine and the Whip

Director, Writer, Cinematography

The Tree from Spain

Screenplay, Director, Original Music Composer

Screenplay, Original Music Composer, Director

Estampas guipuzcoanas número 2: Pío Baroja

Las playas vacías

Director, Screenplay

El destierro del Cid

Fury in the Tropics

Director, Director of Photography, Writer, Original Music Composer

Trip to Bangkok, Coffin included

Director, Screenplay, Producer, Music

Cannibal Terror

Un pito para tres

Screenplay, Story, Editor, Director

Zorro the Avenger

Story, Screenplay

Castle of the Creeping Flesh

What a Honeymoon

Screenplay, Director, Original Music Composer

Vampyros Lesbos

El misterio del castillo rojo

Script Supervisor, Original Music Composer

A Man, Eight Girls

Writer, Original Music Composer, Director

¡Biba la banda!

55 Days at Peking

Assistant Production Manager

Merry Christmas

Assistant Director

Llegaron los franceses

El hombre que viajaba despacito

Music, Assistant Director

Delegated Producer

Historias de Madrid

Assistant Director, Music

Director, Writer

Director, Writer, Director of Photography

Director, Adaptation, Dialogue, Writer

The Mysterious Melody AKA Ce soir les souris dansent

A Virgin for St. Tropez