Jesús Franco
Jesús Franco | |
|---|---|
 Franco at the 2008 Fantastic'Arts festival, Gérardmer, France | |
| Born | Jesús Franco Manera 12 May 1930 Madrid, Spain |
| Died | 2 April 2013 (aged 82) Málaga, Spain |
| Occupation(s) | Director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer, musician, composer, actor, editor |
| Years active | 1954–2013 |
| Spouses |
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| Children | Caroline Riviere (stepdaughter from first marriage) |
Jesús Franco Manera (12 May 1930 – 2 April 2013) was a Spanish filmmaker, composer, and actor,[1] known as a prolific director of low-budget exploitation and B-movies. In a career spanning from 1954 to 2013, he wrote, directed, produced, acted in, and scored approximately 173 feature films,[2] working both in his native Spain and (during the rule of Francisco Franco) in France, West Germany, Switzerland and Portugal. Additionally, during the 1960s, he made several films in Rio de Janeiro and Istanbul.[1]
Biography
Of Cuban and Mexican parentage,[1] Franco was born in Madrid and studied at the city's Instituto de Investigaciones y Experiencias Cinematográficas and the Institut des hautes études cinématographiques in Paris.[3] He began his career in 1954 (aged 24) as an assistant director in the Spanish film industry, performing many tasks including composing music for some films as well as co-writing a number of the screenplays. He assisted directors such as Joaquín Luis Romero Marchent, León Klimovsky and Juan Antonio Bardem. After working on more than 20 films for other directors, he decided to get into directing films himself in 1959, making a few musicals and a crime drama called Red Lips.
In 1960, Franco took Marius Lesoeur and Sergio Newman, two producer friends, to a cinema to see the newly released Hammer horror film The Brides of Dracula and the three men decided to go into the horror film business. His career took off in 1962 with The Awful Dr. Orloff (a.k.a. Gritos en la noche), which received wide distribution in the United States and the UK. Franco wrote and directed Orloff, and even supplied some of the music for the film. In the mid-1960s, he went on to direct two other horror films, then proceeded to turn out a number of James Bond-like spy thrillers and softcore sex films based on the works of the Marquis de Sade (which remained one of his major influences throughout his career).
Although he had some American box office success with Necronomicon - Geträumte Sünden (1968), 99 Women (1969) and two 1969 Christopher Lee films – The Bloody Judge and Count Dracula – he never achieved wide commercial success. Many of his films were only distributed in Europe, and most of them were never dubbed into English.
After discovering Soledad Miranda (he first used her in his film Count Dracula), Franco moved from Spain to France in 1969 so that he could make more violent and erotic films free of the strict censorship in Spain at the time, and it was at this point that his career began to go downhill commercially as he turned to low-budget filmmaking with an accent on adult material. Miranda starred in a series of six erotic thrillers for Franco, all made within a one-year period (one of which Sex Charade was never released), after which she was killed in a tragic automobile accident in Portugal in 1970 just as her career was taking off. She and Franco had started filming her next project (Justine) which he abandoned entirely after her death. (Only about 40 minutes of the movie was shot at the time of her death). He had also planned to feature her in his next film, X312: Flight to Hell, which he made with another actress.[4]
The Lina Romay years
A year or two after Miranda died, a grieving Franco discovered a new leading lady in actress Lina Romay. At the time, the teenage Romay was married to a young actor/photographer named Ramon Ardid (aka "Raymond Hardy"), who co-starred with Lina in 19 Franco films in the 1970s. But as Romay and Franco became more involved in their film projects together over the years, her marriage to Ardid broke up in 1975 and ended in divorce in 1978 (Ardid continued working with Franco however until 1979).[5]
Franco was married at the time to Nicole Guettard (their marriage running approximately from 1962 to 1980), Ms. Guettard being gradually replaced in Franco's life by Romay. Guettard worked as a script consultant on some of Franco's films while they were married (sometimes credited as Nicole Franco), and even acted in a few of them. Her daughter from an earlier marriage, Caroline Riviere, also acted in a few Franco films in the early 1970s (including the risqué Exorcisme and The Perverse Countess). Guettard died in 1996.
Franco and Romay worked together for 40 years, and lived together from 1980 onward, although they were only officially married on 25 April 2008. Until her death in 2012 (from cancer, aged 57), Romay was his most regular actress, as well as his life companion and muse. Romay starred in approximately 109 Jesús Franco films, more than any other actor or actress. Although Romay was listed in the credits of several films as a co-director, actor Antonio Mayans stated in a recent interview that Franco used to credit her in that manner for business reasons, although she never actually co-directed any of their films together.[6]
Although he produced a number of relatively successful horror films in the early 1970s (Dracula vs. Frankenstein, The Bare-Breasted Countess, A Virgin Among the Living Dead), many people in the industry considered him a porn director due to the huge number of X-rated adult films he began turning out (even his 1970s horror films featured abundant nudity). Franco returned to low-budget horror films in a brief comeback period from 1980 to 1983 (Mondo Cannibale, Bloody Moon, Oasis of the Zombies, Mansion of the Living Dead and Revenge in the House of Usher), but after 1983, his career took a second downturn as he returned to making mostly pornographic films, most of which left nothing to the imagination.
In his later years, he did, however, get the opportunity to turn out two rather big-budget horror films – Faceless (1988) and Killer Barbys (1996) – both of which showed what great work he could still do when his projects were adequately funded. The entirety of his work after 1996 (beginning with Tender Flesh) was shot-on-video films of very low quality, none of which were distributed theatrically. Romay died of cancer in 2012 at age 57, after which Franco died on April 2, 2013, from natural causes at age 82.[7]
Legacy
Jesús Franco (or Jess Franco) sometimes worked under various pseudonyms, including David Khune and Frank Hollmann. A fan of jazz music (and a musician himself), many of his pseudonyms were taken from jazz musicians such as Clifford Brown and James P. Johnson.
Franco's themes often revolved around lesbian vampires, women in prison, surgical horror, sadomasochism, zombies and sexploitation (including numerous films based on the writings of the Marquis de Sade). He worked in other exploitation film genres, such as cannibal films, spy films, giallo, crime films, science fiction, jungle adventure, Oriental menace, exorcist films, war movies, historical dramas and nunsploitation. His sex movies often contained long, uninterrupted shots of nude women writhing around on beds. Most of his hardcore films starred his lifelong companion Lina Romay (sometimes billed as "Candy Coster" or "Lulu Laverne"), who admitted in interviews to being an exhibitionist.
Franco was known for his use of a hand-held camera and zoom shots, which he felt lent realism to his films. He also was not averse to filming several movies at the same time, knocking together a second feature on the unsuspecting producer's dime. Many of his actors only found out years after the fact that Franco had actually starred them in films for which they had never even been paid.
His main claim to fame, however, is that he managed to direct approximately 173 motion pictures in his lifetime,[8] encompassing a wide swathe of different genres with practically no financial backing available to him. (Note: Some sources which list as many as 200 titles in Franco's filmography are relisting the same films several times under their different variant titles.)
Sometimes referred to as the "European Ed Wood",[9][10] Franco similarly attracted a circle of bizarre but loyal actors and technicians who moved with him over the years from project to project (while receiving very little, if any, money for their efforts). Many of his actors were over-the-hill performers in the twilight of their careers, many of his actresses brazen exhibitionists. He frequently worked with genre actors Lina Romay (who appeared in 109 Franco films), Antonio Mayans (who appeared in 50 Franco films),[11] Howard Vernon (who appeared in 40 Franco films),[12] Paul Müller (who appeared in 15 Franco films), Monica Swinn (who appeared in 15 Franco films), Christopher Lee (who appeared in 7 Franco films), Jack Taylor, Ewa Strömberg, Anne Libert, Soledad Miranda, Maria Rohm, William Berger, Dennis Price, Olivier Mathot, Muriel Montosse (a.k.a. Victoria Adams), Alice Arno, Montserrat Prous, Alberto Dalbés, Britt Nichols, Pamela Stanford, Mabel Escaño, Kali Hansa and Klaus Kinski, all of whom are well known to Euro horror film historians.
Zombie Lake vs. Oasis of the Zombies
Franco was supposed to write and direct a film for Eurocine Productions in 1980 called Lake of the Living Dead (a horror film about revived Nazi zombies) but after submitting the basic plot summary, he fell out with the producers, Marius and Daniel Lesoeur, over the ridiculously low budget he was allotted, and the producers immediately hired French horror film director Jean Rollin to direct it (later re-titling it Zombie Lake).
The Lesoeurs later had Rollin shoot new (zombie) footage in 1981 to be added to Franco's A Virgin Among the Living Dead (1973) for its 1981 theatrical rerelease. Franco's original director's cut of the film was later made available on DVD.[13]
Franco later directed another film for the Lesouers called Oasis of the Zombies (a.k.a. Bloodsucking Nazi Zombies on VHS) in 1981, which had a plot very similar to Zombie Lake (also involving revived Nazi zombies). It was released in France as The Abyss of the Living Dead.[14] Franco simultaneously shot a variant Spanish-language version of Oasis of the Zombies at the producers' expense, starring Lina Romay and his "regulars", which was apparently released only in Spain in 1982 as La Tumba de los Muertos Vivientes; this now appears to be a lost film.[15]
Death
Franco suffered a severe stroke on 27 March 2013, and was taken to a hospital in Málaga, Spain, where he died six days later, on the morning of 2 April. He was 82.[16]
Filmography
(In order of production; all films were directed by Franco, unless noted otherwise)[17][18]
| Films | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Alternative title(s) | Notes |
| 1959 | We're Eighteen | Tenemos 18 años | Comedy/fantasy written and co-scored by Franco; starred Isana Medel, Antonio Ozores and Antonio Escribano; never distributed outside of Spain |
| 1960 | Red Lips | Labios Rojos · Opération Lèvres Rouges / Operation Red Lips | Crime drama co-written by Franco with Manuel Pilares; starred Isana Medel, Ana Castor and Antonio Escribano; distributed only in Spain, Belgium and France |
| Queen of the Tabarin Club | La Reina del Tabarin · Mariquita la Belle de Tabarin (black-and-white re-edited French version) | Franco's first film produced by Marius Lesoeur (of Eurocine) and Sergio Newman; starred Mikaela, Yves Massard and Soledad Miranda (in a very small, uncredited role); distributed only in Spain, Belgium and France | |
| 1961 | Vampiresas 1930 | Gold Diggers of 1930 . Volando Hacia la Fama / Flying Towards Fame . Certains les preferent noires/ Some Like it Black | Produced by Marius Lesoeur and Sergio Newman; starred Mikaela, Yves Massard and Antonio Ozores; distributed only in Spain and France |
| The Awful Dr. Orloff | Gritos en la Noche / Screams in the Night · El doctor demonio / The Demon Doctor · L'Horrible Dr. Orlof . Il Diabolico Dottor Satana . Schreie durch die Nacht / Der schreckliche Dr. Orloff | Produced by Marius Lesoeur, Sergio Newman and Leo Lax; written by Jesús Franco; starred Howard Vernon, Diana Lorys, Conrado San Martín, Perla Cristal and Ricardo Valle; Franco's first film to be released internationally, dubbed in English | |
| 1962 | Death Whistles a Blues | La muerte silba un blues · Agent 077, opération Jamaïque · 077 Operation Sexy (a later re-edited French cut containing extra sexy footage shot by Franco) | Co-written by Franco; co-produced by Nazario Belmar and Marius Lesoeur; starred Conrado San Martín, Gérard Tichy, Danick Patisson, Georges Rollin and Perla Cristal; distributed only in Spain and France; Franco remade this film in 1973 as Kiss Me, Killer[1] |
| The Shadow of Zorro | La sombra del Zorro · La venganza del Zorro (Zorro, the Avenger) · La espada del Zorro · L'ombra di Zorro | Franco wrote the screenplay for this film, but did not direct it | |
| The Sadistic Baron von Klaus | Le sadique Baron von Klaus · La Mano de un Hombre Muerto / Hand of a Dead Man · Le Sadique / The Sadist · Hysterical Sadique · La Bestia del Castello Maldetto / Beast of the Cursed Castle · Sinfonia Per Un Sadico / Symphony for a Sadist | Starred Howard Vernon, Hugo Blanco, Georges Rollin and Gogo Rojo; produced by Franco, Jose Lopez-Brea and Marius Lesoeur; featured Daniel White's first music score for Franco; distributed only in Spain, France and Italy; Franco married his first wife Nicole Guettard around this time | |
| 1963 | Rififi in the City | Rififi en la ciudad (Rumble in the City) · Vous souvenez vous de Paco? / Do You Remember Paco? · Chasse a la Maffia / Hunt for the Mafia · Una Spia Sulla Cita / A Spy in the City | Based on the 1958 Charles Exbrayat novel Do You Remember Paco?; co-produced by Franco and Jose Lopez-Brea; starred Jean Servais, Fernando Fernan Gomez, Antonio Escribano and Laura Granados; music by Daniel White; distributed only in Spain, France and Italy |
| The Jaguar | El Llanero / The Plainsman · Sfida Selvaggio / Savage Challenge · Le Jaguar | Zorro-type western written by Franco and Nicole Guettard (Franco's then-wife); co-produced by Marius Lesoeur and Julian Esteban; starred José Suárez, Silvia Sorrente and Georges Rollin; music by Daniel White; distributed only in Spain, France and Italy | |
| 1964 | El Extraño Viaje | The Strange Journey (translation) | Directed by Fernando Fernan Gomez; Franco did not write or direct this film, but he had a major acting role in it |
| The Secret of Dr. Orloff | El Secreto del Dr. Orloff · Le Amanti del Dottor Jekyll / The Lovers of Dr. Jekyll / Die Geliebten des Dr. Jekyll · Dr. Orloff's Monster (AIP's 1966 dubbed U.S. TV print) · Les Maitresses du Dr. Jekyll / The Mistresses of Dr. Jekyll (this French version, now available on DVD in the U.S., contained a few extra scenes added by Franco in 1965 at the producers' request) | Co-written by Franco and Nicole Guettard; produced by Leo Lax and Marius Lesoeur; starred Hugo Blanco, Agnes Spaak, Perla Cristal and Marcelo Arroita Jauregui; music by Daniel White; theatrically released in Spain, France and Italy; dubbed in English and distributed directly to American TV via AIP | |
| 1965 | Treasure Island | La Isla del Tesoro | Unfinished; this film was supposed to star Orson Welles (as Long John Silver), Sir John Gielgud and Fernando Rey; Welles wrote the screenplay and wanted Franco to co-direct it with him after viewing Franco's film Rififi in the City |
| Chimes at Midnight | Campanadas a Medianoche · Falstaff (U.S. release title) | Film starred Orson Welles (as Falstaff), Jeanne Moreau, Sir John Gielgud, Fernando Rey and Ingrid Pitt (in a cameo); co-produced by Harry (Goldfinger) Saltzman; Franco was second unit director, mainly handling the battle scenes filmed in Madrid; dubbed in English and shown theatrically in the U.S. as Falstaff | |
| The Diabolical Dr. Z | Le Diabolique Docteur Z · Miss Muerte / Miss Death · Dans les Griffes du Maniaque / In the Grip of the Maniac · Das Geheimnis des Dr. Z / The Secret of Dr. Z | Written by Jean-Claude Carriere (from Franco's plot); produced by Serge Silberman, Carlos Couret and Michel Safra; starred Estella Blain, Mabel Karr, Howard Vernon, Marcelo Arroita Jauregui, Jesús Franco, Antonio Escribano and Daniel White; music by Daniel White; dubbed in English and released theatrically in the U.S. in 1967 | |
| Espionage in Lisbon | 077 Intrigue in Lisbon . Mision Lisboa/ Mission Lisbon | Directed by Tulio Demicheli; Franco wrote the story the film was based on, but did not direct it; starred Brett Halsey and Fernando Rey; music by Daniel White | |
| 1966 | Attack of the Robots | Cartes Sur Table / Cards on the Table · Cartas Boca Arriba / Cards Face Up · James Clint sfida Interpol / James Clint Challenges Interpol | Franco's last black-and-white film; starred Eddie Constantine, Marcelo Arroita Jauregui, Antonio Escribano and Fernando Rey; written by Jean-Claude Carriere (from Franco's plot); produced by Serge Silberman, Carlos Couret and Michel Saffra; dubbed in English and distributed directly to American TV in 1967 |
| Residence for Spies | Residencia Para Espias · Les Mignonnes / The Darlings · Golden Horn (Franco's original title) | Starred Eddie Constantine, Diana Lorys, Patty Shepard, Marcelo Arroita Jauregui, Howard Vernon and Antonio Escribano; co-produced by Luis Laso and Carlos Couret (and later Eddie Constantine when the other two ran out of funds); based on a Michael Logan novel Dan Leyton chez les Chatelaines; Howard Vernon was inserted into the film in one scene without his knowledge and he said that he almost sued Franco later; distributed only in Spain and France; an English-dubbed print titled Golden Horn was created but never shown anywhere and is now apparently lost | |
| Lucky, the Inscrutable | Lucky el Intrepido · Agente Speciale L.K. · Operation Re Mida / Operation King Midas · Corrida Pour un Espion / Race For a Spy | Co-produced by Artur Brauner; starred Ray Danton, Marcelo Arroita Jauregui, Rosalba Neri, Patty Shepard and Franco (playing three different cameo roles); Bruno Nicolai's first score for a Franco film; this was Franco's first German co-production and his first film with producer Artur Brauner; distributed only in Spain, France, Italy and Germany[1] | |
| 1967 | Necronomicon | Necronomicon Getraumte Sunden / Necronomicon Dreamt Sin · Delirium · Succubus (1971 English language edit) | Co-produced by Karl Heinz Mannchen, Adrian Hoven, Michel Lemoine and Pier Caminecci; written by Franco and Pier Caminecci (although Franco claimed that he wrote it by himself); starred Janine Reynaud, Michel Lemoine (Reynaud's husband), Jack Taylor, Adrian Hoven and Howard Vernon; music by Jerry van Rooyen; shot in Portugal and West Germany; Franco's first film with both Mannchen and Adrian Hoven; dubbed in English and distributed worldwide except in Spain due to censorship problems |
| Red Lips Sadisterotica | Rote Lippen Sadisterotica · El Caso de las Dos Bellezas / The Case of the Two Beauties · Two Avenging Angels . Two Undercover Angels (U.S. DVD title) | co-produced by Pier Caminecci, Adrian Hoven and Karl Heinz Mannchen; music by Jerry van Rooyen; starred Janine Reynaud, Rossana Yanni, Adrian Hoven, Marcel Arroita Jauregui and Michel Lemoine; dubbed in English and shown theatrically in the U.S. in 1972 | |
| Kiss Me Monster | Besame Monstruo · Das Schloss der Gehenkten / Castle of the Hanged Men · Castle of the Doomed | Filmed back-to-back with Red Lips Sadisterotica; co-produced by Pier Caminecci, Adrian Hoven and Karl Heinz Mannchen; starred Janine Reynaud, Rossana Yanni, Adrian Hoven, Michel Lemoine, Franco (and producer Mannchen in a cameo); music by Jerry van Rooyen; featured a very brief cameo by Caroline Riviere (Franco's step-daughter); dubbed in English and shown theatrically in the U.S. in 1972 | |
| In the Castle of Bloody Lust | Im Schloss der Blutigen Begierde . Castle of Lust · Castle of the Creeping Flesh (U.S. title) | produced by Adrian Hoven; starred Howard Vernon, Janine Reynaud and Michel Lemoine; Franco provided the original plot and was scheduled to direct this film, but he went off to Brazil instead to direct The Blood of Fu Manchu for Harry Alan Towers, so producer Adrian Hoven directed the film himself | |
| 1968 | Eve | Eva en la Selva / Eve in the Jungle · The Face of Eve · La Femmina della Giungla . Diana, Daughter of the Wilderness | Produced and written by Harry Alan Towers; starred Christopher Lee, Maria Rohm (Towers' wife) and Herbert Lom; according to Towers, Franco was an uncredited co-director brought in to finish the film in Brazil when the original director (Jeremy Summers) quit midway through production[19] |
| The Blood of Fu Manchu | Fu Manchu y el Beso de la Muerte / Fu Manchu and the Kiss of Death · Der Todeskuss des Dr. Fu Manchu / The Death Kiss of Dr. Fu Manchu · Sax Rohmer's Kiss and Kill (U.S. theatrical title) · Against All Odds (original U.S. video release title) | Produced and co-written by Harry Alan Towers, based on the Dr. Fu Manchu novels by Sax Rohmer; starred Christopher Lee, Richard Greene, Shirley Eaton and Maria Rohm; music by Daniel White; filmed in Spain and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Shirley Eaton said in interviews that she was not even aware that Franco had inserted stock footage of her into this film until years later, the footage apparently being taken from The Girl from Rio (1968) which Franco also directed; dubbed in English and distributed worldwide, except in Italy | |
| The Girl from Rio | La Ciudad sin Hombres / City Without Men · Sumuru Regina di Femina / Sumuru, Queen of Femina · Die Sieben Männer der Su-Muru / The Seven Men of Su-Muru · Rio 70 · Future Women (U.S. TV title) · Mothers of America | Produced and written by Harry Alan Towers, based on the Sumuru novels by Sax Rohmer; starred Shirley Eaton, George Sanders, Maria Rohm and Franco (in a cameo); music by Daniel White; filmed in Spain and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; dubbed in English and distributed worldwide, except in England | |
| 99 Women | 99 Mujeres / 99 Donne / 99 Frauen · Der Heisse Tod / Hot Death · 99 Femmes Perverses · Island of Despair (edited U.S. TV version) · Les Brulantes / The Burning Women (a 1974 French hardcore porn version) | Co-produced by Harry Alan Towers; plotted and co-written by Franco; starred Herbert Lom, Maria Schell, Maria Rohm, Rosalba Neri, Luciana Paluzzi, Mercedes McCambridge and Franco (in two different cameo roles); music by Bruno Nicolai; filmed in Spain and Brazil, shot back-to-back with The Girl from Rio; dubbed in English and released worldwide in 1969 (and in France in 1974) | |
| Marquis de Sade: Justine | Les Infortunes de la Vertu / The Misfortunes of Virtue · Justine and Juliet · Las Dos Bellezas / The Two Beauties · Dulce Justine / Sweet Justine · Deadly Sanctuary (U.S. video title) | Co-written and co-produced by Harry Alan Towers, filmed in Barcelona; starred Jack Palance, Klaus Kinski, Howard Vernon, Romina Power, Akim Tamiroff, Rosalba Neri, Sylva Koscina, Maria Rohm, Gerard Tichy and Franco; music by Bruno Nicolai; Franco was furious that the producers forced him to use Romina Power in the lead role instead of his first choice, Rosemary Dexter; dubbed in English and released theatrically worldwide except for the U.S. (where it was only released direct-to-video in 1986 as Deadly Sanctuary) | |
| 1969 | The Castle of Fu Manchu | El Castillo de Fu Manchu · Der Folterkammer des Dr. Fu Manchu / The Torture Chamber of Dr. Fu Manchu · Assignment: Istanbul (shooting title) | Co-produced and co-written by Harry Alan Towers, based on the Dr. Fu Manchu novels by Sax Rohmer; starred Christopher Lee, Richard Greene, Maria Perschy, Herbert Fux and Rosalba Neri and Franco (in a cameo); shot in Barcelona with lots of stock footage from other films; dubbed in English and released worldwide, except in France |
| Venus in Furs | Venus im Pelz · Black Angel (Franco's original working title) · Puo una morta revivere per amore? / Can a Dead Girl Live Again Through Love? · Paroxismus | Co-produced by Harry Alan Towers and Alexander Hacohen; co-written by Franco and Malvin Wald; starred Klaus Kinski, James Darren, Dennis Price, Margaret Lee, Maria Rohm and Paul Muller; this was Franco's first film with Klaus Kinski, Dennis Price and Paul Muller; music by Manfred Mann who appears in the film jamming with Franco; shot in Spain and Istanbul; Franco hated the way that his screenplay was mangled by the many co-writers that he was forced to work with and the psychedelic effects that were added to the U.S. release print; dubbed in English and released worldwide, except in France | |
| Eugenie… The Story of Her Journey into Perversion | Die Jungfrau und die Peitsche / The Virgin and the Whip · De Sade 70: Beaten and Loved · Les Inassouvies / The Insatiables · Philosophy in the Boudoir (U.K. title) | Produced and written by Harry Alan Towers, based on the works of the Marquis de Sade; starred Christopher Lee, Jack Taylor, Marie Liljedahl, Maria Rohm, Collette Jack (uncredited), Herbert Fux and Paul Muller; music by Bruno Nicolai; Christopher Lee claimed that he did not even know that this was to be an X-rated film when he appeared in it (in spite of the title); Marie Liljedahl later said that she regretted appearing in adult films; distributed internationally except in Italy and Spain; later remade as Cocktail Special in 1978[1] | |
| The Bloody Judge | El Juez Sangriento · El Proceso de las Brujas / The Trial of the Witches · Il Truono di Fuoco / The Throne of Fire · Der Hexentöter von Blackmoor / The Witch-Killer of Blackmoor · De Sadistiche Rechter · Night of the Blood Monster (the U.S. theatrical title (which Franco absolutely hated)) | Co-produced and plotted by Harry Alan Towers, based on the life of Judge George Jeffreys; starred Christopher Lee, Howard Vernon, Maria Schell, Maria Rohm, Diana Lorys, Margaret Lee and Leo Genn; music by Bruno Nicolai; one of Franco's most widely distributed films; three different endings were filmed, as well as both "clothed" and "unclothed" edits to be used in different countries[1] | |
| Count Dracula | El Conde Dracula / Il conte Dracula · Nachts wenn Dracula erwacht / Nights When Dracula Wakes · Le nuits de Dracula / The Nights of Dracula · Bram Stoker's Count Dracula · Bloodthirsty Dracula · Dracula '71 | Co-produced and co-written by Harry Alan Towers, based on the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker; starred Christopher Lee, Klaus Kinski, Herbert Lom, Soledad Miranda, Fred Williams, Emma Cohen (uncredited), Collette Jack (uncredited), Jack Taylor and Paul Muller; music by Bruno Nicolai; Franco's first film with both Soledad Miranda and Fred Williams and his last film with Harry Alan Towers; this was the only Dracula film that Christopher Lee said that he enjoyed starring in; Kinski said that he was tricked by Franco into appearing as Renfield in this film; one of Franco's most widely distributed films[1] | |
| Sex Charade | Like an Apocalypse (shooting title)· The Labyrinth | Produced by Karl Heinz Mannchen; written by Franco; starred Soledad Miranda, Paul Muller, Jack Taylor, Maria Rohm, Diana Lorys and Howard Vernon; music by Bruno Nicolai; the film was finished but never released (Franco said that even the negative was lost)[1] | |
| Nightmares Come at Night | Les Cauchemars Naissent la Nuit · Les yeux de la Nuit / Los Ojos de la Noche / The Eyes of the Night · Die Nackten Augen der Nacht · Sangre en la noche | Produced by Karl Heinz Mannchen; written by Franco; starred Diana Lorys, Paul Muller, Collette Jack, Jack Taylor and Soledad Miranda (in a small role); music by Bruno Nicolai; this film was only theatrically released in Belgium; later remade by Franco in 1972 as The Sinister Eyes of Dr. Orloff and remade again in 1983 as Alone Against Terror[1] | |
| 1970 | Eugenie de Sade | Eugenie (de Sade) · Eugenie · Eugenia . De Sade 2000 · Eugenie de Franval · Eugenie Sex Happening | Produced by Karl Heinz Mannchen; written by Franco; based on the works of the Marquis de Sade; starred Soledad Miranda, Paul Muller, Alice Arno, Franco, Karl Heinz Mannchen (cameo); music by Bruno Nicolai; Franco's first film with Alice Arno; distributed only in France, Italy and Belgium |
| Vampyros Lesbos | Erbin des Dracula / Heiress of Dracula · Sexualite Speciale . Las Vampiras (censored Spanish version) · El Signo del Vampiro (the film's original shooting title) | Produced by Artur Brauner and Karl Heinz Mannchen; starred Soledad Miranda (as Susann Korda), Ewa Strömberg, Dennis Price, Paul Muller and Franco; music by Manfred Hubler, Siegfried Schwab and Franco; shot in Spain, West Germany and Istanbul; distributed only in France, Germany and Spain; Franco later remade this film in 1981 as Macumba Sexual | |
| She Killed in Ecstasy | Sie Tötete in Ekstase · Mrs. Hyde · Crimes dans l'extase / Crimes of Ecstasy | Produced by Artur Brauner and Karl Heinz Mannchen; written by Franco; starred Soledad Miranda, Fred Williams, Ewa Strömberg, Paul Muller, Horst Tappert, Howard Vernon, Franco and Karl Heinz Mannchen (in a cameo); distributed only in France and Germany | |
| The Devil Came from Akasava | El Diablo que vino de Akasava · Der Teufel kam aus Akasava . The Devils of Caninde (shooting title) . Una venere senza nome per L'ispettore Forrester / A Nameless Love for Inspector Forrester | Produced by Artur Brauner and Karl Heinz Mannchen; starred Soledad Miranda, Alberto Dalbes, Fred Williams, Ewa Strömberg, Howard Vernon, Paul Muller, Horst Tappert, Siegfried Schürenberg and Karl Heinz Mannchen; based on a short story by Bryan Edgar Wallace; music by Manfred Hubler and Siegfried Schwab; this was Franco's first film with Alberto Dalbes; distributed only in Italy, Germany and Spain; Soledad Miranda was killed in a car accident soon after finishing this film in 1970 | |
| Justine | Juliette de Sade · Juliette | Unfinished; this film was to be co-produced by Franco and Artur Brauner and written by Franco; based on the works of the Marquis de Sade; it would have starred Paul Muller, Soledad Miranda, Alberto Dalbes and Franco, but the film was never completed due to Soledad Miranda's untimely death in 1970 | |
| X312 - Flight to Hell | X312 - Flug zur Hölle · Vuelo al Infierno · Die Grüne Hölle des Amazonas / The Green Hell of the Amazon · Infierno, tuya es la victoria / Hell...You Win · Amazonas (shooting title) | Produced by Artur Brauner and Karl Heinz Mannchen; co-written by Franco and Brauner; starred Howard Vernon, Paul Muller, Esperanza Roy, Siegfried Schürenberg, Franco (in a cameo) and Ewa Strömberg; music by Bruno Nicolai; distributed only in Spain, France and Germany | |
| 1971 | The Death Avenger of Soho | Der Todesrächer von Soho · El Muerto Hace las Maletas / The Corpse Packs his Bags · The Avenger (U.K. title) . Allarme a Scotland Yard: Sei Omicidi Senza Assassino | Produced by Artur Brauner and Karl Heinz Mannchen; written by Franco and Brauner, based on a novel by Bryan Edgar Wallace; starred Fred Williams, Horst Tappert, Siegfried Schürenberg and Franco; distributed only in Spain, Italy and Germany |
| The Vengeance of Dr. Mabuse | La Venganza del Dr. Mabuse · Mabuse '70 · El Dr. Mabuse . Dr. M schlägt zu / Dr. M Strikes Back · The Man Who Called Himself Mabuse (shooting title) | Produced by Artur Brauner and Karl Heinz Mannchen; written by Franco and Brauner; starred Fred Williams, Ewa Strömberg, Jack Taylor and Franco (in a cameo); music by Daniel White and Franco; distributed only in Spain and Germany | |
| Virgin Report | Jungfrauen Report · Le Vierges et l'Amour / Virgins and Love · Defloration | Sex documentary produced by Artur Brauner and Karl Heinz Mannchen; starred Britt Nichols and Howard Vernon; music by Daniel White; Franco's first film with Britt Nichols | |
| Three Naked Women on Robinson Island | Trois Filles Nues dans L'Ile de Robinson . Robinson und seine Wilden Sklavinnen / Robinson and his Wild Slaves · Sexy Darlings . The Island of Forbidden Pleasures | Sexy comedy produced by Artur Brauner, Karl Heinz Mannchen and Robert de Nesle; written by Franco and Brauner; starred Anne Libert, Paul Muller, Nicole Guettard (cameo), Mannchen (cameo) and Howard Vernon; music by Daniel White and Bruno Nicolai; this was Franco's first film with both producer Robert de Nesle and actress Anne Libert (de Nesle's girlfriend) | |
| A Virgin Among the Living Dead (released in 1973) | Une Vierge chez les Morts Vivant · Una Vergine tra gli Zombi · Christina princesse de l'erotisme / Christina, Princess of Eroticism · I desideri erotici di Christine / The Erotic Dreams of Christine · A Young Girl Among the Living Dead · Exorcismo per una Vergine · La Nuit des Etoiles Filantes / The Night of the Shooting Stars (Franco's preferred shooting title) | Produced by Karl Heinz Mannchen and Robert de Nesle; written by Franco; starred Howard Vernon, Christina Von Blanc, Anne Libert, Franco, Paul Muller, Luis Barboo, Nicole Guettard (as the nurse), Rosa Palomares and Britt Nichols; music by Bruno Nicolai and Franco; re-released with added zombie footage (filmed by Jean Rollin) in 1981; several different versions of this film exist, including an X-rated version reportedly featuring added scenes with Alice Arno | |
| Blood on the Shoes | Sangre en los zapatos | Unfinished; this film would have reportedly starred Anne Libert and Howard Vernon | |
| Dracula vs. Frankenstein | Dracula contra Frankenstein · Dracula, Prisonier de Frankenstein / Dracula, Prisoner of Frankenstein · Die Nacht der Offenen Särge / The Night of the Open Coffins · The Screaming Dead (U.S. video title) | Produced by Robert de Nesle, written by Franco; starred Howard Vernon, Alberto Dalbes, Anne Libert, Fernando Bilbao, Luis Barboo, Daniel White, Dennis Price and Britt Nichols; music by Daniel White and Bruno Nicolai | |
| 1972 | Daughter of Dracula | La Fille de Dracula / Da vloek van Dracula | Produced by Robert de Nesle; written by Franco; starred Anne Libert, Britt Nichols, Alberto Dalbes, Daniel White, Franco, Fernando Bilbao, Yelena Samarina and Howard Vernon; music by Daniel White and Franco; this film was poorly distributed at the time |
| The Lovers of Devil's Island | Los Amantes de la Isla del Diablo (the tame Spanish version) · Violences erotiques dans une prison de femmes / Erotic Violence in a Women's Prison (the more erotic French version) · Quartier de femmes · Devil's Island Lovers | Produced by Robert de Nesle; co-written by Franco and de Nesle; starred Dennis Price, Britt Nichols, Rosa Palomares, Luis Barboo, Anne Libert, Daniel White and Howard Vernon; music by Daniel White and Bruno Nicolai; filmed in Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands | |
| The Erotic Rites of Frankenstein | The Curse of Frankenstein/ La Maldicion de Frankenstein (Franco's original title) · Les Exploits Erotiques de Frankenstein / The Erotic Experiences of Frankenstein | Produced by Robert de Nesle; written by Franco; starred Howard Vernon, Dennis Price, Alberto Dalbes, Anne Libert, Franco, Daniel White, Fernando Bilbao, Luis Barboo and Britt Nichols; music by Daniel White; some extra scenes with Lina Romay as a Gypsy were later added to the Spanish version only in 1973 | |
| The Demons | Les Demons · The She-Demons · Die Nonnen von Clichy / The Nuns of Clichy · Les Demons du Sexe / The Demons of Sex . Les Infants du Demon / Children of the Demon · Os Demonios · Les novices perverses | Produced by Robert de Nesle; written by Franco, based loosely on the life of Judge George Jeffreys; starred Anne Libert, Alberto Dalbes, Doris Thomas, Caroline Riviere (cameo), Howard Vernon, Cihangir Ghaffari, Luis Barboo and Britt Nichols; music by Jean-Bernard Raiteux | |
| A Captain at Fifteen | Un Capitan de Quince Anos . A Captain of Fifteen Years | Produced by Robert de Nesle; co-written by Franco and de Nesle's wife Elizabeth, based on a Jules Verne novel Dick Sand, A Captain at Fifteen; starred William Berger, Howard Vernon, Alberto Dalbes, Edmund Purdom, Doris Thomas, Luis Barboo and Fernando Bilbao; music by Bruno Nicolai and Franco; Franco's first film with William Berger | |
| A Silence of the Grave | Un silencio de tumba | Produced, written and directed by Franco; it was the first film made by his own company Manacoa Films; starred Montserrat Prous, Alberto Dalbes, Kali Hansa (Dalbes' girlfriend at the time), Caroline Reviere (Franco's step-daughter), Yelena Samarina; this was the first time Franco starred Montserrat Prous or Kali Hansa in one of his films | |
| Les Ebranlees | The Vibrating Girls (translation) · The House of Vice/ La Maison du Vice . Dolls For Sale . Des Filles Pour L'Amour / Women for Love | Produced by Robert de Nesle; written by Franco and Elizabeth de Nesle; starred Montserrat Prous, Kali Hansa, Howard Vernon, Luis Barboo, Doris Thomas and Anne Libert | |
| Intimate Diary of a Nymphomaniac | Le Journal Intime d'une Nymphomane · Sinner · Diary of a Nymphomaniac · Les Inassouvies '77 / The Insatiables '77 | Produced by Robert de Nesle; written by Franco and Elizabeth de Nesle; starred Montserrat Prous, Anne Libert, Doris Thomas, Yelena Samarina, Caroline Riviere, Kali Hansa, Howard Vernon and Luis Barboo; a French hardcore porn version also exists | |
| Relax, Baby | Un Tiro en la Sien / A Shot in the Head | Unfinished; this film was supposed to have been produced and directed by Franco's own company Manacoa Films, and was supposed to star Lina Romay, Kali Hansa, Montserrat Prous and Alberto Dalbes | |
| Mystery of the Red Castle | Misterio del Castillo Rojo | Unreleased; this film was supposed to be produced and directed by Franco's own company Manacoa Films, and was supposed to star Franco, Alberto Dalbes, Yelena Samarina, Lina Romay, Montserrat Prous and Antonio Mayans | |
| The Sinister Eyes of Dr. Orloff | Los ojos siniestros del Dr. Orloff . Los ojos del Dr. Orloff | Produced and directed by Franco for his own company Manacoa Films; starred Montserrat Prous, William Berger, Edmund Purdom, Kali Hansa, Yelena Samarina, Lina Romay and Robert Woods; filmed in the Canary Islands; this was Lina Romay's first film appearance for Franco (a very small role as Montserrat Prous's neighbor); this film was a remake of Franco's 1970 film Nightmares Come at Night; Franco later remade it again in 1983 as Alone Against Terror | |
| 1973 | Pleasure For Three | Plaisir a Trois . How To Seduce a Virgin · Les Innasouvies II / The Insatiables Part 2 | Produced by Robert de Nesle; co-written by Franco and Alain Petit, based on the writings of the Marquis de Sade; starred Alice Arno, Lina Romay (in her first major film role), Howard Vernon and Robert Woods; Franco remade this film twice; in 1979 as Erotic Symphony and again in 1982 as Moans of Pleasure. |
| The Perverse Countess | Le Comtesse Perverse · Un Caldo Corpo di Femina / The Warm Body of a Woman . The Countess Zaroff . Sexy Nature . Les Croqueuses / The Munchers (an X-rated 1974 French version with added porn scenes) | Produced by Robert de Nesle; written by Franco and Elizabeth de Nesle, inspired by the 1932 film The Most Dangerous Game; starred Alice Arno, Howard Vernon, Lina Romay, Kali Hansa, Robert Woods and Caroline Riviere; the added porn scenes for The Munchers involved Monica Swinn and Pierre Taylou; Franco later remade this film in 1997 as Tender Flesh | |
| Maciste vs. the Amazon Queen | Maciste Contre la Reine des Amazones . The Lustful Amazons · Les Amazones de la Luxure · Maciste aux Mains des Amazones Nues . Karzan Contro le Donne dal Seno Nudo / Karzan vs. the Bare-Breasted Women · Yuka | Produced by Robert de Nesle; written by Franco; starred Wal Davis, Montserrat Prous, Kali Hansa, Caroline Riviere, Alice Arno, Robert Woods and Lina Romay | |
| The Erotic Exploits of Maciste in Atlantis | Les Exploits Erotiques de Macist dans L'Atlantide . Les Gloutonnes / The Gobblers · Sexes au Soleil | Produced by Robert de Nesle; written by Franco; starred Wal Davis, Montserrat Prous, Kali Hansa, Alice Arno, Howard Vernon, Robert Woods, Caroline Riviere, Lina Romay and Pamela Stanford; Franco knocked together this film in his spare time while he was filming Maciste vs. the Amazon Queen | |
| The Other Side of the Mirror | Al Otro Lado del Espejo · Le Miroir Cochon · Outre-Tombe / Ultra Tumba · Lo Specchio del Piacere / The Mirror of Pleasure . Inceste · Le Miroir Obscene / The Obscene Mirror (a re-edited 1975 French X-rated version with added porn scenes) | Produced by Robert de Nesle; written by Franco and Nicole Guettard; starred Emma Cohen, Howard Vernon, Alice Arno, Robert Woods, Nicole Guettard and Wal Davis; added porn scenes involved Monica Swinn, Lina Romay and her then-husband Ramon Ardid (filmed two years later for the 1975 x-rated French version only) | |
| The Bare Breasted Countess (released in 1975) | La Comtesse Aux Seins Nus · La Comtesse Noire / The Black Countess · The Loves of Irina · Erotikill · Les Avaleuses / The Swallowers (a hardcore porn French version) · Entfesselte Begierde / Unbridled Lust (a softcore porn German version) · Female Vampire (current DVD title) | Produced by Marius Lesouer; written by Franco; starred Jack Taylor, Lina Romay, Ramon Ardid, Franco, Luis Barboo, Alice Arno and Monica Swinn; music by Daniel White; filmed in Portugal | |
| Night of the Killers | La Noche de los Asesinos / Night of the Assassins · Night of the Skull (DVD title) · Sospiri · Im Schatten des Mörders / In the Shadow of Murder | Written by Franco, based on the play The Cat and the Canary, but the credits strangely refer to the film as an Edgar Allan Poe adaptation; starred Alberto Dalbes, William Berger, Lina Romay, Ramon Ardid, Yelena Samarina, Luis Barboo and Antonio Mayans; music by Carlo Savina | |
| La Casa del Ahorcado | The House of the Hanged Man . Le Manoir du Pendu | Unfinished; this film was supposed to be produced and directed by Franco for his own company Manacoa Films, and was supposed to star Lina Romay, Antonio Mayans and Alberto Dalbes | |
| Linda's Hot Nights | Les Nuits Brulantes de Linda · La Felicita nel Peccato / The Felicity of Sin · Le Plaisir Solitaire / Solitary Pleasure · Mais Que Donc a Viole Linda? / Who Raped Linda? | Produced by Marius and Daniel Lesouer; written by Nicole Guettard; starred Lina Romay, Alice Arno, Paul Muller, Monica Swinn and Ramon Ardid; music by Daniel White; Franco remade this film in 1977 as Sexy Sisters | |
| Tender and Perverse Emanuelle | Tender et Perverse Emmanuelle . Des Frissons sur la Peau / Shivers of the Flesh · Le Chemin Solitaire / The Solitary Path · El Ultimo Escalofrio / The Last Thrill . Dernier Frisson | Produced by Marius Lesouer; written by Franco; starred Alberto Dalbes, Jack Taylor, Lina Romay, Ramon Ardid, Alice Arno and Antonio Mayans; music by Daniel White | |
| Kiss Me, Killer | Sexy Blues · Tango au Clair de Lune / Tango by Moonlight · Emanuelle Blonde . Come With Me My Blonde Emmanuelle . Embrasse-Moi . Dolce Porno Baby | Produced by Marius Lesouer; written by Franco; features Lina Romay's "Rape of Apollo" dance number; starred Alberto Dalbes, Alice Arno, Lina Romay, Paul Muller, Antonio Mayans and Olivier Mathot; music by Daniel White; this film was a remake of Franco's 1962 film Death Whistles a Blues | |
| Lascivia | Lasvive | A project that was never completed | |
| The Mark of Zorro | La marque de Zorro | Franco helped Alain Payet and Marius Lesoeur direct this film, uncredited; starred Howard Vernon and Monica Swinn; released in 1975 | |
| 1974 | Exorcisme | Exorcisme et Messes Noires / Exorcism and Black Masses · Le Viziose · Sexorcismes (a 1975 X-rated version with added sex scenes) | Produced by Marius and Daniel Lesouer; starred Franco (in a major role), Lina Romay, Ramon Ardid, Caroline Riviere, Nadine Pascal, Daniel White, Olivier Mathot and Monica Swinn; music by Andre Benichou; stock footage from this film was later re-edited into Franco's 1979 The Sadist of Notre Dame. Franco inthis film was involved in a non-simulated sex scene with Lina Romay.[20] |
| Celestine, Maid at Your Service | Celestine, Bonne a Tout Faire / Celestine, Good for Anything . Celestine, An All-Around Maid | Sex comedy set in 17th century France, produced by Robert de Nesle; co-written by Franco and Nicole Guettard; starred Lina Romay, Howard Vernon, Pamela Stanford, Ramon Ardid, Olivier Mathot and Monica Swinn; Franco later remade this film in 1983 as Scarlet | |
| Lorna, the Exorcist | Lorna, l'Exorciste . Les Possedees du Diable / The Devil's Possessed · Sexy Diabolic Story | Franco's take on The Exorcist; produced by Robert de Nesle; co-written by Franco, de Nesle and Nicole Guettard; starred Lina Romay, Pamela Stanford, Caroline Riviere, Franco and Howard Vernon; Franco later remade this film in 2002 as Jess Franco's Incubus | |
| Les Chatouilleuses | The Ticklish Ones (translation) . Les Nonnes en Folie/ Nuns in Madness · Le sexy goditrici / God's Sexy Women (a later X-rated edit) | Produced by Robert de Nesle; co-written by Franco, Nicole Guettard and Alain Petit; starred Lina Romay, Olivier Mathot, Ramon Ardid, Caroline Riviere, Pamela Stanford, Monica Swinn and Fred Williams; music by Daniel White; shot in Portugal | |
| The Sexiest Man in the World | Roland, L'Homme le Plus Sexy du Monde . Le Jouisseur / The Hedonist · Sexy Erotic Job · Der Sex Playboy | Produced by Robert de Nesle; written by Nicole Guettard (Franco's then-wife); starred Fred Williams, Lina Romay, Olivier Mathot, Ramon Ardid, Caroline Riviere, Pamela Stanford and Monica Swinn; shot in Portugal and France | |
| Les Emmerdeuses | The Troublemakers (translation) · Les Grandes Emmerdeuses / The Big Pains in the Ass · Sexy-a-Go-Go | Produced by Robert de Nesle; written by Franco; starred Lina Romay, Ramon Ardid, Pamela Stanford, Monica Swinn and Fred Williams | |
| Convoy of Women | East of Berlin . Convoy of Girls . SS Nazi Convoy | Produced by Marius Lesoeur; released in France in 1974; released in Italy in 1978; Franco apparently co-directed this film (uncredited) with Pierre Chevalier, although some sources dispute it; starred Monica Swinn and Pamela Stanford; music by Daniel White | |
| 1975 | Julietta 69 | De Sade's Juliette · Justine (a variant Italian hardcore porn version released in 1979 re-edited by Joe D'Amato) · Justine Lady Lujuria · Justine and the Whip | Written by Franco, based on the writings of the Marquis de Sade; starred Lina Romay, Ramon Ardid, Alain Petit, Monica Swinn and Franco |
| Midnight Party | Le Partouze de Minuit · Heisse Berührungen · Lady Porno · La Coccolona · Sexy Blues · Porno Pop · Porno Dama | Produced by Marius and Daniel Lesouer; starred Lina Romay, Olivier Mathot, Franco, Alain Petit, Nicole Guettard, Ramon Ardid and Monica Swinn; music by Daniel White; several different versions of this film exist | |
| Shining Sex | Le Sexe Brillant · La Fille au Sexe Brillant / The Girl With the Shining Sex · Erotic Pleasures of a Good Lady | Science fiction/porn film produced by Marius and Daniel Lesouer; written by Franco and Pierre-Claude Garnier; starred Lina Romay, Olivier Mathot, Ramon Ardid, Alain Petit, Nicole Guettard, Franco and Monica Swinn; music by Daniel White | |
| Women in a Golden Cage | Des Filles dans une Cage Doree . Razzia Sur le Plaisir · Vizio in Bocca . Carcel Dorada | Produced and written by Marius Lesoeur, based on a novel called Greetings from Hong Kong; co-directed by Lesoeur and Franco (Franco directed only a few striptease scenes just to pad out the film); starred Monica Swinn, Alice Arno, Franco and Daniel White; music by Daniel White; incredibly low budget film with lots of meaningless stock footage | |
| Mandinga | Mandinga | Unfinished; film was supposed to star William Berger | |
| A Virgin for St. Tropez | Une vierge pour Saint-Tropez | Franco helped Georges Friendland direct this film, uncredited | |
| Barbed Wire Dolls | Frauengefängnis / Women's Prison · Caged Women | Produced by Erwin Dietrich; written by Franco; starred Lina Romay, Monica Swinn, Martine Stedil, Ramon Ardid, Franco and Paul Muller; music by Daniel White; Franco's first film for producer Erwin Dietrich; some stock footage from this film later wound up in a Eurocine film called Femmes de SS | |
| Women Behind Bars | Diamants Pour L'Enfer / Diamonds for Hell · Visa Pour Mourir / Visa To Die · Prison Sado Pour Femmes / Sadistic Women's Prison . Punition Cell . Una secondina in un carcere femminile | Distributed by Marius and Daniel Lesoeur; starred Lina Romay, Martine Stedil, Ramon Ardid and Franco; music by Daniel White; Erwin Dietrich claimed Franco secretly shot this film on his dime while Franco was supposed to be filming Barbed Wire Dolls for him | |
| The Man From Guyane | L'Homme de la Guyane | Unfinished; this film was based on the novel "Cheri Bibi" by Gaston Leroux and was supposed to have starred Orson Welles, Klaus Kinski and Howard Vernon, but it never got completed because Erwin Dietrich could not get the financing for it | |
| Downtown: The Naked Dolls of the Underworld | Downtown – Die nackten Puppen der Unterwelt · Les putains de la ville basse (Whores of the Underworld) · Levres Rouge et Bottes Noires (Red Lips and Black Boots) · Schwarze Nylons, Wilde Engel (Black Nylons, Wild Angels) | Produced by Erwin Dietrich; written by Franco; starred Franco (in a major role), Lina Romay, Monica Swinn, Martine Stedil, Ramon Ardid and Paul Muller; music by Walter Baumgartner | |
| The Slaves | Die Sklavinnen . Die Verschleppten / The Neglected Ones . Les Flagellees de la Cellule 69 | Produced by Erwin Dietrich; written by Franco and Dietrich; starred Lina Romay, Esther Moser, Ramon Ardid, Franco and Martine Stedil; music by Walter Baumgartner | |
| 1976 | The Portrait of Doriana Gray | Das Bildnis der Doriana Gray · Die Marquise de Sade · Dirty Dracula . Ejaculations . La Porno Storia della Marchesa De Sade | Produced by Erwin Dietrich; written by Franco, based on the writings of the Marquis de Sade; starred Lina Romay (in a dual role), Ramon Ardid, Martine Stedil and Monica Swinn; music by Walter Baumgartner; both a hardcore porn and a softcore porn version exist |
| Girls of the Night Shift | Mädchen im Nachtverkehr · Wilde Lust / Wild Lust (the longer hardcore porn version) · Heisser Sex im Nachtverkehr (the shorter softcore porn version) | Produced by Erwin Dietrich; starred Kali Hansa and Esther Moser; music by Walter Baumgartner; both a hardcore porn and a softcore porn version exist | |
| White Skin, Black Thigh | Weisse Haut auf Schwarzen Schenkeln | Produced and directed by Erwin Dietrich; starred Kali Hansa, Esther Moser and Franco; both a hardcore porn and a softcore porn version exist; Franco acted in this film, but did not direct it | |
| Jack the Ripper | Jack l'Eventreur . Erotico Profondo · Jack the Ripper, der Dirnenmörder von London | Produced by Erwin Dietrich and Max Dora; written by Franco and Nicolas Weisse; starred Klaus Kinski, Lina Romay, Josephine Chaplin, Esther Studer and Herbert Fux; music by Walter Baumgartner; photographed by Peter Baumgartner | |
| Around the World in 80 Beds | In 80 Betten um die Welt . Mondo Erotico (DVD release title) | Produced by Erwin Dietrich; Franco allegedly helped co-direct this film, but Dietrich directed most of it himself; starred Esther Moser and Esther Studer | |
| Greta the Mad Butcher | Greta Haus Ohne Männer / Greta, House Without Men · Ilsa: Absolute Power · Ilsa the Wicked Warden · Greta la Tortionnaire de Wrede / Greta the Torturer · Wanda the Wicked Warden . Greta la Donna Bestia | Produced by Erwin Dietrich and Max Dora; written by Franco and Dietrich; starred Dyanne Thorne, Tania Busselier, Lina Romay, Esther Studer, Esther Moser and Franco; music by Walter Baumgartner; released in both a censored and an uncensored version | |
| Love Letters of a Portuguese Nun | Die Liebesbriefe einer Portugesischen Nonne · Forbidden Confessions of an Adolescent Nun . Cartas de Amor a Una Monja Portuguesa | Produced by Erwin Dietrich and Max Dora; co-written by Franco and Dietrich, based on the novel of the same name; starred Susan Hemingway, William Berger, Herbert Fux (as Satan) and Esther Studer; music by Walter Baumgartner | |
| 1977 | Blue Rita | Das Frauenhaus / The Women's House · Blue Rita (the hardcore X-rated version) | Produced by Erwin Dietrich and Robert de Nesle; written by Franco and Robert de Nesle; starred Pamela Stanford, Esther Moser and Olivier Mathot; music by Walter Baumgartner |
| Sexy Sisters | Die teuflischen Schwestern / The Devilish Sisters · Satanic Sisters · Two Vicious Sisters · Swedish Nympho Slaves · Aberraciones Sexuales de una Rubia Caliente / Sexual Aberrations of a Hot Blonde · Erotic Frenzy of a Nymphomaniac | Produced by Erwin Dietrich; written by Franco; starred Pamela Stanford, Jack Taylor (doing nude scenes), Esther Moser and Karine Gambier; music by Walter Baumgartner (who also acted in the film) | |
| Love Camp | Camp d'Amour · Frauen im Liebeslager / Women in the Love Camp · Camp Erotique . Die Unersattliche | Produced by Erwin Dietrich; co-written by Franco and Dietrich; starred Nanda van Bergen, Ada Tauler, Monica Swinn and Esther Studer; music by Walter Baumgartner | |
| The Call of the Blonde Goddess | Ruf der Blonden Göttin · Las Diosas del Porno / The Goddesses of Porn · La Deesse Nue / The Naked Goddess · Porno Shock . Love Cry of the Blonde Goddess . Voodoo Passion | Produced by Erwin Dietrich; co-written by Franco and Dietrich; starred Vicky Adams, Pamela Stanford, Karine Gambier and Jack Taylor; music by Walter Baumgartner | |
| Wicked Women | Frauen ohne Unschuld · Women Without Innocence · The Insatiable Nights of a Nymphomaniac · Femmes Sans Pudeur / Women Without Modesty | Produced and written by Erwin Dietrich, based on the novel Das Haus der Mannstollen Frauen; starred Lina Romay, Nanda van Bergen, Esther Studer and Monica Swinn; music by Walter Baumgartner[21] | |
| Women in Cellblock 9 | Frauen für Zellenblock 9 · Esclaves de l'Amour / Love Slaves · Flucht von der Todesinsel | Produced by Erwin Dietrich; written by Franco; starred Karine Gambier, Susan Hemingway, Esther Studer and Howard Vernon: music by Walter Baumgartner | |
| 1978 | Cocktail Special | Feuchte Lippen/ Wet Lips (German title) | Produced and written by Robert de Nesle, based on the writings of the Marquis de Sade; starred Touxa Beni, Karine Gambier and Lina Romay; music by Daniel White; this was a remake of Franco's 1969 Eugenie… The Story of Her Journey into Perversion |
| Elles Font Tout | They Do It All (translation) . They Do Everything · Quel Certo Piacere | Produced by Robert de Nesle; written by Franco and de Nesle; this sexy comedy starred Susan Hemingway, Touxa Beni and Lina Romay (a.k.a. Candy Coster); music by Daniel White; Franco later remade this film in 1982 as El hotel de los ligues | |
| I'm Burning Up All Over | Je Brule de Partout · Dossier Mineures | Produced and co-written by Robert de Nesle; starred Brigitte Lahaie and Susan Hemingway; music by Daniel White; Lahaie later had very bad things to say about her experience working with Franco on this film, but she later reconciled with him | |
| Opal of Fire: The Sex Merchants | Opalo de Fuego: Mercarderes del Sexo . Deux Espionnes Avec un Petit Slip a Fleur/ Two Female Spies with Flowered Panties (a later re-edited version with added extra footage) . Lascivia (working title) | Produced by Marius Lesoeur; written by Franco; Nicole Guettard was assistant director on this film; starred Lina Romay, Olivier Mathot, Muriel Montosse and Nadine Pascal; music by Daniel White; two very different versions of this film exist | |
| 1979 | The Girls of Copacabana | Las Chicas de Copacabana · Las Muchachas de Copacabana | Produced by Marius and Daniel Lesouer; written by Marius Lesoeur; starred Lina Romay, Nadine Pascal and Olivier Mathot; music by Daniel White; shot on 16mm film for unknown reasons |
| Erotic Symphony | Sinfonia Erotica · Cuerpos y Almas / Bodies and Souls | Written by Franco, based on the writings of the Marquis de Sade; starred Lina Romay and Susan Hemingway; music by Franco; this film was a remake of Franco's 1973 film Pleasure for Three | |
| The Sadist of Notre Dame | El Sadico de Notre Dame · Le Sadique de Notre Dame . The Ripper of Notre Dame · Chains and Black Leather (Canadian release title) . Demoniac (censored U.S. video release) | Franco re-used a lot of footage from his earlier film Exorcisme (1974) to make this film; produced by Marius and Daniel Lesoeur; written by Franco and Marius Lesoeur; starred Franco, Lina Romay, Nadine Pascale, Ramon Ardid, Daniel White, Olivier Mathot and Monica Swinn; music by Daniel White | |
| The Gold Bug | El escarabajo de oro . Vaya Luna de Miel/ What a Honeymoon! | Never released theatrically; based on the short story of the same name by Edgar Allan Poe, starring Lina Romay and Antonio Mayans; the film was thought to be lost, but has now turned up on bootleg DVDs. | |
| 1980 | Mondo Cannibale | Cannibal World (translation) · Les Cannibales / The Cannibals · La Dea Cannibale / The Cannibal Goddess · White Cannibal Queen · Die Blonde Gottin / The Blonde Goddess · Barbarian Goddess · Une Fille Pour Les Cannibales / A Woman for the Cannibals · Rio Salvaje (working title) | Produced by Daniel Lesoeur; written by Franco; starred Al Cliver, Sabrina Siani, Lina Romay, Pamela Stanford, Anouchka Lesoeur (the producer's daughter), Antonio Mayans, Olivier Mathot and Ramon Ardid (his last Franco film); Franco later said that Sabrina Siani was the worst actress that he had ever worked with |
| Cannibal Terror | Terreur Cannibal | Produced by Daniel Lesoeur; Franco wrote this screenplay, but the film was directed by Olivier Mathot and Alain Deruille; starred Antonio Mayans, Sabrina Siani, Olivier Mathot and Pamela Stanford; incorporated stock footage from Franco's Mondo Cannibale (1980) | |
| Sex Is Crazy | El Sexo Esta Loco | Produced by Joaquin Dominguez; written by Franco; starred Lina Romay, Antonio Mayans and Franco; music by Daniel White | |
| Sexual Aberrations of a Married Woman | Aberraciones Sexuales de una Mujer Casada . Diary of a Desperate Housewife . Sexual Aberrations of a Housewife . Cecilia (a 1983 re-edited French release version) | Co-produced by Marius Lesoeur and Franco; edited by Nicole Guettard; Olivier Mathot and Pierre Chevalier shot some extra scenes for a later 1983 French release version called Cecilia; starred Muriel Montosse (a.k.a. Victoria Adams), Lina Romay, Olivier Mathot and Antonio Mayans; music by Daniel White | |
| Eugenie: The Story of a Perversion | Eugenie Historia de una Perversion · The Wicked Memoirs of Eugenie . Erotismo . Lolita am Scheideweg | Produced by Julian Esteban; written by Franco, based on the writings of the Marquis de Sade; edited by Nicole Guettard; starred Lina Romay, Antonio Mayans, Mabel Escano and Katja Bienert; music by Daniel White and Franco | |
| Devil Hunter | Chasseurs d'Hommes (translation) · Man Hunter . Sexo Cannibal · Jungfrau unter Kannibalen / The Young Woman and the Cannibals · Mandingo Manhunter (U.S. video title) | Co-produced by Julian Gomez and Daniel Lesoeur; co-written by Franco and Julian Gomez; edited by Nicole Guettard (her last work with Franco); art director was Pierre Chevalier; starred Al Cliver, Muriel Montosse, Ursula Buchfellner, Werner Pochath and Antonio Mayans; music by Franco and Daniel White | |
| Zombie Lake | El lago de los muertos vivientes / The Lake of the Living Dead . Le lac des morts-vivant | Produced by Daniel Lesoeur; Franco wrote this screenplay, then left the project, so Jean Rollin was hired to direct; starred Howard Vernon, Antonio Mayans, Anouchka Leseour (the producer's daughter), Nadine Pascal and Jean Rollin; Rollin later said that he thought this film was awful and that he just did it as a favor for Lesouer | |
| Sadomania | Sadomania: El Infierno de la Pasion Sadomania, Hölle der Lust · Hellhole Women · Prisoners of the Flesh . Sadomania: The Hell of Passion | Prison film co-produced by Antonio Mayans and Julio Poura; written by Franco and Gunter Ebert; starred Ajita Wilson (a real-life transsexual), Antonio Mayans, Ursula Buchfellner, Nadine Pascal and Franco | |
| Bloody Moon | Lune de Sang · Die Säge des Todes / The Saw of Death · Profonde Tenebre / Deep Darkness · Colegiadas Violadas / Raped College Girls | Slasher film produced by Wolf Hartwig and Erich Tomek; music by Gerhard Heinz | |
| The Naked Superwitches of the Rio Amore | Die Nackten Superhexen vom Rio Amore . Die Frauen vom Rio Amore . Orgia de Ninfomanas . Captive Women (video title) . The Story of Linda (U.K. title) | Produced by Erich Tomek and Antonio Mayans; stars Antonio Mayans, Ursula Buchfellner and Katja Bienert; music by Gerhard Heinz | |
| The Girl in the Transparent Panties | La Chica de las Bragas Transparentes . Pick-up Girls | Produced by Antonio Mayans; written by Franco, based on a Perry Mason novel; starred Lina Romay and Antonio Mayans; music by Daniel White and Franco | |
| Adolescence | Adolescencia | A project that was never completed | |
| 1981 | Kalt wie Eis | Strike Back | Franco helped Carl Schenkel direct this film, uncredited |
| Lake of the Virgins | El Lago de los Virgenes · Island of the Virgins | Based on a story by Robert Louis Stevenson; starred Katja Bienert; music by Daniel White | |
| Macumba Sexual | Sexual Voodoo | Starred Ajita Wilson, Antonio Mayans and Lina Romay; music by Daniel White; this film was a remake of Franco's 1970 film Vampyros Lesbos | |
| The Night of the Open Sexes | La noche de los sexos abiertos / Night of the Open Vaginas | Starred Lina Romay and Antonio Mayans; music by Daniel White; loosely based on The Gold Bug by Edgar Allan Poe | |
| Oasis of the Zombies | L'Abime des Morts Vivants / The Abyss of the Living Dead (French release title)· Bloodsucking Nazi Zombies (U.S. video release title) · Le Tresor des Morts Vivants / Treasure of the Living Dead (original shooting title) | Produced by Marius and Daniel Lesoeur; starred Eric Viellard and Jeff Montgomery; Franco played a zombie in the film; music by Daniel White; a Spanish version with Lina Romay and Eduardo Fajardo was shot simultaneously under the title La Tumba de los Muertos Vivientes, but it was only shown in Spain and now appears to be a lost film | |
| 1982 | Intimate Confessions of an Exhibitionist | Confesiones íntimas de una exhibicionista | Starred Lina Romay and Antonio Mayans; music by Daniel White |
| Black Boots, Leather Whip | Botas Negras, Latigo de Cuero | Starred Lina Romay and Antonio Mayans; music by Daniel White | |
| The Sinister Dr. Orloff | El Siniestro Dr. Orloff · Experimentos Macabros / Macabre Experiments | Produced by Marius and Daniel Lesoeur; starred Howard Vernon and Antonio Mayans; music by Daniel White | |
| The House of the Lost Women | La Casa de las Mujeres Perdidas · Perversion en la Isla Perdida / Perversion on the Lost Island | Starred Lina Romay and Antonio Mayans; music by Daniel White | |
| The Inconfessable Orgies of Emanuelle | Emanuelle Exposed · Emanuelle's Secret Orgies | Starred Muriel Montosse and Antonio Mayans; music by Daniel White | |
| El hotel de los ligues | The Hotel of Rendezvous (translation) . The Hotel of Love Affairs | Starred Lina Romay and Antonio Mayans; music by Daniel White; this film was a remake of Franco's Elles Font Tout (1978) | |
| Mansion of the Living Dead | La Mansion de los Muertos Vivientes | Franco's homage to Amando de Ossorio's Blind Dead series; starred Lina Romay and Antonio Mayans; music by Daniel White | |
| The Shadow of Judoka vs. Dr. Wong | La Sombra del Judoka contra el Dr. Wong | Starred Lina Romay and Franco; music by Daniel White | |
| Moans of Pleasure | Gemidos de Placer | Franco's second remake of his Pleasure For Three (1973), based on the writings of the Marquis de Sade; starred Lina Romay and Antonio Mayans; music by Daniel White | |
| 1983 | The Blues of Pop Street | Los Blues de la Calle Pop · Las Aventuras de Felipe Marlboro Volumen Ocho / The Adventures of Phillip Marlboro, Volume 8 . The Pop Street Blues | Produced, written and directed by Franco; starred Lina Romay, Antonio Mayans and Analia Ivars |
| Fury in the Tropics | Furia en el Tropico · Orgasmo Perverso (re-edited hardcore porn version) · Mujeres Acorraladas / Cornered Women (an alternate version with some different footage) · Fury in Jamaica | Starred Lina Romay, Antonio Mayans and Analia Ivars; music by Daniel White | |
| Nevrosis: Revenge in the House of Usher (released in 1988) | Three different versions were made: El Hundimiento de la Casa Usher / The Fall of the House of Usher was Franco's original 1983 cut (shown only once at a film festival in Spain); Los Crimenes de Usher / The Crimes of Usher was Franco's 1984 re-edited cut which added three murder sequences (available only as a poor-quality VHS bootleg); Nevrosis: Die Rache des Hauses Usher / Neurosis: Revenge in the House of Usher was Franco's 1988 final version (which is the version now available on DVD) | Based on "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe; the 1988 version was produced by Marius and Daniel Lesoeur, and incorporated stock footage from Franco's 1961 film The Awful Dr. Orloff and added the sub-plot involving Morpho and Melissa; starred Lina Romay, Antonio Mayans, Daniel White and Howard Vernon; music by Daniel White[22] | |
| Treasure of the White Goddess | El Tesoro de la Diosa Blanca . Diamonds of Kilimandjaro (DVD release title) | Produced by Marius and Daniel Lesoeur; starred Katja Bienert, Lina Romay, Antonio Mayans, Daniel White and Olivier Mathot; music by Daniel White | |
| Lillian the Perverted Virgin | Lilian la Virgen Pervertida | Starred Lina Romay, Antonio Mayans, Daniel White and Katja Bienert; music by Daniel White | |
| The Night Has a Thousand Sexes | Mil Sexos Tiene La Noche | Starred Lina Romay; music by Daniel White | |
| The Sexual Story of O | La Historia Sexual de O . Lola 2000 . Une petite femme pour hotel particulier | Starred Alicia Principe and Carmen Carrion; Lina Romay was on the poster, but was not in the film; music by Daniel White | |
| Barrio Chino | Barrio Porno | Unreleased; was supposed to star Lina Romay and Antonio Mayans | |
| In Search of the Golden Dragon | En Busca del Dragon Dorado | Jungle adventure film based on "The Gold Bug" by Edgar Allan Poe; music by Daniel White; released only in Spain | |
| Golden Temple Amazons | Les Amazones du Temple d'Or · Tundra and the Temple of the Sun (Franco's original working title) | Produced by Marius and Daniel Lesoeur; Franco started this film as Tundra and the Temple of the Sun in 1983 but never completed it, so Alain Petit finished it years later for the producers and they released it in 1990 as Golden Temple Amazons; starred William Berger, Analia Ivars, Olivier Mathot and Antonio Mayans[1] | |
| Scarlet | The Grandfather, the Countess and Mischievous Scarlet · Escarlate la Traviesa / Naughty Scarlet | Remake of Franco's Celestine (1974), this film was never released; starred Lina Romay, Muriel Montosse, Analia Ivars and Antonio Mayans; music by Daniel White | |
| Camino Solitario | Lonely Road (translation) | Starred Lina Romay (in a dual role), Antonio Mayans and Franco; music by Daniel White | |
| The Tanga Girls | Las Chicas del Tanga | Starred Lina Romay, Antonio Mayans, Muriel Montosse and Analia Ivars; supposedly directed by Lina Romay | |
| Alone Against Terror | Sola Ante el Terror · Los Monstruos de Fiske Manor / The Monsters of Fiske Manor | Starred Lina Romay, Antonio Mayans and Mabel Escano; music by Daniel White; this film was a remake of The Sinister Eyes of Dr. Orloff (1972) | |
| Blood on My Shoes | Sangre en mis Zapatos | Based on an Edgar Wallace novel; screenplay written by Franco; starred Lina Romay, Howard Vernon and Antonio Mayans; music by Daniel White; released only in Spain | |
| Una Rajita Para Dos | translation: A Buttcrack for Two | Allegedly Lina Romay's first solo directing job; starred Lina Romay, Antonio Mayans and Franco | |
| 1984 | How Much Does a Spy Cost? | Cuanto Cobra un Espia? | Produced and directed by Franco; starred Lina Romay, Antonio Mayans, Luis Barboo and Analia Ivars |
| Dirty Game in Casablanca | Juego Sucio en Casablanca | Produced and directed by Franco; starred William Berger, Analia Ivars, Muriel Montosse, Luis Barboo and Antonio Mayans | |
| The Killer Wore Black Socks | El asesino llevaba medias negras | Unfinished; would have starred William Berger, Lina Romay, Antonio Mayans and Mabel Escano | |
| The Girl with the Red Lips | La Chica de los Labios Rojos | Produced by Gabriel Martin; starred Lina Romay, Antonio Mayans, Franco and Mabel Escano | |
| White Bay | Bahia Blanca | Produced and directed by Franco; co-edited by Lina Romay; starred Lina Romay, Analia Ivars, Franco and Antonio Mayans; music by Daniel White | |
| Voices of Death | Voces de Muerte . Finestrat | Unfinished; based on an Edgar Wallace novel; produced and directed by Franco; this film would have starred Lina Romay and Antonio Mayans | |
| 1985 | Last of the Filipinas | Las Ultimas de Filipinas | Co-produced by Franco and Santiago Moncada; starred Lina Romay (who also co-directed the film) |
| Bangkok: Appointment with Death | Bangkok, cita con la muerte | Co-edited by Lina Romay; starred Lina Romay, Eduardo Fajardo and Antonio Mayans; music by Daniel White | |
| Travel to Bangkok, Coffin Included | Viaje a Bangkok Ataud Incluido | Based on an Edgar Wallace character; produced, written, directed and scored by Franco; co-edited by Lina Romay; starred Howard Vernon | |
| Commando Mengele | Angel of Death . El Hombre que Mato a Mengele . Gentes del Rio | Franco co-wrote this film, but did not get to direct it; produced by Marius and Daniel Lesoeur; starred Chris Mitchum, Fernando Rey, Howard Vernon, Jack Taylor and Antonio Mayans | |
| La Esclava Bianca | White Slave | Filmed but never released theatrically; co-produced by Franco (who directed the film) and Santiago Moncada (who wrote it); starred Lina Romay and Mabel Escano; music by Daniel White; this film should not be confused with the 1985 Italian cannibal film White Slave that was directed by Mario Gariazzo | |
| The White Rhino | El rinoceronte blanco . Revenge of the White Rhino | Unfinished; would have starred Lina Romay, Antonio Mayans, Daniel Katz and Mabel Escano | |
| Lulu's Talking Ass | El Ojete de Lulu / Lulu's Buttonhole · Lulu's Bunghole | Starred Lina Romay and Mabel Escano; music by Daniel White | |
| Lulu's Pacifier | El Chupete de Lulu / Lulu's Suck Toy | Starred Lina Romay and Mabel Escano; music by Franco | |
| A Penis for Three | Un Pito Para Tres / A Whistle For Three | Starred Lina Romay and Antonio Mayans; Lina Romay co-directed and helped to write this film | |
| Entre pitos anda el juego | The Play Moves Between Penises . The Game Walks Between Whistles (literal translation) | Starred Lina Romay and Mabel Escano; music by Daniel White | |
| 1986 | The Watcher and the Exhibitionist | El Miron y la Exhibicionista / The Voyeur and the Exhibitionist | Starred Lina Romay and Antonio Mayans; music by Daniel White; Lina Romay co-directed and helped to write this film |
| The Suckers | Las Chuponas | Starred Lina Romay and Antonio Mayans; music by Daniel White; Lina Romay co-directed and helped to write this film | |
| For The Babies, Warm Cream | Para Las Nenas Leche Calentita | Starred Lina Romay and Antonio Mayans; music by Daniel White; Lina Romay co-directed and helped to write this film | |
| Slaves of Crime | Esclavas del Crimen | Produced by Herminio Calvo; starred Lina Romay as the daughter of Dr. Fu Manchu; music by Daniel White | |
| Teleporno | Unfinished; this hardcore porn film starred Lina Romay, Franco and Mabel Escano | ||
| Bragueta Story | Zipper Story | Unreleased; Lina Romay directed this film; released direct to video; starred Lina Romay and Mabel Escano | |
| Tribulations of a Cross-Eyed Buddha | Tribulaciones de un Buda Bizco | Children's film, completed but never released; starred Lina Romay, Howard Vernon and Antonio Mayans; music by Daniel White | |
| AIDS: The 20th Century Plague | Sida, la Peste del Siglo XX . Operation Sida | Completed but said to be lost; produced by Emilio Larraga; starred Lina Romay; music by Daniel White | |
| 1987 | Phollastia | Fellations Sauvages / Wild Fellatio | Starred Lina Romay; music by Daniel White; Lina Romay co-directed and helped to write this extremely X-rated parody of Dynasty |
| Falo Crest | Caprices Sados Pour Salopes du Plaisir / Sadistic Whims for Whores of Pleasure · Phallo Crest | Starred Lina Romay; music by Daniel White; Lina Romay co-directed and helped to write this extremely X-rated parody of Falcon Crest | |
| Biba La Banda | Franco produced this comedy film, but did not direct it; directed by Ricardo Palacios; starred Alfredo Landa | ||
| Dark Mission | Fleurs du Mal / Flowers of Evil · The Columbian Connection · Operacion Cocaina . The Heroin Deal | Spy drama produced by Marius and Daniel Lesoeur; starred Christopher Lee, Chris Mitchum, Richard Harrison, Antonio Mayans and Brigitte Lahaie; music by Daniel White | |
| 1988 | Faceless | Les Predateurs de la Nuit / Predators of the Night . I Predatori della Notte . Los Depredadores de la Noche | Homage to Franco's The Awful Dr. Orloff (1961), with a nod to George Franju's Eyes Without a Face; produced by Rene Chateau; starred Telly Savalas, Helmut Berger, Caroline Munro, Chris Mitchum, Anton Diffring, Brigitte Lahaie (the producer's girlfriend), Howard Vernon and Lina Romay; music by Romano Musumarra; released theatrically in France, elsewhere on VHS/DVD |
| Emerald Bay | La Bahia Esmeralda . Esmeralda Bay . Countdown to Esmeralda Bay | Produced by Marius and Daniel Lesoeur; starred Robert Forster, Brett Halsey, George Kennedy, Fernando Rey, Craig Hill, Antonio Mayans, Franco and Lina Romay; music by Luis Bacalav; received poor (if any) theatrical distribution | |
| 1990 | The Fall of Eagles | La Chute des Aigles · Un Cancion Para Berlin / A Song for Berlin · War Song | Produced by Marius and Daniel Lesoeur; starred Christopher Lee, Mark Hamill, Craig Hill and Antonio Mayans; music by Daniel White |
| Downtown Heat | Ciudad Baja · Vipers . La punta de las viboras / Viper's Point | Starred Mike Connors, Craig Hill, Josephine Chaplin, Lina Romay and Antonio Mayans; music by Daniel White; shown only on Spanish TV in 1994 | |
| In Pursuit of Barbara | À la Poursuite de Barbara | Franco co-directed this French film with Jean Rollin, although some sources dispute it; starred Francoise Blanchard, Jean Rollin, Antonio Mayans and Olivier Mathot | |
| 1992 | Don Quijote | In 1992, Franco completed this film started by Orson Welles back in 1957 as a projected TV series; adapted from Cervantes' novel by Orson Welles; starred Orson Welles, Akim Tamiroff and Francisco Reiguera as Don Quijote; it was finally theatrically released in 1995 to disappointing reviews | |
| 1993 | Jungle of Fear | La Jungla del Miedo . The Golden Beetle | Unfinished; based on the short story "The Gold Bug" by Edgar Allan Poe; written and produced by Franco; was to have starred Lina Romay, Chris Mitchum, Howard Vernon and William Berger; shot on video and exists only as an unedited two-hour long demo tape |
| 1996 | Killer Barbys | Vampire Killer Barbys · Killer Barbies (original shooting script spelling) | Franco's last big-budget film (last one shot on film), which managed to stir up a large amount of fan interest in his work; co-produced by Jacinto Santos Parrás; starred Maria Angela Giordano, Silvia Superstar and Aldo Sambrell; shown theatrically only in Spain (released elsewhere on VHS) |
| 1997 | Tender Flesh | Carne Fresca . Bocatto di Cardinale | Filmed on video, produced by Kevin Collins and Hugh Gallagher; starred Lina Romay, Amber Newman, Analia Ivars, Alain Petit, Monique Parent and Aldo Sambrell; music by Daniel White (who died on May 25, 1997); remake of Franco's The Perverse Countess (1973); premiered at a July, 1997 Canadian film festival, then released direct to video in 1998; from this point on, all of Franco's films were shot on video |
| 1998 | Mari-Cookie and the Killer Tarantula | Mari Cookie y la tarantula asesina . Eight Legs To Love You | Produced by Kevin Collins, Hugh Gallagher and Franco; starred Lina Romay, Michelle Bauer, Linnea Quigley, Amber Newman, Rachel Sheppard, Mavi Tienda and Analia Ivars; music by Franco and Daniel White (posthumously); shot on video; released direct to video in 2001 |
| Lust for Frankenstein | Lady Frankenstein . El enviado | Produced by Franco, Kevin Collins and Hugh Gallagher; written and directed by Franco; starred Lina Romay, Michelle Bauer, Amber Newman, Rachel Sheppard and Analia Ivars; shot on video; released direct to video in 2000 | |
| Dr. Wong's Virtual Hell | El infierno virtual del Dr. Wong | Produced by Kevin Collins; written and scored by Franco; starred Lina Romay (in a dual role), Franco (as Dr. Wong), Howard Vernon (seen in stock footage from Franco's The Curse of Frankenstein), Rachel Sheppard and Analia Ivars; shot on video; released direct to video in Spain in 2002 (2006 in the U.S.) | |
| Vampire Blues | Los blues del vampiro . Vampire Sex: Lady Dracula 3 . Vampyr Blues | Produced by Kevin Collins; written and scored by Franco; starred Lina Romay, Franco, Rachel Sheppard and Analia Ivars; shot on video, filmed back-to-back with Dr. Wong's Virtual Hell; released direct to video in 2000 | |
| 1999 | Red Silk | Seda Roja | Produced by Kevin Collins; written and scored by Franco; starred Lina Romay and Christie Levin; shot on video; released direct to U.S. DVD in 2005 |
| Broken Dolls | Muñecas Rotas | Produced by Kevin Collins; written by Franco; music by Franco and Daniel White; starred Lina Romay, Mavi Tienda and Christie Levin; shot on video; released direct to U.S. DVD in 2004 | |
| 2000 | Blind Target | Objetivo a Ciegas | Produced and written by Kevin Collins, based on a story by Franco; starred Rachel Sheppard, Linnea Quigley, Mavi Tienda and Lina Romay; shot on video; released direct to DVD in Spain in 2002 (2005 in the U.S.) |
| Helter Skelter | Helter Skelter: Pleasure and Pain | Based on the writings of the Marquis de Sade; produced by Kevin Collins; written by Franco; music by Franco and Daniel White; starred Lina Romay, Rachel Sheppard, Mavi Tienda and Analia Ivars; shot on video; released direct to DVD in 2004 | |
| 2001 | Vampire Junction | Produced by Kevin Collins; written by Franco; music by Franco and Daniel White; starred Lina Romay, Fata Morgana and an uncredited Mabel Escano; shot on video; released direct to DVD in 2002 | |
| 2002 | Jess Franco's Incubus | Incubus | Remake of Franco's Lorna, the Exorcist (1974); produced by Kevin Collins; written by Franco; starred Carina Palmer, Fata Morgana, Carsten Frank and Lina Romay; music by Daniel White; shot on video; released direct to DVD in 2002 |
| Antenna Criminal: Making a Jess Franco Movie | Documentary on the making of Blind Target (2000) | Directed by Brian Horrorwitz; starred Lina Romay, Kevin Collins, Jess Franco, Rachel Sheppard and Linnea Quigley; shot on video | |
| Killer Barbys vs. Dracula | Killer Barbys contra Dracula | Produced by Carsten Frank and Jacinto Santos; written by Franco and Jacinto Santos; starred Lina Romay, Silvia Superstar, Katja Bienert, Aldo Sambrell, Carsten Frank and Fata Morgana; music by Franco and The Killer Barbies; shot on video; first shown at a Spanish film festival in 2002, then released on DVD in 2003. | |
| 2003 | Flowers of Perversion | Jess Franco's Perversion . Flores de perversion | Produced by Franco and Carsten Frank; written and scored by Franco, based on the works of the Marquis de Sade; starred Lina Romay, Rachel Sheppard and Fata Morgana; shot on video back-to-back with Flowers of Passion; released direct to DVD in 2005 |
| Flowers of Passion | Jess Franco's Passion . Las Flores de la Pasion | Produced by Franco and Carsten Frank; written by Franco, based on material from the Old Testament; starred Fata Morgana, Lina Romay and Rachel Sheppard; music by Franco and Daniel White; shot on video back-to-back with Flowers of Perversion; released direct to DVD in 2005 | |
| 2005 | Snakewoman | Vampire Interlude (shooting title) | Produced by Kevin Collins; co-written by Franco and Lina Romay; starred Lina Romay, Christie Levin, Antonio Mayans and Fata Morgana; shot on video; first shown at a film festival in 2005, then released on DVD in 2006 |
| 2008 | A Bad Day at the Cemetery Part One and Part Two | La cripta de las mujeres malditas / Crypt of the Cursed Women . La cripta de las condenadas Part I and Part II | Film ran 150 minutes, released in two parts; produced by Franco; starred Fata Morgana (who was also the co-writer/cinematographer) and Carmen Montes; music by Daniel White; shot on video; it was first shown (in two parts) as Crypt of the Cursed Women at a French film festival in 2008, later released complete as La Cripta de las Condenadas on DVD in 2014[23] |
| 2009 | Take-Away Spirit | Franco co-wrote the script (with producer Kevin Collins) and acted in this film directed by Sol Clink; starred Franco, Brad Frikkers and Amy Brown; filmed in England, Brooklyn, Virginia, Spain and China; shot on video | |
| 2010 | Paula-Paula: An Audiovisual Experience | Paula-Paula | Written by Lina Romay, based on the novella Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde; starred Carmen Montes, Paula Davis and Lina Romay (in her final film before her death); only 65 minutes long, shot on video; released direct to DVD in 2011 |
| 2012 | Al Pereira vs. the Alligator Ladies | Culitos in the Night | Co-written by Franco and Antonio Mayans; co-produced and scored by Franco; starred Antonio Mayans, Irene Verdu, Paula Davis, Carmen Montes and Franco; shot on video; first shown at a film festival in 2012, released on DVD in 2013 |
| 2013 | Revenge of the Alligator Ladies | Co-written, co-directed and co-edited by Franco and Antonio Mayans; starred Antonio Mayans, Franco, Irene Verdu, Paula Davis and Carmen Montes; music by Daniel White; shot on video; Franco's last film (it was completed after his death by Antonio Mayans and released posthumously) | |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Thrower, Stephen; Grainger, Julian (2015). Murderous Passions: The Delirious Cinema of Jesús Franco. Strange Attractor Press. ISBN 978-1-907222-31-3.
- ^ Stephen Thrower, Murderous Passions: The Delirious Cinema of Jesús Franco (2015)
- ^ Newman, Kim (5 April 2013). "Jesús Franco obituary". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
- ^ Stephen Thrower, Murderous Passions: The Delirious Cinema of Jesús Franco (2015)
- ^ Stephen Thrower, Murderous Passions: The Delirious Cinema of Jesús Franco (2015)
- ^ Stephen Thrower, Murderous Passions: The Delirious Cinema of Jesús Franco (2015)
- ^ Ruiz, Paula Arantzazu (2 April 2013). "Muere Jess Franco, padre de la serie B española". Sensacine.com (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
- ^ Stephen Thrower, Murderous Passions: The Delirious Cinema of Jesús Franco (2015)
- ^ "Obsession: The Films of Jess Franco (First Edition) by Lucas and Peter Blumenstock Balbo (Editors); Howard Vernon (Foreword); Carlos Aguilar, Jack Taylor, William Berger, Monica Swinn, Jess Franco (Contributors) | Search for rare books | ABAA".
- ^ "Remembering Jesus Franco, the Spanish Master of 1970s Softcore Horror". 30 October 2014.
- ^ Stephen Thrower, Murderous Passions: The Delirious Cinema of Jesús Franco (2015)
- ^ Stephen Thrower, Murderous Passions: The Delirious Cinema of Jesús Franco (2015)
- ^ Stephen Thrower, Murderous Passions: The Delirious Cinema of Jesús Franco (2015)
- ^ Stephen Thrower, Murderous Passions: The Delirious Cinema of Jesús Franco (2015)
- ^ Stephen Thrower, Murderous Passions: The Delirious Cinema of Jesús Franco (2015)
- ^ Lentz, Harris M. III (2014). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2013. McFarland. p. 119. ISBN 978-1-4766-1652-0.
- ^ Stephen Thrower, Murderous Passions: The Delirious Cinema of Jesús Franco (2015)
- ^ Stephen Thrower, Flowers of Perversion: The Delirious Cinema of Jesús Franco. Strange Attractor Press. (2018)
- ^ Mann, Dave (2014). Harry Alan Towers: The Transnational Career of a Cinematic Contrarian. McFarland. p. 76. ISBN 978-0-7864-7982-5.
- ^ "The close-ups of his penetrating penis, tongue and fingers in Sexorcismes provide rudimentary hypervisibility but seem contrived." Ward, Glenn: Journeys into Perversion: Vision, Desire and Economies of Transgression in the Films of Jess Franco. University of Sussex, May 2011. p. 200.
- ^ Wicked Women at IMDb
- ^ Stephen Thrower, Flowers of Perversion: The Delirious Cinema of Jesús Franco. Strange Attractor Press. (2018)
- ^ Thrower, Stephen (2018). Flowers of Perversion: The Delirious Cinema of Jesús Franco. Strange Attractor Press. p. 463. ISBN 978-1-907222-60-3.
Further reading
- [French] Daniel Bastié, Jess Franco : L’homme aux 200 films, Ed. Grand Angle, 2014
- Stephen Thrower, Murderous Passions: The Delirious Cinema of Jesús Franco (2015)
- Jess Franco, Memorias del tío Jess (2004) (autobiography, in Spanish)
- Stéphane du Mesnilot, Jess Franco - Énergies du fantasme (2004, in French)
- Alain Petit, Manacoa Files (1994–1999, in French)
- Lucas Balbo, Peter Blumenstock, Christian Kessler, Tim Lucas, Obsession - The Films of Jess Franco (1993)
- Stephen Thrower, Flowers of Perversion: The Delirious Cinema of Jesús Franco. Strange Attractor Press. (2018)
- Tim Lucas, "How to Read a Franco Film", in Video Watchdog No. 1 (1990)"Article". Archived from the original on 14 October 2009. Retrieved 22 June 2008.
- The book Immoral Tales: European Sex & Horror Movies 1956–1984 (1994), by Cathal Tohill and Pete Tombs, dedicates a chapter to Franco.
- Xavier Mendik. "Perverse Bodies, Profane Texts: Processes of Sadeian 'Mixture' in the Films of Jesús Franco" in Andy Black (ed.), Necronomicon: The Journal of Horror and Erotic Cinema Book Two London: Creation Books, 1998, pp. 6–29.
- Benedikt Eppenberger, Daniel Stapfer. Mädchen, Machos und Moneten: Die unglaubliche Geschichte des Schweizer Kinounternehmers Erwin C. Dietrich. Mit einem Vorwort von Jess Franco. Verlag Scharfe Stiefel, Zurich, 2006, ISBN 978-3-033-00960-8
- (in Italian) Robert Monell, "Il codice segreto di Jesús Franco", in Nocturno Dossier n. 60, luglio 2007
- Robert Monell, essays on Devil Hunter/Il Cacciatore di Uomini and The Cannibals/White Cannibal Queen in Eaten Alive: Italian Cannibal and Zombie Movies pp. 145–148 Edited by Jay Slater, Plexus Publishing Limited, London (2002)
- Robert Monell, Foreword: "Jess Franco—Cinema Degree Zero" in Il Caso Jesús Franco, edited by Francesco Cesari, (2010, in English, Italian and Spanish) Granviale Editore, Venezia, Italy, pp. 11–12.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jesús Franco.
- Jesús Franco at IMDb
- Santo and Friends (Hispanic horror film index)
Categories:
- 1930 births
- 2013 deaths
- Film directors from Madrid
- Spanish film producers
- Spanish cinematographers
- Spanish film directors
- German-language film directors
- Horror film directors
- Honorary Goya Award winners
- Spanish male film actors
- Spanish people of Cuban descent
- Spanish people of Mexican descent
- Spanish pornographic film directors
- Spanish male pornographic film actors
- Institut des hautes études cinématographiques alumni