- Known For
- Directing
- Born
- May 12, 1930
- Place of Birth
- Madrid, Spain
- Died
- April 2, 2013
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 h…
Filmography
movieExorcismo: The Transgressive Legacy of Clasificada “S”
2024 · Self - Archive footage
movieInferno Rosso: Joe D'Amato on the Road of Excess
2021 · Self (archive footage)
movieWild Session
2019 · Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
movieDrácula Barcelona
2017 · Himself
movieSoledad Miranda, Flower in the Desert
2015 · Himself (archive footage)
movieQueridos monstruos
2014 · Self
movieCall Me Jess Redux
2014 · Himself
movieClawing! A Journey Through the Spanish Horror
2014 · Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Falks Frauen
2014 · (archive footage)
movieRevenge of the Alligator Ladies
2013 · Himself, Writer, Director
movieLa última película de Jess Franco
2013 · Self
movieThe Rhythm of Jess
2013 · Self
movieAl Pereira vs. the Alligator Ladies
2013 · The Director, Writer, Music, Editor, Producer
Los profundos sueños de Jennifer
2013 · Voz
movieTío Jess
2012 · Self
movieLa cripta de las condenadas: Parte II
2012 · Director, Producer, Writer, Editor
movieLa cripta de las condenadas
2012 · , Director, Producer, Writer, Editor, Original Music Composer
movieDebris Documentar
2012 · Himself
Macumba sexual: Voodoo Jess
2010 · Self
moviePaula-Paula
2010 · Director, Special Effects, Director of Photography, Screenplay, Dialogue, Editor
moviePor la gracia de Luis
2009 · Himself
movieIdoru
2009
tvMartes de Carnaval
2009 · Don Manolito
Take-Away Spirit
2009 · J.W. Radek, Additional Dialogue
movieCoffins of Light
2009 · himself
movieA Bad Day at the Cemetery
2008 · Screenplay, Director
movieEllos robaron la picha de Hitler
2008 · Padre del Dr. Weissman
movieVampyros Lesbos
2008 · Story
movieJesús Franco, manera de vivir
2007 · Himself
movieBeloved Count
2007 · Self
movieAngel of Death 2: The Prison Island Massacre
2007 · Pete
Bloody Jess
2007 · Self
Lascivia
2007 · Director
movieMontes de Venus
2006 · Director
movieSnakewoman
2005 · Writer, Original Music Composer, Director
movieBan the Sadist Videos!
2005 · Self
movieJess Franco's Passion
2005 · Director, Writer
movieJess Franco's Perversion
2005 · Writer, Director
movieThe Well
2005
movieJesús in Furs
2005 · Himself
Jess' Women
2005 · self
See you later Cowabunga: La maldición del cenachero diabólico!
2004
On the Threshold to Another World
2003 · Himself
movieDeath Karate in Torremolinos
2003 · Miyagi
movieRed Venice
2003 · Jess Franco
movieKiller Barbys vs. Dracula
2002 · Director, Story, Original Music Composer, Screenplay
Perversion Stories
2002 · Self
movieIncubus
2002 · Director, Writer
Antena Criminal: Making a Jess Franco Movie
2002 · Himself
movieJourney into Perversion
2001 · Himself
movieVampire Junction
2001 · Original Music Composer, Director, Writer
movieOrson Welles in the Land of Don Quixote
2000 · Self
movieCall Him Jess
2000 · Himself
movieBlind Target
2000 · Director, Original Music Composer
movieHelter Skelter
2000 · Director, Original Music Composer, Writer
tvEurotika!
1999 · Self
movieVampire Blues
1999 · The Merchant, Screenplay, Original Music Composer, Director
movieDr. Wong's Virtual Hell
1999 · Dr. James Wong, Original Music Composer, Director, Writer
movieBroken Dolls
1999 · Director, Writer
movieRed Silk
1999 · Screenplay, Director
movieLust for Frankenstein
1998 · Producer, Director, Screenplay, Music
movieMari-Cookie and the Killer Tarantula
1998 · Producer, Screenplay, Original Music Composer, Director
movieTender Flesh
1997 · Original Music Composer, Director, Screenplay, Executive Producer
movieVampire Killer Barbys
1996 · Director, Writer
movieDowntown Heat
1994 · Director, Producer, Screenplay
tvEurotrash
1993
Jungle of Fear
1993 · Director, Executive Producer
movieDon Quixote
1992 · Editor, Supervising Film Editor, Dialogue
movieEl abuelo, la condesa y Escarlata la traviesa
1992 · , Director, Editor, Screenplay, Original Music Composer
In Pursuit of Barbara
1991 · Director
movieEsmeralda Bay
1989 · Boat Captain, Producer, Director, Writer
movieNight of the Eagles
1989 · Screenplay, Director, Editor, Art Direction
movieFlesh-Eating Mothers
1988 · Policeman
movieDark Mission: Flowers of Evil
1988 · Producer, Editor, Director, Writer
movieEsa cosa con plumas
1988
movieFaceless
1988 · Director, Writer
movieSlave of Crime
1987 · Original Music Composer, Editor, Director, Screenplay
movieFalo Crest
1987 · Cinematography, Writer, Director
movieTrapped Women
1987 · Director, Screenplay, Editor
movie¡Biba la banda!
1987 · Costumer
movieThong Girls
1987 · Writer, Director, Editor, Screenplay
moviePhollastía
1987 · Story, Director, Director of Photography
movieGolden Temple Amazons
1986 · Producer, Director
moviePara las nenas, leche calentita
1986 · Original Music Composer, Director, Screenplay, Story
movieAlone Against Terror
1986 · Screenplay, Original Music Composer, Director
movieEntre pitos anda el juego
1986 · Director, Screenplay, Original Music Composer
movieThe Voyeur and the Exhibitionist
1986 · Director, Writer
movieLulu's Talking Ass
1986 · Director, Screenplay, Story, Original Music Composer
Las chuponas
1986 · Director, Writer, Director of Photography
movieFury in the Tropics
1986 · Director, Director of Photography, Writer, Original Music Composer
movieGirl with the Red Lips
1986 · Professor Karame, Original Music Composer, Director, Director of Photography, Screenplay
movieFly Story
1986 · Director
movieThe Last from Philippines
1986 · Producer, Director, Editor, Director of Photography, Story
Sida, la peste del siglo XX
1986 · Director, Screenplay, Editor
movieAngel of Death
1985 · Director, Screenplay
Un pito para tres
1985 · Screenplay, Story, Editor, Director
movieDirty Game in Casablanca
1985 · Director, Producer
movieTrip to Bangkok, Coffin Included
1985 · Rose Hotel's recepcionist (uncredited), Director, Screenplay, Producer, Music
movieJudoka Shadow versus Doctor Wong
1985 · Dr. Wong, Director, Screenplay, Original Music Composer
movieWhite Jungle Slave
1985 · Director, Music
movieBangkok, City of the Dead
1985 · Screenplay, Original Music Composer, Director, Editor
movieThe Sexual Story of O
1984 · Screenplay, Editor, Producer, Director
movieA Crack for Two
1984 · Tom, Screenplay, Director, Original Music Composer
movieLilian, the Perverted Virgin
1984 · Bernardo, Director, Screenplay, Editor
movieThe Sinister Doctor Orloff
1984 · Manolo, Director, Music, Screenplay
movieHow Much Does a Spy Make?
1984 · Director, Writer, Producer
movieNight Has a Thousand Desires
1984 · Psychiatrist (uncredited), Director, Writer, Music, Director of Photography
movieLonely Road
1984 · Doctor Callman, Director, Writer, Director of Photography
movieBahia Blanca
1984 · The Miseries (uncredited), Writer, Story, Producer, Screenplay, Director
movieMacumba Sexual
1983 · Recepcionist, Director, Screenplay, Director of Photography, Story, Music
movieThe Hotel of Love Affairs
1983 · Director, Editor, Original Music Composer, Screenplay
movieCries of Pleasure
1983 · Editor, Director, Art Direction, Writer
movieThe House of Lost Women
1983 · Screenplay, Director, Editor
movieIntimate Confessions of an Exhibitionist
1983 · Director, Music
movieDiamonds of Kilimandjaro
1983 · Director, Screenplay, Director of Photography, Producer, Original Music Composer
movieCecilia
1983 · Writer, Producer, Director
movieRevenge in the House of Usher
1983 · Producer, Screenplay, Original Music Composer, Director
movieThe Night Of Open Sex
1983 · Count, Novel, Adaptation, Director, Director of Photography, Music
movieBlack Boots, Leather Whip
1983 · Matón en cementerio de coches (voice) (uncredited), Editor, Director, Music, Writer
movieEn busca del dragón dorado
1983 · Blind Old Man, Original Music Composer, Screenplay, Director, Editor
movieThe Blues of Pop Street
1983 · Sam Chesterfield, Original Music Composer, Screenplay, Director, Director of Photography
movieBlood on My Shoes
1983 · Abductor, Screenplay, Director, Original Music Composer
The Bizarre World of Jess Franco
1983 · Self
Voces de muerte
1983 · Director, Screenplay
movieClaire
1983 · Director
movieMansion of the Living Dead
1982 · Original Music Composer, Director, Screenplay, Director of Photography, Editor, Novel
movieOasis of the Zombies
1982 · Director, Screenplay, Editor, Original Music Composer
movieEl lago de las vírgenes
1982 · Original Music Composer, Director, Editor, Writer
movieThe Inconfessable Orgies of Emmanuelle
1982 · Director, Editor, Screenplay
El huésped de la niebla
1982 · Director, Director of Photography, Original Music Composer
moviePick-Up Girls
1981 · Screenplay, Editor, Original Music Composer, Director
movieJailhouse Wardress
1981 · Uncle Jess, Director
movieLola 2000
1981 · Director
movieThe Story of Linda
1981 · Director
movieSexual Perversions of a Married Woman
1981 · Writer, Music, Director
movieZombie Lake
1981 · Writer
movieThe Girls of the Copacabana
1981 · Screenplay, Story, Director
movieSadomania
1981 · Lucas, Director, Screenplay, Music, Editor
movieBloody Moon
1981 · Doctor (uncredited), Director
movieSex Is Crazy
1981 · Film Director, Screenplay, Original Music Composer
movieDevil Hunter
1980 · Director, Original Music Composer, Screenplay
movieCannibal Terror
1980 · Writer
movieWhite Cannibal Queen
1980 · Mr. Martin, Director, Writer
movieWicked Memoirs of Eugenie
1980 · Writer, Director
movieTwo Female Spies with Flowered Panties
1980 · Director, Screenplay, Story, Original Music Composer
movieErotic Symphony
1980 · Director, Writer
movieWhat a Honeymoon
1980 · Dying Man (uncredited), Screenplay, Director, Original Music Composer
movieJustine and the Whip
1979 · Strange Guy, Director, Writer, Cinematography
movieConvoy of Girls
1979 · Writer, Director
movieThe Sadist of Notre Dame
1979 · Mathis Vogel, Director, Writer
movieBurning Up Inside
1979 · Writer, Director
movieThey Do Everything
1979 · Director, Writer
movieObscene Desire
1978 · Music
movieCocktail spécial
1978 · Director
movieWomen in Cellblock 9
1978 · Screenplay, Director
movieWomen Without Innocence
1978 · Director, Writer
movieCall of the Blonde Goddess
1977 · Director, Writer
movieLove Camp
1977 · Director
movieSexy Sisters
1977 · Director
movieBlue Rita
1977 · Director, Writer
movieAround the World in 80 Beds
1977 · Director
movieSlaves
1977 · Radeck's Assistant, Director
movieKiss Me Killer
1977 · Marcel, Director, Writer
movieLove Letters of a Portuguese Nun
1977 · Director
movieGreta, the Mad Butcher
1977 · Dr. Milton Arcos (as Jess Franco), Writer, Director
movieSilence of the Grave
1976 · Director, Producer, Screenplay
movieJack the Ripper
1976 · Screenplay, Director
movieShining Sex
1976 · Dr. Seward, Director, Story
movieWhite Skin Black Thighs
1976 · Graf Anastasio, Screenplay, Director of Photography
movieThe Troublemakers
1976 · , Director, Screenplay
movieGirls in the Night Traffic
1976 · Director
movieLadies House of Pleasure
1976
movieBarbed Wire Dolls
1976 · Maria's Father (uncredited), Director, Writer, Director of Photography
movieGolden Jail
1976 · Director
movieMidnight Party
1976 · Janos Radeck, Director, Writer
movieDoriana Grey
1976 · Director, Writer
movieRolls-Royce Baby
1975 · Director
movieCountess Perverse
1975 · Writer, Director
movieDowntown
1975 · Al Pereira, Director, Writer, Director of Photography
movieExorcism
1975 · Mathis Vogel, aka Laforgue, Director, Screenplay
movieThe Ticklish Ones
1975 · Story, Director
movieThe Hot Nights of Linda
1975 · Dr. Roberts (as Jess Franck), Screenplay, Director, Story
movieSexy Erotic Job
1975 · Director
movieA Virgin for St. Tropez
1975 · Director
movieFemale Vampire
1975 · Dr. Roberts, Writer, Editor, Director, Director of Photography
movieWomen Behind Bars
1975 · Bill, Director, Editor, Director of Photography
movieSexorcismes
1975 · Mathis Vogel, Director, Adaptation, Dialogue, Writer
movieLorna, the Exorcist
1974 · Doctor (uncredited), Writer, Director
movieCelestine
1974 · Sleeping Man, Director, Writer, Director of Photography
movieNight of the Skull
1974 · Andy, Director, Screenplay
movieThe House of the Lost Dolls
1974 · Screenplay
movieFifteen Year Old Captain
1974 · Director, Writer, Music
movieHow to Seduce a Virgin
1974 · Director, Writer
movieThe Greedy Ones
1974 · Director, Screenplay
movieThe Lustful Amazons
1974 · Screenplay, Director
movieDolls for Sale
1973 · , Director
movieA Virgin Among the Living Dead
1973 · Basilio, Director, Writer
movieLovers of Devil's Island
1973 · Director, Story, Screenplay
movieThe Other Side of the Mirror
1973 · Roger (uncredited), Screenplay, Director
movieSinner: The Secret Diary of a Nymphomaniac
1973 · Inspecteur Hernandez, Director, Scenario Writer
movieThe Erotic Rites of Frankenstein
1973 · Morpho, Director, Screenplay, Story
movieEugenie de Sade
1973 · Attila Tanner, Writer, Director
movieThe Demons
1973 · Writer, Director
movieNightmares Come at Night
1973 · Director, Writer
movieThe Sinister Eyes of Dr. Orloff
1973 · Lord Comfort (uncredited), Director, Screenplay
movieTender and Perverse Emmanuelle
1973 · Director, Writer
movieThe Vengeance of Dr. Mabuse
1972 · Crosby / Drunk Man in Nightclub, Director, Original Music Composer, Screenplay
movieDaughter of Dracula
1972 · Cyril Jefferson, Director, Writer
movieDracula, Prisoner of Frankenstein
1972 · Screenplay, Story, Director
movieThe Corpse Packs His Bags
1972 · Gonzales, Screenplay, Director
movieRobinson and His Tempestuous Slaves
1972 · Director
movieVampir Cuadecuc
1972 · Self
movieSex Charade
1972 · Director, Screenplay
movieVirgin Report
1972 · Director
movieShe Killed in Ecstasy
1971 · Dr. Donen, Writer, Director
movieX312 - Flight to Hell
1971 · Man at John Somers', Director, Screenplay
movieVampyros Lesbos
1971 · Memmet, Director, Screenplay, Original Music Composer, Special Effects Makeup Artist
movieThe Devil Came from Akasava
1971 · Tino Celli, Director
movieCuadrilátero
1970 · Music
movieCount Dracula
1970 · Van Helsing's servant (uncredited), Director, Screenplay
movieEugenie
1970 · Man in Red Ritual Scene (uncredited), Director
movieThe Bloody Judge
1970 · Director, Adaptation
movieYour Caresses
1969
movieVenus in Furs
1969 · Jazz Musician (uncredited), Writer, Director, Story
movieThe Castle of Fu Manchu
1969 · Insp. Ahmet, Director
movieMarquis de Sade: Justine
1969 · , Director
movieKiss Me Monster
1969 · Abilene's Contact Man (uncredited), Idea, Director, Screenplay
movieTwo Undercover Angels
1969 · Napoleon Bolivard, Screenplay, Director
movieThe Girl from Rio
1969 · Guitar Player, Director
movie99 Women
1969 · Official (uncredited), Story, Director, Screenplay
movieA Man, Eight Girls
1968 · Director
movieThe Blood of Fu Manchu
1968 · , Director, Story, Screenplay
movieCastle of the Creeping Flesh
1968 · Story
movieSuccubus
1968 · Writer, Director
movieResidence for Spies
1968 · Casino Piano Player (uncredited), Director, Writer
movieLucky, the Inscrutable
1967 · Ciego / Zoltan / Guitarrista, Director, Screenplay
movieThe Diabolical Dr. Z
1966 · Inspector Tanner, Screenplay, Director
movieAttack of the Robots
1966 · Piano Player, Pianist (uncredited), Director, Screenplay
movieChimes at Midnight
1965 · Second Unit Director
movieDr. Orloff's Monster
1965 · Piano Player, Director, Dialogue, Screenplay
movieRififi in the City
1964 · Director, Writer
movieStrange Voyage
1964 · Don Venancio
movieDeath Whistles the Blues
1964 · Saxofonista en Club de Nueva Orleans (uncredited), Director, Screenplay
movieJaguar
1963 · Director, Story
movie55 Days at Peking
1963 · Assistant Production Manager
movieZorro the Avenger
1962 · Story, Screenplay
movieThe Sadistic Baron Von Klaus
1962 · Director, Screenplay, Story
movieThe Awful Dr. Orlof
1962 · Pianist (uncredited), Director, Story, Screenplay
movieVampiresas 1930
1962 · Director, Screenplay
movieQueen of the Tabarin Club
1960 · Director, Dialogue
movieAma Rosa
1960 · Writer
movieRed Lips
1960 · Screenplay, Director
Estampas guipuzcoanas número 2: Pío Baroja
1960 · Director
El destierro del Cid
1960 · Director
movieWe Are 18 Years Old
1959 · Director, Writer, Original Music Composer
Oro español
1959 · Screenplay, Original Music Composer, Director
Las playas vacías
1959 · Director, Screenplay
movieLlegaron los franceses
1959 · Writer
movieAnna Said Yes
1958 · Pianista (uncredited), Delegated Producer
movieHistorias de Madrid
1958 · Assistant Director, Music
movieFulano y Mengano
1957 · Screenplay, Assistant Director
movieEl hombre que viajaba despacito
1957 · Music, Assistant Director
movieThe Tree from Spain
1957 · Screenplay, Director, Original Music Composer
movieThe Mysterious Melody AKA Ce soir les souris dansent
1956 · Writer
movieAround the World in 80 Days
1956 · Extra (uncredited)
movieThe Coyote's Justice
1956 · Screenstory, Lyricist, Screenplay, Dialogue, Adaptation, Assistant Director
movieDeath of a Cyclist
1955 · Assistant Director
movieThe Coyote
1955 · Adaptation, Dialogue, Lyricist, Screenplay, Assistant Director
movieMerry Christmas
1954 · Assistant Director
movieComedians
1954 · Script Supervisor, Original Music Composer
El misterio del castillo rojo
— · , Director
Juliette
— · Director
movieShining Sex
— · Director