Jesús Franco
Personal Info
Known for
Directing
Gender
Male
Birthday
1930-05-12
Day of Death
2013-04-02 (82 years old)
Place of Birth
Madrid, Spain
Jesús Franco
Biography
Jesús "Jess" Franco was a Spanish film director, writer, cinematographer and actor. His career took off in 1961 with his cult classic The Awful Dr. Orloff, which received wide distribution in the United States and England. Though he had some American box office success with Necronomicon, his first women-in-prison film Ninety-Nine Women, and his two Christopher Lee films, The Bloody Judge and Count Dracula, he never achieved wide commercial success. Franco moved from Spain to France in 1970 so that he could make more violent and sexual films, and it was at this point that his career began to go downhill commercially, as he turned to low-budget filmmaking with a heavier accent on adult-oriented films. Although he produced a few well-received, low budget horror films in the early 70's, many people in the industry considered him a porn director due to the huge number of X-rated adult films he began churning out. Franco returned to low-budget horror in a brief comeback period from 1980-1983, but after 1983, his career took a second downturn. With the exception of Faceless and Killer Barbies, his films after 1984 are quite disliked and obscure due to their incredibly low budgets. Franco has nevertheless retained a large cult following through the years with his sexually-charged horror films, some of which are regarded as masterpieces by his avid followers.
Acting
(2024)
Exorcismo: The Transgressive Legacy of Clasificada 'S'
as Self - Archive footage
(2021)
Inferno Rosso: Joe D'Amato on the Road of Excess
as Self (archive footage)
(2019)
Wild Session
as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
(2017)
Drácula Barcelona
as Himself
(2015)
Soledad Miranda, Flower in the Desert
as Himself (archive footage)
(2014)
Falks Frauen
as (archive footage)
(2014)
Call Me Jess Redux
as Himself
(2014)
Queridos monstruos
as Self
(2014)
Clawing! A Journey Through the Spanish Horror
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
(2013)
Al Pereira vs. the Alligator Ladies
as The Director
(2013)
(2013)
The Rhythm of Jess
as Self
(2013)
(2013)
Revenge of the Alligator Ladies
as Himself
(2012)
(2012)
Debris Documentar
as Himself
(2012)
Tío Jess
as Self
(2010)
Macumba sexual: Voodoo Jess
as Self
(2009)
Take-Away Spirit
as J.W. Radek
(2009)
(2009)
Coffins of Light
as himself
(2009)
Por la gracia de Luis
as Himself
(2008)
(2008)
Ellos robaron la picha de Hitler
as Padre del Dr. Weissman
(2007)
(2007)
Jesús Franco, manera de vivir
as Himself
(2007)
Bloody Jess
as Self
(2007)
Beloved Count
as Self
(2005)
(2005)
Ban the Sadist Videos!
as Self
(2005)
Jesús in Furs
as Himself
(2005)
Jess' Women
as self
(2004)
(2003)
Death Karate in Torremolinos
as Miyagi
(2003)
On the Threshold to Another World
as Himself
(2003)
Red Venice
as Jess Franco
(2002)
(2002)
Perversion Stories
as Self
(2001)
Journey into Perversion
as Himself
(2000)
(2000)
Call Him Jess
as Himself
(1999)
Vampire Blues
as The Merchant
(1999)
Dr. Wong's Virtual Hell
as Dr. James Wong
(1992)
(1989)
Esmeralda Bay
as Boat Captain
(1988)
Flesh-Eating Mothers
as Policeman
(1988)
(1986)
Girl with the Red Lips
as Professor Karame
(1985)
Judoka Shadow versus Doctor Wong
as Dr. Wong
(1985)
Trip to Bangkok, Coffin included
as Rose Hotel's recepcionist (uncredited)
(1984)
The Sinister Doctor Orloff
as Manolo
(1984)
A Crack for Two
as Tom
(1984)
Night Has a Thousand Desires
as Psychiatrist (uncredited)
(1984)
Camino solitario
as Doctor Callman
(1984)
Bahia Blanca
as The Miseries (uncredited)
(1984)
Lilian, the Perverted Virgin
as Bernardo
(1983)
Macumba Sexual
as Recepcionist
(1983)
En busca del dragón dorado
as Blind Old Man
(1983)
Blood on My Shoes
as Abductor
(1983)
The Blues of Pop Street
as Sam Chesterfield
(1983)
The Night Of Open Sex
as Count
(1983)
Black Boots, Leather Whip
as Matón en cementerio de coches (voice) (uncredited)
(1983)
(1981)
Jailhouse Wardress
as Uncle Jess
(1981)
Sex Is Crazy
as Film Director
(1981)
Sadomania
as Lucas
(1981)
Bloody Moon
as Doctor (uncredited)
(1980)
White Cannibal Queen
as Mr. Martin
(1980)
What a Honeymoon
as Dying Man (uncredited)
(1979)
The Sadist of Notre Dame
as Mathis Vogel
(1979)
Justine and the Whip
as Strange Guy
(1977)
Kiss Me Killer
as Marcel
(1977)
Slaves
as Radeck's Assistant
(1977)
Greta, the Mad Butcher
as Dr. Milton Arcos (as Jess Franco)
(1976)
Barbed Wire Dolls
as Maria's Father (uncredited)
(1976)
Midnight Party
as Janos Radeck
(1976)
(1976)
Shining Sex
as Dr. Seward
(1976)
(1976)
White Skin Black Thighs
as Graf Anastasio
(1975)
Downtown
as Al Pereira
(1975)
Women Behind Bars
as Bill
(1975)
Exorcism
as Mathis Vogel, aka Laforgue
(1975)
The Hot Nights of Linda
as Dr. Roberts (as Jess Franck)
(1975)
(1975)
Sexorcismes
as Mathis Vogel
(1974)
Night of the Skull
as Andy
(1974)
Celestine
as Sleeping Man
(1973)
The Erotic Rites of Frankenstein
as Morpho
(1973)
Eugenie de Sade
as Attila Tanner
(1973)
Female Vampire
as Dr. Roberts
(1973)
Sinner: The Secret Diary of a Nymphomaniac
as Inspecteur Hernandez
(1973)
(1973)
The Sinister Eyes of Dr. Orloff
as Lord Comfort (uncredited)
(1973)
(1973)
A Virgin Among the Living Dead
as Basilio
(1972)
The Corpse Packs His Bags
as Gonzales
(1972)
The Vengeance of Dr. Mabuse
as Crosby / Drunk Man in Nightclub
(1972)
Robinson and His Tempestuous Slaves
as Director
(1972)
Vampir Cuadecuc
as Self
(1972)
Daughter of Dracula
as Cyril Jefferson
(1971)
The Devil Came from Akasava
as Tino Celli
(1971)
She Killed in Ecstasy
as Dr. Donen
(1971)
Vampyros Lesbos
as Memmet
(1971)
X312 - Flight to Hell
as Man at John Somers'
(1970)
Count Dracula
as Van Helsing's servant (uncredited)
(1970)
Eugenie
as Man in Red Ritual Scene (uncredited)
(1969)
The Castle of Fu Manchu
as Insp. Ahmet
(1969)
Venus in Furs
as Jazz Musician (uncredited)
(1969)
The Girl from Rio
as Guitar Player
(1969)
(1969)
Kiss Me Monster
as Abilene's Contact Man
(1969)
(1969)
Two Undercover Angels
as Napoleon Bolivard
(1969)
99 Women
as Official (uncredited)
(1968)
Succubus
as Writer
(1968)
(1967)
Lucky, the Inscrutable
as Ciego / Zoltan / Guitarrista
(1966)
The Diabolical Dr. Z
as Inspector Tanner
(1966)
Attack of the Robots
as Piano Player
(1966)
Attack of the Robots
as Pianist (uncredited)
(1966)
Residence for Spies
as Casino Piano Player (uncredited)
(1964)
Dr. Orloff's Monster
as Piano Player
(1964)
Strange Voyage
as Don Venancio
(1964)
Death Whistles the Blues
as Saxofonista en Club de Nueva Orleans (uncredited)
(1962)
The Awful Dr. Orlof
as Pianist (uncredited)
(1958)
Anna Said Yes
as Pianista (uncredited)
(1956)
Around the World in Eighty Days
as Extra (uncredited)
Crew
(2013)
Al Pereira vs. the Alligator Ladies
Writer, Director, Music, Editor, Producer
(2013)
Revenge of the Alligator Ladies
Writer, Director
(2012)
La cripta de las condenadas
Director, Writer, Editor, Producer, Original Music Composer
(2012)
La cripta de las condenadas: Parte II
Director, Producer, Editor, Writer
(2010)
Paula-Paula
Director, Editor, Screenplay, Director of Photography, Dialogue, Special Effects
(2009)
Take-Away Spirit
Additional Dialogue
(2008)
A Bad Day at the Cemetery
Director, Screenplay
(2008)
Vampyros Lesbos
Story
(2007)
Lascivia
Director
(2006)
Montes de Venus
Director
(2005)
Jess Franco's Perversion
Director, Writer
(2005)
Jess Franco's Passion
Writer, Director
(2005)
Snakewoman
Original Music Composer, Director, Writer
(2002)
Incubus
Director, Writer
(2002)
Killer Barbys vs. Dracula
Director, Story, Screenplay, Original Music Composer
(2001)
Vampire Junction
Director, Original Music Composer, Writer
(2000)
Blind Target
Director, Original Music Composer
(2000)
Helter Skelter
Director, Original Music Composer, Writer
(1999)
Vampire Blues
Screenplay, Original Music Composer, Director
(1999)
Dr. Wong's Virtual Hell
Director, Original Music Composer, Writer
(1999)
Broken Dolls
Director, Writer
(1999)
Red Silk
Screenplay, Director
(1998)
Lust for Frankenstein
Screenplay, Director, Music, Producer
(1998)
Mari-Cookie and the Killer Tarantula
Director, Original Music Composer, Producer, Screenplay
(1997)
Tender Flesh
Screenplay, Original Music Composer, Executive Producer, Director
(1996)
Vampire Killer Barbys
Writer, Director
(1994)
Downtown Heat
Director, Screenplay, Producer
(1993)
Jungle of Fear
Director, Executive Producer
(1992)
Don Quixote
Editor, Supervising Film Editor, Dialogue
(1992)
El abuelo, la condesa y Escarlata la traviesa
Screenplay, Director, Editor, Original Music Composer
(1991)
In Pursuit of Barbara
Director
(1989)
Night of the Eagles
Director, Screenplay, Editor, Art Direction
(1989)
Esmeralda Bay
Producer, Director, Writer
(1988)
Faceless
Director, Writer
(1988)
Dark Mission: Flowers of Evil
Director, Producer, Writer, Editor
(1987)
Falo Crest
Director, Cinematography, Writer
(1987)
Thong Girls
Editor, Director, Screenplay, Writer
(1987)
Phollastía
Director, Story, Director of Photography
(1987)
Slave of Crime
Screenplay, Director, Original Music Composer, Editor
(1987)
¡Biba la banda!
Costumer
(1986)
Alone Against Terror
Original Music Composer, Screenplay, Director
(1986)
Golden Temple Amazons
Producer, Director
(1986)
Lulu's Talking Ass
Screenplay, Director, Story, Original Music Composer
(1986)
Fly Story
Director
(1986)
The Voyeur and the Exhibitionist
Director, Writer
(1986)
The Last from Philippines
Editor, Director, Director of Photography, Producer, Story
(1986)
Girl with the Red Lips
Director, Screenplay, Original Music Composer, Director of Photography
(1986)
Para las nenas, leche calentita
Original Music Composer, Screenplay, Director, Story
(1986)
Entre pitos anda el juego
Director, Screenplay, Original Music Composer
(1986)
Sida, la peste del siglo XX
Screenplay, Editor, Director
(1986)
Fury in the Tropics
Director, Director of Photography, Writer, Original Music Composer
(1986)
Las chuponas
Director, Writer, Director of Photography
(1985)
Angel of Death
Director, Screenplay
(1985)
White Jungle Slave
Director, Music
(1985)
Judoka Shadow versus Doctor Wong
Director, Original Music Composer, Screenplay
(1985)
Dirty Game in Casablanca
Director, Producer
(1985)
Bangkok, City of the Dead
Director, Original Music Composer, Screenplay, Editor
(1985)
Trip to Bangkok, Coffin included
Director, Producer, Music, Screenplay
(1985)
Un pito para tres
Story, Screenplay, Director, Editor
(1984)
The Sinister Doctor Orloff
Screenplay, Music, Director
(1984)
The Sexual Story of O
Screenplay, Editor, Director, Producer
(1984)
Lilian, the Perverted Virgin
Director, Editor, Screenplay
(1984)
Night Has a Thousand Desires
Director, Writer, Director of Photography, Music
(1984)
Bahia Blanca
Writer, Producer, Story, Screenplay, Director
(1984)
A Crack for Two
Screenplay, Director, Original Music Composer
(1984)
Camino solitario
Director, Writer, Director of Photography
(1984)
How Much Does a Spy Make?
Director, Writer, Producer
(1983)
Revenge in the House of Usher
Original Music Composer, Producer, Screenplay, Director
(1983)
Black Boots, Leather Whip
Editor, Director, Music, Writer
(1983)
Diamonds of Kilimandjaro
Director, Screenplay, Producer, Director of Photography, Original Music Composer
(1983)
Cries of Pleasure
Writer, Art Direction, Editor, Director
(1983)
Macumba Sexual
Director, Screenplay, Music, Director of Photography, Story
(1983)
Cecilia
Director, Producer, Writer
(1983)
Voces de muerte
Director, Screenplay
(1983)
Blood on My Shoes
Director, Screenplay, Original Music Composer
(1983)
The Hotel of Love Affairs
Editor, Director, Screenplay, Original Music Composer
(1983)
The Blues of Pop Street
Screenplay, Director of Photography, Director, Original Music Composer
(1983)
En busca del dragón dorado
Editor, Director, Original Music Composer, Screenplay
(1983)
The House of Lost Women
Director, Editor, Screenplay
(1983)
Intimate Confessions of an Exhibitionist
Director, Music
(1983)
The Night Of Open Sex
Adaptation, Novel, Director, Music, Director of Photography
(1983)
Claire
Director
(1982)
Mansion of the Living Dead
Screenplay, Director of Photography, Director, Original Music Composer, Editor, Novel
(1982)
El lago de las vírgenes
Original Music Composer, Writer, Director, Editor
(1982)
The Inconfessable Orgies of Emmanuelle
Editor, Screenplay, Director
(1982)
Oasis of the Zombies
Screenplay, Director, Editor, Original Music Composer
(1982)
El huésped de la niebla
Director, Original Music Composer, Director of Photography
(1981)
Zombie Lake
Writer
(1981)
Sex Is Crazy
Director, Original Music Composer, Screenplay
(1981)
Jailhouse Wardress
Director
(1981)
Bloody Moon
Director
(1981)
The Story of Linda
Director
(1981)
Sadomania
Director, Screenplay, Editor, Music
(1981)
The Girls of the Copacabana
Director, Story, Screenplay
(1981)
Sexual Perversions of a Married Woman
Director, Writer, Music
(1981)
Pick-Up Girls
Screenplay, Director, Original Music Composer, Editor
(1981)
Lola 2000
Director
(1980)
Erotic Symphony
Director, Writer
(1980)
Devil Hunter
Director, Screenplay, Original Music Composer
(1980)
White Cannibal Queen
Director, Writer
(1980)
Two Female Spies with Flowered Panties
Director, Screenplay, Story, Original Music Composer
(1980)
Wicked Memoirs of Eugenie
Writer, Director
(1980)
Cannibal Terror
Writer
(1980)
What a Honeymoon
Director, Screenplay, Original Music Composer
(1979)
They Do Everything
Director, Writer
(1979)
The Sadist of Notre Dame
Director, Writer
(1979)
Burning Up Inside
Writer, Director
(1979)
Justine and the Whip
Director, Writer, Cinematography
(1978)
Obscene Desire
Music
(1978)
Women in Cellblock 9
Director, Screenplay
(1978)
Women Without Innocence
Director, Writer
(1978)
Convoy of Girls
Writer, Director
(1978)
Cocktail spécial
Director
(1977)
Kiss Me Killer
Director, Writer
(1977)
Greta, the Mad Butcher
Director, Writer
(1977)
Call of the Blonde Goddess
Director, Writer
(1977)
Love Letters of a Portuguese Nun
Director
(1977)
Love Camp
Director
(1977)
Blue Rita
Director, Writer
(1977)
Sexy Sisters
Director
(1977)
Slaves
Director
(1977)
Around the World in 80 Beds
Director
(1976)
Barbed Wire Dolls
Writer, Director of Photography, Director
(1976)
Jack the Ripper
Screenplay, Director
(1976)
Midnight Party
Writer, Director
(1976)
Doriana Grey
Director, Writer
(1976)
Silence of the Grave
Director, Screenplay, Producer
(1976)
Girls in the Night Traffic
Director
(1976)
White Skin Black Thighs
Screenplay, Director of Photography, Director
(1976)
Golden Jail
Director
(1976)
Les emmerdeuses
Screenplay, Director
(1976)
Shining Sex
Director, Story
(1975)
Sexy Erotic Job
Director
(1975)
Downtown
Director, Writer, Director of Photography
(1975)
Women Behind Bars
Director, Director of Photography, Editor
(1975)
Exorcism
Director, Screenplay
(1975)
The Perverse Countess
Director, Writer
(1975)
The Hot Nights of Linda
Director, Story, Screenplay
(1975)
Les chatouilleuses
Director, Story
(1975)
Exorciseme
Director, Writer
(1975)
Sexorcismes
Director, Adaptation, Dialogue, Writer
(1974)
Night of the Skull
Writer, Director
(1974)
Les Gloutonnes
Director, Screenplay
(1974)
Lorna, the Exorcist
Director, Writer
(1974)
How to Seduce a Virgin
Director, Writer
(1974)
Celestine
Writer, Director, Director of Photography
(1974)
The House of the Lost Dolls
Screenplay
(1974)
Fifteen Year Old Captain
Director, Music, Writer
(1974)
The Lustful Amazons
Director, Screenplay
(1973)
The Erotic Rites of Frankenstein
Director, Screenplay, Story
(1973)
Eugenie de Sade
Director, Writer
(1973)
Female Vampire
Director of Photography, Director, Editor, Writer
(1973)
A Virgin Among the Living Dead
Writer, Director
(1973)
The Sinister Eyes of Dr. Orloff
Director, Screenplay
(1973)
The Demons
Writer, Director
(1973)
Lovers of Devil's Island
Director, Screenplay, Story
(1973)
The Other Side of the Mirror
Director, Screenplay
(1973)
Sinner: The Secret Diary of a Nymphomaniac
Director, Scenario Writer
(1973)
Tender and Perverse Emmanuelle
Director, Writer
(1973)
Dolls for Sale
Director
(1973)
El misterio del castillo rojo
Director
(1972)
Dracula, Prisoner of Frankenstein
Story, Screenplay, Director
(1972)
The Corpse Packs His Bags
Screenplay, Director
(1972)
The Vengeance of Dr. Mabuse
Original Music Composer, Screenplay, Director
(1972)
Virgin Report
Director
(1972)
Daughter of Dracula
Director, Writer
(1972)
(1972)
Sex Charade
Screenplay, Director
(1971)
The Devil Came from Akasava
Director
(1971)
She Killed in Ecstasy
Director, Writer
(1971)
Vampyros Lesbos
Screenplay, Director, Original Music Composer, Special Effects Makeup Artist
(1971)
X312 - Flight to Hell
Director, Screenplay
(1970)
Count Dracula
Director, Screenplay
(1970)
The Bloody Judge
Director, Adaptation
(1970)
Eugenie
Director
(1970)
Nightmares Come at Night
Director, Writer
(1970)
Juliette
Director
(1970)
Cuadrilátero
Music
(1969)
The Castle of Fu Manchu
Director
(1969)
99 Women
Story, Screenplay, Director
(1969)
Venus in Furs
Writer, Director, Story
(1969)
The Girl from Rio
Director
(1969)
Marquis de Sade: Justine
Director
(1969)
Two Undercover Angels
Screenplay, Director
(1969)
Kiss Me Monster
Director, Idea, Screenplay
(1968)
The Blood of Fu Manchu
Director, Screenplay, Story
(1968)
Succubus
Director
(1968)
(1968)
A Man, Eight Girls
Director
(1967)
Lucky, the Inscrutable
Director, Screenplay
(1966)
Attack of the Robots
Director, Screenplay
(1966)
The Diabolical Dr. Z
Director, Screenplay
(1966)
Residence for Spies
Director, Writer
(1965)
Chimes at Midnight
Second Unit Director, Second Unit
(1964)
Dr. Orloff's Monster
Director, Dialogue, Screenplay
(1964)
Death Whistles the Blues
Director, Screenplay
(1964)
Rififi in the City
Director, Writer
(1963)
Jaguar
Director, Story
(1963)
55 Days at Peking
Assistant Production Manager
(1962)
The Awful Dr. Orlof
Director, Story, Screenplay
(1962)
The Sadistic Baron Von Klaus
Director, Screenplay, Story
(1962)
Vampiresas 1930
Director, Screenplay
(1962)
Zorro the Avenger
Screenplay, Story
(1960)
Queen of the Tabarin Club
Director, Dialogue
(1960)
Red Lips
Director, Screenplay
(1960)
El destierro del Cid
Director
(1960)
(1960)
Ama Rosa
Writer
(1959)
We Are 18 Years Old
Director, Writer, Original Music Composer
(1959)
Oro español
Director, Original Music Composer, Screenplay
(1959)
Las playas vacías
Screenplay, Director
(1959)
Llegaron los franceses
Writer
(1958)
Historias de Madrid
Music, Assistant Director
(1958)
Anna Said Yes
Delegated Producer
(1957)
Fulano y Mengano
Screenplay, Assistant Director
(1957)
The Tree from Spain
Screenplay, Director, Original Music Composer
(1957)
El hombre que viajaba despacito
Music, Assistant Director
(1956)
The Coyote's Justice
Screenstory, Screenplay, Lyricist, Dialogue, Adaptation, Assistant Director
(1956)
(1955)
The Coyote
Dialogue, Adaptation, Lyricist, Assistant Director, Screenplay
(1955)
Death of a Cyclist
Assistant Director
(1954)
Comedians
Script Supervisor, Original Music Composer
(1954)
Merry Christmas
Assistant Director