Jesús Franco
Directing
🎂 1930-05-12
Jesús "Jess" Franco was a Spanish film director, writer, cinematographer and actor. His career took off in 1961 with his cult classic The Awful Dr. Orloff, which received wide distribution in the United States and England. Though he had some American box office success with Necronomicon, his first women-in-prison film Ninety-Nine Women, and his two Christopher Lee films, The Bloody Judge and Count Dracula, he never achieved wide commercial success. Franco moved from Spain to France in 1970 so that he could make more violent and sexual films, and it was at this point that his career began to go downhill commercially, as he turned to low-budget filmmaking with a heavier accent on adult-oriented films. Although he produced a few well-received, low budget horror films in the early 70's, many people in the industry considered him a porn director due to the huge number of X-rated adult films he began churning out. Franco returned to low-budget horror in a brief comeback period from 1980-1983, but after 1983, his career took a second downturn. With the exception of Faceless and Killer Barbies, his films after 1984 are quite disliked and obscure due to their incredibly low budgets. Franco has nevertheless retained a large cult following through the years with his sexually-charged horror films, some of which are regarded as masterpieces by his avid followers.
Cast credits(127)
Writer
1968
Extra (uncredited)
1956
Official (uncredited)
1969
Lucas
1981
Inspecteur Hernandez
1973
Memmet
1971
Maria's Father (uncredited)
1976
Attila Tanner
1973
The Miseries (uncredited)
1984
1969
Man in Red Ritual Scene (uncredited)
1970
Dr. Roberts
1973
Self
1999
Sleeping Man
1974
Janos Radeck
1976
Basilio
1973
Abilene's Contact Man
1969
Recepcionist
1983
Doctor (uncredited)
1981
Van Helsing's servant (uncredited)
1970
Dr. Roberts (as Jess Franck)
1975
Uncle Jess
1981
Guitar Player
1969
Dr. Milton Arcos (as Jess Franco)
1977
Tino Celli
1971
Al Pereira
1975
Mr. Martin
1980
1968
Cyril Jefferson
1972
Saxofonista en Club de Nueva Orleans (uncredited)
1964
Dr. Donen
1971
Jazz Musician (uncredited)
1969
Self - Archive footage
2024
Matón en cementerio de coches (voice) (uncredited)
1983
Napoleon Bolivard
1969
Self (archive footage)
2021
Pianist (uncredited)
1962
Film Director
1981
Director
1972
Radeck's Assistant
1977
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2014
Ciego / Zoltan / Guitarrista
1967
Count
1983
Casino Piano Player (uncredited)
1966
Bill
1975
Piano Player
1966
Pianist (uncredited)
1966
Insp. Ahmet
1969
Himself
2012
Gonzales
1972
Mathis Vogel
1979
Himself
2013
Self
1972
Self
2005
Doctor Callman
1984
Pianista (uncredited)
1958
Andy
1974
Miyagi
2003
Mathis Vogel, aka Laforgue
1975
Piano Player
1964
Morpho
1973
Professor Karame
1986
Dr. Wong
1985
Don Venancio
1964
Lord Comfort (uncredited)
1973
Policeman
1988
Crosby / Drunk Man in Nightclub
1972
Self
2002
Psychiatrist (uncredited)
1984
1973
1969
Inspector Tanner
1966
Himself
2014
Marcel
1977
Himself
2017
Himself
2002
1976
Boat Captain
1989
Dr. James Wong
1999
Self
2013
Self
2007
Man at John Somers'
1971
Self
2000
Manolo
1984
Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
2019
Himself
2003
Abductor
1983
Dying Man (uncredited)
1980
The Merchant
1999
1976
1992
The Director
2013
Himself
2009
Voz
2013
2008
Self
2014
J.W. Radek
2009
2005
Padre del Dr. Weissman
2008
Self
2013
2012
Himself (archive footage)
2015
(archive footage)
2014
2009
2004
Self
2007
Sam Chesterfield
1983
1975
1973
1988
Self
2010
Self
2012
Himself
2001
self
2005
Blind Old Man
1983
Himself
2005
Himself
2007
Himself
2000
Self
1983
himself
2009
Tom
1984
Dr. Seward
1976
Jess Franco
2003
Pete
2007
Strange Guy
1979
Bernardo
1984
Graf Anastasio
1976
Directing (205)
Director
1981
Director
1980
Director
1968
Director
1977
Director
1969
Director
1986
Director
1981
Director
1973
Director
1978
Director
1971
Director
1976
Director
1973
Director
1984
Director
1977
Director
1975
Director
1969
Director
1970
Director
1973
Director
1974
Director
1983
Director
1976
Director
1981
Director
1973
Director
1969
Director
1976
Director
1983
Director
1981
Director
1977
Director
1983
Second Unit Director
1965
Director
1980
Director
1970
Director
1975
Director
1981
Director
1969
Director
1977
Director
1980
Director
1971
Director
1975
Director
1984
Director
1982
Director
1970
Director
1980
Director
1968
Director
1983
Director
1982
Director
1972
Director
1994
Director
1978
Director
1964
Director
1974
Director
1971
Director
1969
Director
1988
Director
1960
Director
1977
Director
1988
Assistant Director
1955
Director
1983
Director
1973
Director
1989
Director
2000
Director
1969
Director
1982
Director
1979
Director
1987
Director
1962
Director
1981
Director
1973
Director
1983
Director
1974
Director
1972
Director
1977
Director
1983
Director
1972
Director
1998
Director
1964
Director
1985
Director
1977
Director
1985
Director
1967
Assistant Director
1957
Director
1980
Director
1973
Director
1977
Director
1966
Director
1983
Director
1975
Director
1981
Director
1966
Director
1969
Director
1972
Director
1979
Director
1978
Director
2013
Director
1996
Director
1974
Director
1975
Assistant Director
1955
Director
1985
Director
2002
Director
1984
Director
2010
Script Supervisor
1954
Director
1960
Director
1963
Director
1998
Director
1973
Director
1974
Director
2007
Director
1997
Director
1975
Director
1964
Director
1973
Director
1983
Director
2005
Director
1970
Director
1986
Director
1985
Director
1973
Director
1972
Director
1972
Director
1987
Director
2012
Director
2002
Director
1984
Director
1973
Director
1985
Director
1966
Assistant Director
1956
Director
1984
Director
1977
Director
1976
Director
1975
Assistant Director
1958
Director
1989
Director
1976
Director
1999
Director
1999
Director
1986
Director
1962
Director
1986
Director
1971
Director
1981
Director
1984
Director
1983
Director
1962
Director
1999
Director
1980
Director
1968
Assistant Director
1957
Director
1999
Director
1993
Director
1986
Director
1972
Director
1974
Director
1992
Director
2013
Director
1985
Director
1976
Director
1959
Director
1986
Director
2012
Director
2006
Assistant Director
1954
Director
1959
Director
2001
Director
1983
Director
1975
Director
1970
Director
1959
Director
1973
Director
2000
Director
1957
Director
1991
Director
1960
Director
1983
Director
1982
Director
1982
Director
1974
Director
1983
Director
2008
Director
1960
Director
1986
Director
1984
Director
1976
Director
1979
Director
2005
Director
1986
Director
1976
Director
1986
Director
2005
Director
1976
Director
1987
Director
1984
Director
1987
Director
1978
Director
1983
Director
1976
Director
1986
Director
1986
Director
1979
Director
1985
Director
1983
Director
1981
Writing (200)
Screenplay
1980
Writer
1977
Story
1969
Screenplay
1969
Screenplay
1981
Scenario Writer
1973
Screenplay
1978
Screenplay
1971
Writer
1976
Writer
1973
Writer
1984
Screenplay
1984
Story
1984
Writer
1975
Writer
1973
Writer
1974
Writer
1983
Writer
1976
Screenplay
1981
Writer
1973
Idea
1969
Screenplay
1969
Screenplay
1976
Screenplay
1983
Story
1983
Screenplay
1983
Writer
1980
Writer
1980
Screenplay
1970
Screenplay
1974
Screenplay
1975
Story
1975
Writer
1977
Screenplay
1980
Story
1980
Writer
1975
Screenplay
1984
Screenplay
1982
Novel
1982
Adaptation
1970
Writer
1980
Story
1968
Screenplay
1968
Writer
1981
Screenplay
1983
Screenplay
1982
Writer
1972
Screenplay
1994
Writer
1978
Screenplay
1964
Writer
1974
Writer
1971
Writer
1969
Story
1969
Writer
1988
Dialogue
1960
Writer
1988
Writer
1983
Writer
1973
Dialogue
1992
Screenplay
1989
Story
1968
Screenplay
1969
Screenplay
1982
Writer
1979
Writer
1987
Screenplay
1987
Story
1962
Screenplay
1962
Screenplay
1981
Screenplay
1973
Story
1973
Screenplay
1983
Screenplay
1974
Screenplay
1983
Story
1972
Screenplay
1972
Screenplay
1998
Writer
1964
Screenplay
1985
Writer
1977
Screenplay
1967
Writer
1980
Writer
1973
Novel
1983
Adaptation
1983
Writer
1966
Writer
1981
Screenplay
1966
Screenplay
1972
Writer
1979
Writer
1978
Writer
2013
Writer
1996
Writer
1974
Story
1975
Adaptation
1955
Dialogue
1955
Lyricist
1955
Screenplay
1955
Screenplay
2002
Story
2002
Writer
1984
Screenplay
2010
Dialogue
2010
Screenplay
1960
Story
1963
Screenplay
1998
Screenplay
1973
Writer
1974
Screenplay
1997
Screenplay
1975
Screenplay
1964
Dialogue
1964
Screenplay
1973
Story
1973
Writer
1983
Writer
1960
Writer
2005
Writer
1970
Screenplay
1986
Screenplay
1985
Screenplay
1973
Screenplay
1962
Story
1962
Screenplay
1972
Screenplay
1987
Writer
2012
Writer
2002
Writer
1984
Screenplay
1985
Screenplay
1966
Screenstory
1956
Screenplay
1956
Dialogue
1956
Adaptation
1956
Lyricist
1956
Writer
1984
Writer
1977
Screenplay
1976
Writer
1989
Screenplay
1999
Writer
1999
Screenplay
1986
Writer
1959
Screenplay
1962
Story
1986
Screenplay
1971
Screenplay
1981
Story
1981
Screenplay
1984
Screenplay
1983
Screenplay
1962
Story
1962
Writer
1999
Screenplay
1980
Screenplay
1957
Screenplay
1999
Screenplay
1986
Screenplay
1972
Screenplay
1974
Screenplay
1992
Writer
2013
Screenplay
1985
Screenplay
1976
Writer
1959
Writer
1986
Writer
2012
Screenplay
1959
Writer
2001
Screenplay
1983
Writer
1975
Screenplay
1959
Writer
2000
Screenplay
1957
Screenplay
1983
Story
2008
Writer
1982
Writer
1974
Screenplay
1983
Screenplay
2008
Story
1986
Screenplay
1986
Writer
2005
Writer
1986
Writer
2005
Screenplay
1976
Writer
1987
Screenplay
1984
Story
1987
Screenplay
1986
Screenplay
1986
Writer
1976
Writer
1979
Story
1986
Screenplay
1985
Story
1985
Writer
1979
Screenplay
1984
Story
1976
Sound (59)
Original Music Composer
1980
Music
1981
Original Music Composer
1971
Original Music Composer
1981
Music
1983
Original Music Composer
1980
Original Music Composer
1982
Original Music Composer
1983
Music
1978
Music
1983
Original Music Composer
2000
Original Music Composer
1982
Original Music Composer
1981
Original Music Composer
1983
Original Music Composer
1983
Music
1998
Music
1985
Music
1957
Music
1983
Music
1981
Original Music Composer
2002
Original Music Composer
1954
Original Music Composer
1998
Original Music Composer
1997
Original Music Composer
2005
Original Music Composer
1986
Original Music Composer
1985
Original Music Composer
1972
Music
1970
Original Music Composer
1987
Music
1984
Music
1985
Music
1958
Original Music Composer
1999
Original Music Composer
1986
Music
1984
Original Music Composer
1983
Original Music Composer
1980
Original Music Composer
1999
Original Music Composer
1992
Music
2013
Original Music Composer
1985
Original Music Composer
1959
Original Music Composer
1986
Original Music Composer
2012
Original Music Composer
1959
Original Music Composer
2001
Original Music Composer
1983
Original Music Composer
2000
Original Music Composer
1957
Original Music Composer
1982
Original Music Composer
1982
Music
1974
Original Music Composer
1983
Original Music Composer
1986
Original Music Composer
1986
Music
1983
Original Music Composer
1986
Original Music Composer
1984
Production (23)
Producer
1986
Assistant Production Manager
1963
Producer
1984
Producer
1983
Producer
1984
Producer
1983
Producer
1994
Producer
1988
Producer
1983
Producer
1998
Producer
1985
Delegated Producer
1958
Producer
1998
Executive Producer
1997
Producer
2012
Producer
1985
Producer
1984
Producer
1989
Producer
1986
Executive Producer
1993
Producer
2013
Producer
1976
Producer
2012
Editing (30)
Editor
1981
Editor
1973
Editor
1981
Editor
1983
Editor
1984
Editor
1982
Editor
1982
Editor
1988
Editor
1983
Editor
1992
Supervising Film Editor
1992
Editor
1989
Editor
1982
Editor
1987
Editor
1983
Editor
1975
Editor
2010
Editor
1983
Editor
1987
Editor
2012
Editor
1986
Editor
1986
Editor
1992
Editor
2013
Editor
1985
Editor
2012
Editor
1982
Editor
1983
Editor
1985
Editor
1984
Costume & Make-Up (2)
Camera (19)
Director of Photography
1976
Director of Photography
1973
Director of Photography
1974
Director of Photography
1983
Director of Photography
1975
Director of Photography
1982
Director of Photography
1983
Director of Photography
1983
Director of Photography
1975
Director of Photography
1984
Director of Photography
2010
Director of Photography
1986
Director of Photography
1984
Director of Photography
1986
Director of Photography
1986
Director of Photography
1983
Director of Photography
1982
Director of Photography
1976
Director of Photography
1987