Jesús Franco  

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== ''Oasis of the Zombies'' == == ''Oasis of the Zombies'' ==
-Franco was supposed to direct a film for Eurocine Productions in 1980 called ''Lake of the Living Dead'' (a horror film about revived Nazi zombies) but he was too busy at the time to do it, so producer [[Daniel Lesoeur]] hired [[Jean Rollin]] to direct it (later retitling it ''[[Zombie Lake]]''). Lesouer later had Rollin direct some newly-filmed zombie footage to be added to Franco's ''[[A Virgin Among the Living Dead]]'' (1971) for its 1981 re-release. Franco purists insisted that "Virgin" be released in its former unadulterated form on DVD, as the added Jean Rollin footage greatly slowed down the pace of the film. Franco later directed a film for Lesouer called ''[[Oasis of the Zombies]]'' (aka ''Bloodsucking Nazi Zombies'') in 1981, which had a plot similar to ''[[Zombie Lake]]'' (also involving revived Nazi zombies). Franco simultaneously shot a variant version of ''Oasis of the Zombies'' (on the producer's dime) starring Lina Romay and his "regulars" which was released only in Spain under the title ''La Tumba de los Muertos Vivientes''.+Franco was supposed to direct a film for Eurocine Productions in 1980 called ''Lake of the Living Dead'' (a horror film about revived [[Nazi zombies]]) but he was too busy at the time to do it, so producer [[Daniel Lesoeur]] hired [[Jean Rollin]] to direct it (later retitling it ''[[Zombie Lake]]''). Lesouer later had Rollin direct some newly-filmed zombie footage to be added to Franco's ''[[A Virgin Among the Living Dead]]'' (1971) for its 1981 re-release. Franco purists insisted that "Virgin" be released in its former unadulterated form on DVD, as the added Jean Rollin footage greatly slowed down the pace of the film. Franco later directed a film for Lesouer called ''[[Oasis of the Zombies]]'' (aka ''Bloodsucking Nazi Zombies'') in 1981, which had a plot similar to ''[[Zombie Lake]]'' (also involving revived Nazi zombies). Franco simultaneously shot a variant version of ''Oasis of the Zombies'' (on the producer's dime) starring Lina Romay and his "regulars" which was released only in Spain under the title ''La Tumba de los Muertos Vivientes''.
== Overview == == Overview ==

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Jesús "Jess" Franco (born Jesús Franco Manera; 12 May 1930 – 2 April 2013) was a Spanish film director, writer, cinematographer and actor. While never having found commercial success, Franco has nevertheless retained a small and faithful cult following with his sexually-charged horror films. He was very prolific during the 1960s through to the late 1980s; paying particularly homage to the writings of Marquis de Sade; especially works such as Philosophy in the Bedroom are quoted extensively; spreading Sade's philosophy to the masses in the late 20th century. Other literary influences have included Sax Rohmer, Robert Louis Stevenson and Richard Connell.

Contents

Themes

Franco's themes often revolved around lesbian vampires, women in prison, surgical horror, sadomasochism, zombies and sexploitation (including several films based on the writings of the Marquis de Sade). IMDB lists 199 films directed by Franco. He also worked in other exploitation film genres, such as cannibal films, spy films, giallo, crime films, science fiction, jungle adventure, exorcist films, war movies, historical dramas and nunsploitation. His main claim to fame is that he has managed to write and direct close to 160 motion pictures in his lifetime, encompassing a wide swath of different genres, with practically no financial backing available to him.

His sex movies often contain long, uninterrupted shots of nude women. Most of his hardcore films starred his lifelong companion Lina Romay, who admitted in interviews to being an exhibitionist. Franco is also well known for his use of hand-held camera and zoom shots, which he feels actually lends realism to his films.

He has frequently worked with genre actors Howard Vernon, Antonio Mayans, Paul Müller, Christopher Lee, Soledad Miranda, Maria Rohm and Klaus Kinski. Kinski was famous for his hatred of directors, but according to Franco, he never had any trouble working with him.

Oasis of the Zombies

Franco was supposed to direct a film for Eurocine Productions in 1980 called Lake of the Living Dead (a horror film about revived Nazi zombies) but he was too busy at the time to do it, so producer Daniel Lesoeur hired Jean Rollin to direct it (later retitling it Zombie Lake). Lesouer later had Rollin direct some newly-filmed zombie footage to be added to Franco's A Virgin Among the Living Dead (1971) for its 1981 re-release. Franco purists insisted that "Virgin" be released in its former unadulterated form on DVD, as the added Jean Rollin footage greatly slowed down the pace of the film. Franco later directed a film for Lesouer called Oasis of the Zombies (aka Bloodsucking Nazi Zombies) in 1981, which had a plot similar to Zombie Lake (also involving revived Nazi zombies). Franco simultaneously shot a variant version of Oasis of the Zombies (on the producer's dime) starring Lina Romay and his "regulars" which was released only in Spain under the title La Tumba de los Muertos Vivientes.

Overview

Of his 180+ films, some of his most popular are; Gritos en la noche (1961), Miss Muerte (1965), Necronomicon - Geträumte Sünden (1967), The Blood of Fu Manchu (1968), Justine (1968), The Castle of Fu Manchu (1969), Count Dracula (1970), Vampyros Lesbos (1970), The Vengeance of Dr. Mabuse (1970), Christina, princesse de l'érotisme (1971), Female Vampire (1973), Frauengefängnis (1975), Die Liebesbriefe einer Portugiesischen Nonne (1977), Oasis of the Zombies (1981), Esclavas del Crimen (1986), and Faceless (1988).

Franco has also worked under innumerable pseudonyms, including David Khune and Frank Hollmann. A big fan of jazz music (and a musician himself), many of his pseudonyms are taken from famous jazz musicians, such as Clifford Brown and James P. Johnson.

Franco's themes often revolved around lesbian vampires, women in prison, and sexual exploration (including several films based on the writings of Marquis de Sade). Franco also worked in other exploitation film genres, such as cannibal films and nunsploitation.

His movies often contain long, uninterrupted shots of nude women writhing uncontrollably on the floor or in bed (such as in Lorna, the Exorcist and La comtesse noire). He is also notorious for his use of hand-held camera and zoom shots, especially between 1968 and 1975.

He has frequently worked with actors Howard Vernon, Antonio Mayans, Paul Müller, Christopher Lee, Soledad Miranda, Lina Romay (his longtime companion) and Klaus Kinski. Kinski is famous for his dislike of directors, but according to Franco, he never had any trouble working with him. Other actors he has worked with include Jack Taylor, Britt Nichols, Maria Rohm, Alice Arno, Janine Reynaud, Monica Swinn, Pamela Stanford, Luis Barboo and Katja Bienart.

Further reading

Filmography

Jesús Franco filmography

Franco has made more than 180 films. Some of these include:

In recent years, his films, Tender Flesh (1998), Lust for Frankenstein (1998),Vampire Blues (1999), Dr. Wong's Virtual Hell (1999) have come to be heartily embraced.


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