The Films of Jesús Franco, 1953–1966
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About the Book
With more than 180 films during a career spanning several decades, Jesús Franco (1930-2013) was an extraordinarily prolific and chameleon-like Spanish director, covering virtually every genre from horror to film noir, adventure and erotic, and adapting to all kinds of productions. A one-of-a-kind filmmaker, he was boldly original in the themes, style, and in his idea of cinema.
This book examines his life and career between his first short film to the moment he cut his ties with his home country and became an “international” director, with a detailed production history and critical analysis of his films, placing his work within the social and political context of Spanish culture, politics, and cinema. Franco’s most critically praised works are covered, namely such cult horror classics as The Awful Dr. Orlof and The Diabolical Dr. Z, as well as his working relationship with Orson Welles, whom he was to direct in a 1964 unfinished adaptation of Treasure Island. Detailed production history and critical analysis of his films are provided, placing his work within the context of Spanish culture, politics, and film industry. The book also includes plenty of never-before-seen bits of information and in-depth discussion of Franco’s previously uncovered scripts, essays, and short films, as well as his unmade projects of the period.
About the Author(s)
Bibliographic Details
Francesco Cesari and Roberto Curti
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 381
Bibliographic Info: 57 photos, appendix, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2024
pISBN: 978-1-4766-9431-3
eISBN: 978-1-4766-5211-5
Imprint: McFarland
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments vi
Authors’ Note ix
Abbreviations xii
Introduction 1
The Films (1953–1966)
Teoría del alba 19
Los grandes amantes de la historia (Women’s Decisions) 24
El árbol de España / Oro español 29
Sangre en la tribu / El bombero / El último gangster / La muerte de un hombre bajito 35
España, nuestra desconocida: Roncesvalles / Segovia ciudad fantasma / Viaje al año mil 37
Tenemos 18 años 44
Estampas guipuzcoanas n. 2 (Pío Baroja) 63
Operación M-1, aka Estampas guipuzcoanas n. 3 (La industria metalúrgica) 67
El destierro del Cid 70
Las playas vacías 73
Labios rojos 76
La reina del Tabarín 96
Vampiresas 1930 (volando hacia la fama) 107
La dama del Sur 119
Los colgados, aka Los vengadores 126
Gritos en la noche 138
La muerte silba un blues 162
Sangre en mis zapatos, aka 077 Misión Lisboa 184
La mano de un hombre muerto / Le Sadique Baron von Klaus 194
Rififí en la ciudad (Vous souvenez-vous de Paco?) 211
El Llanero 227
El secreto del doctor Orloff 241
La isla del tesoro / Treasure Island 253
Ottmar o la garra del monstruo 271
La noche tiene ojos 278
Miss Muerte / Dans les griffes du maniaque 292
Cartas boca arriba / Cartes sur table 309
Residencia para espías 326
Appendix: The Mustache of La Gioconda 347
Essential Bibliography 353
Index 357
