He's been ill for years, and after the death of his beloved Lina it seemed he decided to fight against the loss of her by working even more. Today he passed away, just weeks after the premiere of his last movie: Al Pereira vs. the Alligator Women. The thing is, he's just not another old cult director who died, he's Jess Franco - the Spanish man of culture who provoked everyone. The rumour said that the Catholic church considered him one of the most dangerous directors ever (together with Pasolini) and with names that both referenced the dictator General Franco and that mythological carpenter himself, Jesus.
I think the first of his movies I saw was Tender and Perverse Emanuelle, on tape from Redemption. I was into Italian giallo's at the point and didn't have much experience of Spanish genre cinema. I was disappointed, to be honest. I expected something else. But his name lingered there and soon I found myself to own Vampyros Lesbos and She Killed in Ecstasy and he kinda got me there. I always wanted to watch Tender and Perverse again, but I haven't be able yet. Maybe this is the time.
What attracted me with his works was his energy. His 100 % will to make movies. Nothing would stop him! If he could make two movies instead of one, but with the same money and same cast, he did it. During the shoot of Venus in Furs they had some time over and quickly made 99 Women. One director, could have been Ulli Lommel, mention that he shot something in Spain once and happen to live at a hotel where Uncle Jess filmed two movies at the same time. I've learned to appreciate hotel corridors, generic hotel bedrooms, lobbies and gardens (some of them standing in for a dangerous jungle!). The man was creative. He worked with what he got. He wasn't a spoiled grown-up brat waiting for the millions that never would come. He shot his movies anyway.
That's something every filmmaker should take with them. Just do it. Don't listen to the whiners out there. Take whatever money you can find and create!
Franco created so many characters. Some of them always came back in movie after movie, and it always brings a smile to my face when Inspector Tanner, Professor Orlof or Morpho the Henchman pops up unexpected in movies I never could guess they would have a part in. Same faces, same actors, same crew, over and over again. A family of creative freaks, a family of passion of the art. And sometimes just getting together quick and dirty to create something sleazy to sell in Germany. It's still Franco, you can see his fingerprints all over the production.
I really can't put together a list over my favorite films of his. It's right now totally impossible. But I will. Or maybe just review some of them again. But hey, lists schmits, It doesn't matter. Jesus Franco is gone. He and Lina is gone. The world of cinema will never be the same again. Thanks for those +200 movies you gave us. I still have a lifetime to watch the rest of them. I doubt I never will be able to watch them all :)
"Today he passed away, just weeks after the premiere of his last movie: Al Pereira vs. the Alligator Women."
Sad.....RIP Franco.
"The rumour said that the Catholic church considered him one of the most dangerous directors ever (together with Pasolini) and with names that both referenced the dictator General Franco and that mythological carpenter himself, Jesus."
The Catholic church.....they dislike cinema.....that´s what I think.
"But his name lingered there and soon I found myself to own Vampyros Lesbos"
I still haven´t seen that one.
"That's something every filmmaker should take with them. Just do it. Don't listen to the whiners out there. Take whatever money you can find and create!"
Yeah, Franco, Larry Cohen, etc they are an inspiration, no matter how big the obstacles were, they were able to continue.
"I really can't put together a list over my favorite films of his. It's right now totally impossible. But I will. Or maybe just review some of them again. But hey, lists schmits, It doesn't matter. Jesus Franco is gone. He and Lina is gone."
Lists aren´t that important......I don´t think you should put together list in order to celebrate the man and his art.
But some reviews of his stuff or more essays about him will be welcomed.
"Thanks for those +200 movies you gave us. I still have a lifetime to watch the rest of them. I doubt I never will be able to watch them all"
Yeah, it will take a lifetime to explore his works, good essay and thanks.
Posted by: Megatron | April 02, 2013 at 15:06
oh crap. Sad news. Yeah, second the request for more essays or reviews about him.
Posted by: gk | April 03, 2013 at 09:18