Overview

With more than 180 films during a career spanning several decades, Jesus 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.

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9781476694313

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Reviews

""Fascinating... A lot of fulfilling discussion on cult classics...intriguing... The book is very detailed and thorough, showing Franco's versatility as a filmmaker. Each film is given complete information including credits, production history, and critical assessment. The study not only covers each film's cinematic aesthetic, but also its sociopolitical context within Spanish culture... The films of Jesus Franco 1953-1966 is one of the finest books on a filmmaker this reviewer has seen. It offers thorough information that allows the reader to gain a more substantial respect for Franco's work.""--James L Neibaur

Author Information

Francesco Cesari is an Italian musicologist specializing in Italian opera. Over the past twenty years, he has published many articles, academic essays, books, and liner notes on the cinema of Jesús Franco. He lives in Venice, Italy. Roberto Curti is an Italian film historian and the author of numerous published books and articles. He lives in Cortona, Italy.

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