Jess Franco

[babygorillaz]

Can anyone recommend the best film to watch to introduce me to Jess Franco's films?
Also, what would be the best 5 Franco films to date?

[Jonny Rojo]

Of the films of his I've seen, which isn't really that many considering his body of work, I really like El Conde Dracula, Faceless, Eugenie and The Bloody Judge.

A good place to start if you want to find out loads about his films etc is Marc's Mondo Erotico Jess Franco section. There's a forum, filmography, DVD news etc

Well worth a look.

[babygorillaz]

Thanks.
I'll check it out.

[Mark Y]

Since they are such glorious renditions, I would recommend AB/Blue Underground's Justine and Eugenie of course.

Also Female Vampire, Bloody Judge and She Killed In Ecstasy. Vampyros Lesbos is worth seeking out; I really like the opening music to this by Manfred Hubler and Siegfried Schwab. Groovy!

[MarcMorris]

VENUS IN FURS and SUCUBUS are two of my personal Franco favourites.

[wanyon]

Franco recommendations are a tough order. He is so prolific and has dabbled in so many genres, subgenres and made films of verying qualities that it can be hard to agree on what is good and bad! Some like the cheap 'n' cheerful Franco, others the well-made early Franco and others BOTH! Then there are the completeists/fanatics that love it all...
The films already mentioned are great examples though in my book and if there is such a thing as a general consenus on Franco's great works they are the a portion of the ones that would be agreed upon. The dvds are great quality renderings too and well worth the introduction...
Add to the list (to make choices from):
LOVE LETTERS OF A PORTUGESE NUN (classic. Available on DVD)
JACK THE RIPPER (for sleazy gore thrills. Available in average DVD)
SUCCUBUS (great erotic artsploitation. Available on DVD)
SADISTEROTICA (no DVD as yet)
EXORCISM (available on DVD)
SOLA ANTE EL TERROR (sadly unavailable on DVD and rare enough on VHS!)
LUCKY THE INSCRUTABLE (not sure about DVD availability)
LORNA L'EXORCISTE (unavailable on DVD)
KILLER BARBYS (may divide posters on this one but i love the cartoon feel/quality to it and it is more SCOOBY-DOO than the live-action Hollywood SCOOBY-DOO! Available on DVD)

[MarcMorris]

A few corrections to Wanyon's post:

JACK THE RIPPER (for sleazy gore thrills. Available in average DVD)
- this is available on a stunning DVD from Switzerland, part of the Jess Franco collection

SADISTEROTICA (no DVD as yet)
- this was available on DVD from Anchor Bay US as TWO UNDERCOVER ANGELS, but it's sadly now out of print. A UK video was also once issued on the Redemption label.

LUCKY THE INSCRUTABLE (not sure about DVD availability)
- Not available on DVD anywhere, although an extremely rare UK video was issued on the Techno/Fletcher label

[wanyon]

Cheers for correcting that. It was actually a mistake as for some reason i meant to type JACK THE RIPPER (as a beautiful remastered job, as are all the Dietrich discs) and BLOODY MOON underneath (which was the one i was going to call an average dvd)! Thanks for spotting that glaring error though as i could never live it down referring to the Dietrich dvd of JACK THE RIPPER as merely 'average'!!! LOL