Spanish film director, writer, cinematographer and actor, born 12 May 1930 in Madrid, Spain, died 2 April 2013 in Málaga, Spain. He was married to [a=Lina Romay (2)] from 2008 until her death in 2012.
Among his vast number of pseudonyms, Franco frequently pays tribute (of sorts) to jazz greats working from the 20s through the 50s by signing his film with the monikers of trumpeter Clifford Brown, pianist James P. Johnson and drummer Dave Tough.
Uncle of Javier Maras and Miguel Maras.
In the 1970s Franco, along with Luis Buuel , was declared one of the most dangerous filmmakers for Catholics by the Catholic Church. Upon hearing this, Buuel got interested in meeting Franco, and said so to his frequent collaborator Jean-Claude Carrire , who was at that moment developing a script with Franco. Carrire introduced both to directors each other.
Uncle of Ricardo Franco.
Openly despises his own movies and claims he doesnt think he has ever made a good film, and what he would really like is to have made Citizen Kane or The Grapes of Wrath or something like the films of Stanley Donen or Vincente Minnelli.
Despite disliking rap, in 2003 he recorded the spoken intro (titled "Ten Cuidado Hermano") for the album "Supervillanos de Alquiler" by Spanish hip-hop band Hablando en Plata.
One of the secrets of his success is his reputation for completing projects on time and within the budget. This usually gives him the directorial freedom to do whatever he wants.
Together with Lucio Fulci Franco had three films listed on the original UK list of 74 official video nasties: Women Behind Bars aka Des diamants pour lenfer , Devil Hunter aka El canbal and Bloody Moon aka Die Sge des Todes .
(September 2007) At the end of 2007 a biographic long feature, "Los Blues del Tio Jess" will be finished. Directed by Jose Luis Garcia Sanchez and produced by microgenesis producciones / canalmicro and Maestranza Films.
After a hiatus of several years, he returned to directing with one feature film and two video features at the age of 75. He now has over 180 directing credits.
I feel that cinema should be like a box of surprises, like a magic box.
I think a censor is a kind of dictator. The thing is so old-fashioned.
