Obsession: The Films of Jess Franco (First Edition)

First Edition. A minutely detailed examination of Spanish exploitation director Jess Franco's illustrious career, divided into two sections: a photo-illustrated filmography that includes analysis and reproductions of country-of-origin posters and advertisements for each film, and a set of interviews by Franco's contemporaries (and Franco himself), including Howard Vernon, Jack Taylor, William Berger, and others. While firmly in the pit of the horror-exploitation tradition, Franco distinguished himself by way of his colorful themes, which included lesbian vampires, women in prison, surgical horror, zombies, nuns, sadomasochism, and cannibalism. He also incorporated elements of giallo, crime fiction, science fiction, and comedy into his work. Thought of by many as something of a European Ed Wood, Franco churned out an impossible number of films, many under pseudonyms, using a devoted circle of cast and crew members, always working on a shoestring budget. An indispensable resource for the Francophile. Near Fine in a Near Fine dust jacket.