The guy in the wheelchair doesn’t seem to be having a great day, but in fact, it’s just another day at the office for Director Jess Franco – perhaps the world’s most prolific Director!
He made HUNDREDS of films in his career, most starring his long-time creative partner and wife, Lina Romay – a “sexploitation superstar!”
She Loved The Camera As Much As The Camera Loved HER!
In the 70’s, there was a flood of exploitation films from Europe – many featuring one of the most exotic, vibrant and unabashedly “free” Actresses ever – the legendary Lina Romay!
Lina Romay was one of the most “empowered” female Actresses of the 70’s – in a series of roles that allowed her to explore her sexuality AND her acting ability – unabashedly unafraid to take on a multitude of controversial roles – most of them directed by her Husband!
Time To Celebrate Sex Kitten Lina Romay!
I have posted stories about many of Lina’s films: she was was a Catalan actress (born in Barcelona) who appeared in dozens of films in the 70’s, 80’s and beyond.
She starred in a slew of classic sexploitation films from Europe, mostly for her Director husband Jess Franco – and thanks to the terrific work of a number of DVD and Blu-ray companies, these films can be enjoyed today!
There is a trend on social media to celebrate “Franco Friday” – honoring this maverick Director who made so many movies over his career, classic exploitation like this one starring Soledad Miranda:
This newly remastered blu-ray is a revelation – see more about it here:
This films were low-budget, raw explorations of horror and erotica at a time when the boundaries of film were being pushed – and Franco was at the forefront, especially when he directed his wife, Lina Romay!
Celebrating the Cinema Of Lina Romay!
Lina Romay began appearing in Director Jess Franco’s films from the time they met in 1971. They eventually married and she made more than a hundred movies, most of them directed by Franco.
“Barbed Wire Dolls!”
Here’s a great example: this 1976 “women in prison” tale stars Lina Romay as a woman who is jailed after killing her father, played by director Jess Franco, who tries to rape her. As IMDB points out, here is what follows:
“Lesbian wardens, torture, nudity, sex, insanity and conspiracy round out the formula.”
The majority of their films together were horror films and action thrillers, always with a healthy dose of nudity and sex – something that Romay was not only comfortable with, she loved it!
Lina Romay was one of exploitation cinema’s greatest sex kittens. She was a fearless performer – and a exhibitionist as well!
Romay was born in Barcelona in 1954, and made her film debut as a gypsy girl in “The Erotic Rites of Frankenstein” in 1973.
One of Lina’s most memorable roles was voracious Countess Irina Karlstein in “Female Vampire” / “Erotikill! / “The Bare-Breasted Countess” from 1975!
Yes, the film had three different titles! You can find a DVD release from Redemption that also includes the version called “Erotikill!”
In both cases, Lina Romay is a vampire who has sex with both male and female victims. In Jess Franco’s sex-fuelled cinema, this vampire performs oral sex on her victims until they die, draining them of their sexual fluids!
Three versions of the film were shot – one that was straight horror, one that had horror mixed with some sex, and then there was a hardcore porn version – because Romay was fearless and willing to bare all in her movies!
Talk About A “Blood Bath!”
Roman is fully nude in much of the film, like many of the films she made – she was VERY comfortable performing in the nude….
FYI, Director Franco’s original title for the film was “The Bare Breasted Countess”, and ultimately the film was shown with that title at the 2009 Fantastic Fest in the United States.
Kudos To Severin Films!
Because of the dedicated effort of a few great home video companies, some of Romay’s best movies are now available – including this notorious, controversial classic!
“The Hot Nights Of Linda!”
Jess Franco’s legendary sexploitation classic is finally unearthed, thanks to Severin Films! The Director’s wife, Lina Romay, stars in one of her larger roles for him – and among the most notorious! And the blu-ray release is full of great additional material!
The plot is straightforward: a young woman cares for an elderly man on an island off the Greek coast. She discovers that one of the man’s daughters is a crazed nymphomaniac who pursues everyone in the house!
Well, OF COURSE!
A Barcelona Bordello Discovery!
According to Severin, the film is restored from a 35mm print discovered in a Barcelona bordello!
I don’t care how they found it, I’m just glad they did, as it is loaded with Bonus Features and presented in high definition for the first time ever in America!
Blu-Ray Bonuses!
Look at all of the bonus material included in this release, including an exclusive Interview with Director Jess Franco and Lina…check out all of the extras here:
The Notorious “French” Version!
The blu-ray is a three disc effort, with the notorious “alternate banana” version of the film – the french cut, which is completely uncensored!
Again, kudos to Severin Films – what a great job!
Check out everything Severin has to offer by going to their website:
Another fascinating Franco film starring Romay was this classic:
Lorna The Exorcist!
This 1974 film by Franco has a simple logline: A man is tormented by an ex-lover, Lorna, who is some kind of witch!
Franco’s themes often revolved around lesbian vampires, women in prison, surgical horror, sadomasochism, zombies and sexploitation – and were drenched in blood…
Their story fascinates, even if the films are not all that good, they are also fascinating to watch!
This genre of 70’s sexploitation movie was much more artistic in Europe…there was plenty of sex, violence and nudity, but the movies play out as if they think it’s high art! Here are some additional examples of Jess Franco and Lina Romay efforts:
One of great roles of the 80’s was this shocker:
Directed by Franco, this was the story of a young woman who thinks she may be a murderer – or is she simply in a trance?
Franco lets his shot of her staring vacantly into space run for almost a minute – and she is hypnotic to watch – oh, and there is plenty of sex and violence as well! See the trailer here:
Thanks to the great Mondo Macabro for bringing this film to blu-ray – buy a copy to support them!
Lina Romay had a fascinating career, with many great films that are worth watching…sadly, she died of cancer in 2012, at the age of 57.
Let me know which ones are your favorites!
Categories: 70's Cinema, Action Films, Art, Books / Media, British Cinema, Cult Movies, Exotic Travel, Exploitation films, Film Fight Club, Film Noir, Foreign Films, Great Films, Grindhouse, Horror films, Independent Cinema, Memoirs, Movies, Obscure Movies, Revenge Movies, Sexploitation Movies, Spain, Talent/Celebrities, Uncategorized
johnrieber 
Man, these movies look Iike wild rides. I’ll agree with Pete, Lina is gorgeous.
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Lina was hot stuff indeed, John. A nice tribute, and I fancy a look at ‘Women Behind Bars’ too!
Best wishes, Pete.
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Pete, Jess Franco may not have been a “great” Director, but he sure knew how to photograph his wife! These are fascinating films – “Countess Perverse” is another I have written about as well – but “Hot Nights Of Linda” is probably the wildest….
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