DISCOVER--the horror films of Paul Naschy
Paul Naschy was born Jacinto Alvarez in Spain. He was a bodybuilder, pulp western writer, illustrator and film extra who had two loves--himself, and Universal horror movies. His ambition was to make movies in the tradition of the Universal monster films featuring Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Wolfman etc., and he succeeded in his aim superbly. Well done, Jacko.
There had been one major obstacle. The Spanish authorities did not like horror films. They really didn't like horror films. So much so, that if anyone made a horror film in Spain, they were not allowed to use Spanish names or Spanish locales. It was okay to film in Spain, they just had to ensure that the films did not involve Spain or the Spanish people in any way. So great was Alvarez' desire that he dutifully legally changed his name to the German-sounding Paul Naschy, obediently set all his stories in foreign countries, and obligingly gave his recurring werewolf character the Polish name of Waldemar Daminsky.
Naschy's films are fascinating and enjoyable in the way that all second-rate, almost-good films are. Naschy always played the lead role, casting himself as visible reproductions of familiar monsters in the public domain, and surrounding himself with semi-clad women. However, he was as likely to show off his own upper torso as theirs. His films have that magical clunky aura of fun trash that is always present when dialogue doesn't quite work, special effects don't quite succeed, or music doesn't quite fit the action. Like his fellow film-makers inspired by their passions, Jess Franco and Jean Rollin, his films are far more interesting than the more professionally produced yawneramas produced by tired old hacks and lazy jobsworths employed by studios just out to make money. Not that Naschy, Franco, and Rollin weren't profit motivated, they certainly were. They just wanted to earn a living doing something they loved but on their own terms. And that always gets the best results, even with limited talent on a low budget.
This is not intended as a complete filmography of everything Naschy acted in, directed, or produced. It is a guide to his major works in chronological order. I'm still exploring Naschy's output myself, and this listing is as much to help me as others. Like so much exploitation fare, Naschy's work is scattered to the four winds under various different and often inappropriate titles, and with varying degrees of availability and print quality. Plus, there is the dilemma of foreign language titles. But if you're interested, here's a good place to start, and as ever, correct corrections that are definitely correct are always welcome.
There had been one major obstacle. The Spanish authorities did not like horror films. They really didn't like horror films. So much so, that if anyone made a horror film in Spain, they were not allowed to use Spanish names or Spanish locales. It was okay to film in Spain, they just had to ensure that the films did not involve Spain or the Spanish people in any way. So great was Alvarez' desire that he dutifully legally changed his name to the German-sounding Paul Naschy, obediently set all his stories in foreign countries, and obligingly gave his recurring werewolf character the Polish name of Waldemar Daminsky.
Naschy's films are fascinating and enjoyable in the way that all second-rate, almost-good films are. Naschy always played the lead role, casting himself as visible reproductions of familiar monsters in the public domain, and surrounding himself with semi-clad women. However, he was as likely to show off his own upper torso as theirs. His films have that magical clunky aura of fun trash that is always present when dialogue doesn't quite work, special effects don't quite succeed, or music doesn't quite fit the action. Like his fellow film-makers inspired by their passions, Jess Franco and Jean Rollin, his films are far more interesting than the more professionally produced yawneramas produced by tired old hacks and lazy jobsworths employed by studios just out to make money. Not that Naschy, Franco, and Rollin weren't profit motivated, they certainly were. They just wanted to earn a living doing something they loved but on their own terms. And that always gets the best results, even with limited talent on a low budget.
This is not intended as a complete filmography of everything Naschy acted in, directed, or produced. It is a guide to his major works in chronological order. I'm still exploring Naschy's output myself, and this listing is as much to help me as others. Like so much exploitation fare, Naschy's work is scattered to the four winds under various different and often inappropriate titles, and with varying degrees of availability and print quality. Plus, there is the dilemma of foreign language titles. But if you're interested, here's a good place to start, and as ever, correct corrections that are definitely correct are always welcome.
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