Jean Rollin
Jean Rollin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Jean Michel Rollin Le Gentil November 3, 1938 |
| Other names | Michel Gentil Michael Gentil J.A. Laser J.A. Lazar J.A. Lazer Jean Pierre Sammut Robert Xavier |
| Occupation(s) | Director Producer Writer Cinematographer Editor Actor |
| Years active | 1958–Present |
| Spouse | Simone Rollin (?-Present) |
Jean Michel Rollin Le Gentil (November 3, 1938 - December 15, 2010) was a French film director, actor, and novelist best known for his films in the fantastique genre. Rollin was credited as having made the first French vampire film (Le Viol du Vampire, 1968) as well as the first French gore film (Les Raisins de la Mort, 1978).[1]
Early life
Jean Rollin was born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France to artistically inclined family, his father was an actor and theatre director, inspiring both he and his brother, Olivier to pursue a career in show business. Jean saw his very first film when he was about five-years old, it was a 1942 film called Capitaine Fracesse, out in the country during the second world war and it made a profound impression on him. He particularly remembered the storm sequence, he had never seen anything so fascinating and magical; it simply changed his life forever, after that he decided he wanted to make films and with his father an actor in theatre this had a heavy influence on him. Rollin's parents were separated so he didn't live with his father, but once in a while he went to the theatre and watched him perform on stage. When he was 15 his mother gave him a typewriter and it was an important moment for him; that's when everything started, he began to write little screenplays and stories, heavily influenced by the films he saw. When he was about 13 or 14 he became obsessed with American Serials. When he was a schoolboy, television didn't exist yet so he and his friends went to the movies, the cinema and comic books were their whole lives! When he was about 16, he found a job at Le Films des Saturne.
He just helped out there, writing invoices because he wanted to earn some money and he wanted to do something connected with cinema. The specialized in creating opening and closing credits and little cartoons, but they also shot real films. One day they were assigned to make a documentary about Snecma, a big factory in France which built motors and airplanes and Jean was part of the crew, it was his first time on a real movie set, he did everything, he arranged the travelling shots, laid the tracks, checked the electricity and helped the cameraman. Rollin also worked as an editor in the French Army with Claude Lelouch in the cinema department making army commercials, Claude directed and Jean did the Montage, they did two films, one was a documentary about the mechanographic service called Mechanographie and the other was a real film running at 1 hour called La Guerre de Silence (The War of Silence).
Le Viol du Vampire
With the release of Le Viol du Vampire on May 27, 1968 the May Revolution raged through the streets of Paris, the police even stormed a cinema where the film was shown, a huge riot broke out between filmgoers and the police.
Filmography
Director
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Les Amours Jaunes | other title - The Yellow Love, The Yellow Lovers (short) |
| 1961 | Ciel de Cuivre | other title - Copper Sky, Sky of Copper (short) |
| 1962 | Cheval pour Deux | other title - A Horse for Two (short) (Assistant Director) |
| 1963 | L'itinéraire Marin | other title - Sea Journey (screenplay only) |
| 1965 | Le Pays Loin | other titles - The Distant Lands, The Far Country |
| 1965 | Vivre en Espagne | other title - Life in Spain (short documentary) |
| 1968 | Le Viol du Vampire | other titles - The Rape of the Vampire, Queen of the Vampires, Vampire Woman, La Reine des Vampires |
| 1969 | La Vampire Nue | other titles - The Nude Vampire, The Naked Vampire |
| 1970 | Le Frisson des Vampires | other titles - The Shiver of the Vampires, Sex and Vampires, Strange Things Happen at Night, The Terror of the Vampires, Thrill of the Vampires, Vampire Thrills |
| 1971 | Requiem pour un Vampire | other titles - Requiem for a Vampire, Vierges et Vampires, Caged Virgins, The Crazed Vampire, Crazed Virgins, Dungeon of Terror, Sex and the Vampires, Virgins and Vampires, Virgins and the Vampires |
| 1972 | La Rose de Fer | other titles - Rose of Iron, The Iron Rose |
| 1973 | Among the Living Dead | other titles - Christina, Princesse de l'exorcisme, Virgin Among The Living Dead, Christine, a Princess of Exorcism, Zombi 4: A Virgin Among the Living Dead |
| 1973 | Jeunes Filles Impudiques | other titles - Shameless Young Schoolgirls, School Girl Hitchhikers (credited as Michel Gentil) |
| 1973 | Les Démoniaques | other titles - Demoniacs, Curse of the Living Dead |
| 1974 | Tout le Monde il en a Deux | other titles - Bacchanales Sexuelles, Fly Me the French Way (credited as Michel Gentil) |
| 1974 | Lévres de Sang | other title - Lips of Blood |
| 1974 | Suce-Moi Vampire | Hard core Version of Lévres de Sang. other titles - Suck Me Vampire |
| 1975 | Phantasmes | other titles - Phantasmes Pornographiques, Phantasmes d'Isabelle, The Seduction of Amy, Once Upon a Virgin |
| 1975 | Douces Pénetrations | other titles - Sweet Penetrations, Gode Story (credited as Michel Gentil) |
| 1976 | Amours Collectives | other title - Love Story (Credited as Michel Gentil) |
| 1976 | La Comtesse Lxe | other title - Sueurs Chaudes (credited as Michel Gentil) |
| 1976 | Hard Pénétrations | other title - Jouissances et Soumission |
| 1976 | Vibrations Sexuelles | other titles - Sexual Vibrations, Vibrazoni |
| 1976 | Apothéose Porno | other title Climatic Porno |
| 1977 | Saute-Moi Dessus | (also Editor & cinematographer) |
| 1977 | Lévres Entrouvertes | other title - Parted Lips, Lévres Entrouvertes pour Sexes Chauds |
| 1977 | Positions Danoises | other titles - Danish Positions |
| 1977 | Discosex | (Sound Engineer) |
| 1978 | Hyperpénétrations | other title - Par Devant Par Derriere (credited as Robert Xavier) |
| 1978 | Petites Pensionnaires Impudiques | (credited as Michel Gentil) |
| 1978 | Remplissez-Moi... Les 3 Trous | (credited as Robert Xavier) |
| 1978 | Les Trois Trous | |
| 1978 | Les Raisins de la Mort | other titles The Grapes of Death, Pestizide, Pesticide, The Raisins of Death, Foltermühle der Gefangenen Frauen |
| 1979 | Fascination | |
| 1979 | Pénétrations Vicieuses | other title - Vicious Penetrations |
| 1979 | Introductions Perverses | other title - Perverse Introductions |
| 1979 | Gamines en Chaleur | other title - Si Jeune et Déjà Cochonne |
| 1979 | Bouches Lascives et Pornos | re-edit of Lévres Entrouvertes & La Comtesse Lxe |
| 1979 | La Nuit des Traquées | other title - The Night OF the Hunted, Night of the Cruel Sacrifice |
| 1979 | Les Filles Traquées | Porn Version of La Nuit des Traquées |
| 1980 | Le Lac des Morts Vivants | other title - Zombie Lake, Zombies Lake |
| 1981 | Les Paumées du Petit Matin | other titles The Escapées, Fugues Mineures, The Runaways |
| 1982 | La Morte Vivante | other titles - The Living Dead Girl, Lady Dracula, Queen Zombie, Scare: Dead or Alive |
| 1982 | Rêves de Sexes | other title - Quand le Chat (credited as Robert Xavier) |
| 1983 | Folies Anales | other title - Anal Madness (credited as Robert Xavier) |
| 1983 | Sodomanie | other title Sodomania |
| 1984 | Les Trottoirs de Bangkok | other title - The Sidewalks of Bangkok, Streetwalkers of Bangkok |
| 1985 | Ne Prends pas les Poulets pour des Pigeons | other titles Chickens pretending to be Pigeons |
| 1989 | Killing Car | other title Femme Dangereuse |
| 1989 | Perdues dans New York | other title - Lost in New York |
| 1991 | Á la Prostitute de Barbara | |
| 1994 | Le Parfum de Mathilde | other titles - The Scent of Mathilda, The Scent of Mathilde (script only) |
| 1997 | Les Deux Orphelines Vampires | other titles Two Orphan Vampires, The Two Vampire Orphans |
| 1999 | La Fiancée de Dracula | other titles - Fiancee of Dracula, The Brides of Dracula, Dracula's Fiancee |
| 2007 | La Nuit des Horloges | other title - The Night of the Clocks |
| 2010 | Le Masque de la Méduse |
Writer
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | L'itinéraire Marin | other title - Sea Journey |
| 1965 | Le Pays Loin | other title - The Distant Lands, The Far Country |
| 1968 | Le Viol du Vampire | other titles - The Rape of the Vampire, Queen of the Vampires, Vampire Woman, La Reine des Vampires |
| 1969 | La Vampire Nue | other title - The Nude Vampire, The Naked Vampire |
| 1970 | Le Frisson des Vampires | other titles - The Shiver of the Vampires, Sex and Vampires, Strange Things Happen at Night, The Terror of the Vampires, Thrill of the Vampires, Vampire Thrills |
| 1971 | Requiem pour un Vampire | other titles - Requiem for a Vampire, Vierges et Vampires, Caged Virgins, The Crazed Vampire, Crazed Virgins, Sex and the Vampires, Virgins and Vampires, Virgins and the Vampires |
| 1972 | La Rose de Fer | other titles - Rose of Iron, The Iron Rose |
| 1973 | Les Demoniaques | other titles - Demoniaques, Curse of the Living Dead |
| 1974 | Tout le Monde il en a deux | other titles - Bacchanales Sexuelles, Fly me the French Way (credited as Michel Gentil) |
| 1974 | Lévres de Sang | other title - |
| 1974 | Phantasmes | other titles - Phantasmes Pornographiques, Phantasmes D'isabelle, The Seduction of Amy, Once Upon a Virgin |
| 1975 | Douches Pénétrations | other titles - Sweet Penetrations, Gode Story (credited as Michel Gentil) |
| 1976 | Amours Collectives | other titles - Love Story (credited as Michel Gentil) |
| 1976 | Hard Pénétrations | other titles - Joussances et Soumission |
| 1977 | Saute-Moi Dessus | (also Editor & Cinematographer) |
| 1977 | Discosex | |
| 1978 | Les Raisins de la Mort | other titles - The Grapes of Death, Pestizide, Pesticide, The Raisins of Death, Foltermühle der Gefangenen Frauen |
| 1979 | Mondo Cannibale | other titles - The Cannibals, Barbarian Goddess, 'White Cannnibal Queen (uncredited) |
| 1979 | Fascination | |
| 1979 | La Nuit des Traquees | other titles - The Night of the Hunted, Night of the Cruel Sacrifice |
| 1981 | Les Paumées du Petit Matin | other titles - The Escapées, Fuges Mineures, The Runaways |
| 1982 | La Morte Vivante | other titles - The Living Dead Girl, Lady Dracula, Queen Zombie, Scare: Dead or Alive |
| 1983 | Sodomaine | other titles - Sodomania |
| 1988 | Emanuelle 6 | (Script only), (uncredited) |
| 1989 | Perdues dans New York | other titles - Lost in New York |
| 1994 | Le Parfum de Mathilde | other titles - The Scent of Mathilda, The Scent of Mathilde |
| 1997 | Les Deux Orphlines Vampires | other titles - Two Orphan Vampires, The Two Vampire Orphans |
| 1999 | La Fiancée de Dracula | other titles - Fiancee of Dracula, The Brides of Dracula, Dracula's Fiancee |
| 2007 | La Nuit des Horloges | other title - The Night of the Clocks |
| 2010 | Le Masque de la Méduse |
Producer
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Tristesse des Anthropophages | |
| 1967 | Faire Quelque Chose | |
| 1968 | Le Viol du Vampire | other titles- The Rape of the Vampire, The Queen of the Vampires, Vampire Woman, La Reine des Vampires |
| 1970 | Le Frisson des Vampires | other titles - The Shiver of the Vampires, Sex and Vampires, Strange Things Happen at Night, The Terror of the Vampires, The Thrill of the Vampires, Vampire Thrills |
| 1974 | Tout le Monde il en a Deux | other titles - Bacchanales Sexuelles, Fly Me the French Way (credited as Michel Gentil) |
| 1979 | Jeux D'Adultes pour Gamines Expertes | |
| 1980 | Minouche, Fillette Insatiable | other title - Unlimited Girls |
| 1991 | Et le Temps S'En Va... | (Exclusive Producer) |
Actor
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Crime et Châtiment | Le Prêtre Chantant | (uncredited) other title - Crime and Punishment |
| 1966 | Tristesse des Anthropophages | Un Client du Restaurant Scatophage | (uncredited) |
| 1968 | La Femme-Bourreau | Un Flic | (uncredited) |
| 1968 | Le Viol du Vampire | Villager | (uncredited) other title - The Rape of the Vampire, The Queen of the Vampires, Vampire Woman, La Reine des Vampires |
| 1972 | La Rose de Fer | (uncredited) other title - Rose of Iron, The Iron Rose | |
| 1973 | Le Sourire Vertical | other title - The Vertical Smile | |
| 1974 | Phantasmes | other title Phantasmes Pornographiques, Phantasmes D'Isabelle, The Seduction of Amy, Once Upon a Virgin | |
| 1974 | Lévres de Sang | Le Gardien du Cimetière | (uncredited) other titles - Lips of Blood |
| 1975 | Douches Pénétrations | Le Chef Cuisinier | other titles - Sweet Penetrations, Gode Story (credited as Michel Gentil) |
| 1976 | Amours Collectives | Mike Gentle the Vampire | other title - Love Story (credited as Michel Gentil), (Scenes Deleted) |
| 1977 | Discosex | ||
| 1978 | Hyperpénétrations | other title - Par Devant Par Derriere (credited as Robert Xavier) | |
| 1978 | Remplissez-Moi...Les 3 Tours | (credited as Robert Xavier) | |
| 1978 | Lèvres Gloutonnes | ||
| 1978 | Les Raisins de la Mort | Worker at the Vinyard | other titles - The Grapes of Death, Pestizide, Pesticide, The Raisins of Death, Foltermühle der Gefangenen Frauen |
| 1979 | Entrez Vite...Vite, Je Mouille! | (credited as Michel Gentil) | |
| 1980 | Clinique pour Soins très spéciaux | ||
| 1980 | Le Lac des Morts Vivants | Stiltz | other titles - Zombie Lake, Zombie's Lake |
| 1982 | La Morte Vivante | Salesman | (uncredited) other titles - The Living Dead Girl, Lady Dracula, Queen Zombie, Scare: Dead or Alive |
| 1984 | Les Trottoirs de Bangkok | Un Tuere | (uncredited) other title - The Sidewalks of Bangkok, Streetwalkers of Bangkok |
| 1985 | Sanguine | L'editeur | |
| 1991 | À la Poursuite de Barbara | ||
| 1992 | Trepanator | Dr. Roll | |
| 1993 | Dinosaur from the Deep | Professeur Nolan | |
| 1997 | Marquis de Slime | Homme du Gouvernement | |
| 2007 | Life Like | The Director | |
| 2010 | Le Masque de la Méduse | L'homme qui Enterre la Tête |
Television
Writer
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | La Griffe d'Horus | other title - The Claw of Horus |
As Himself
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | French Love | |
| 1999 | Eurotika! | 1 episode - Vampires and Virgins: The Films of Jean Rollin |
| 2003 | Si la Mére Supérieure se Coiffe d'un Entonnoir... | |
| 2004 | Celluloid Horror | |
| 2005 | Michel Rocas, Roi du Nanar? | TV Movie |
| 2006 | L'age d'or du X | TV Movie |
| 2009 | Jean Rollin, le Rêveur Égaré |
Thanks
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | La Femme-Bourreau | (Thanks) |
| 1985 | Le Clown Nécrophile | (Dedicatee) |
Further reading
- Virgins & Vampires: Jean Rollin. Contains essays by Jean Rollin, edited by Peter Blumenstock. Includes CD soundtrack from Les Deux orphelines vampires. Limited edition of 300 copies, autographed by Jean Rollin. (Crippled Publishing, 1997, ISBN 3-9805820-0-0).
- Video Watchdog #31. Peter Blumenstock interviews Rollin (1995).
- Immoral Tales: European Sex & Horror Movies 1956-1984 (1994) by Cathal Tohill and Pete Tombs. Dedicates a chapter to Rollin.
References
- ^ "Jean Rollin Biography, Film & Books". myspace.com. Retrieved August 22, 2010.