Tinto Brass
Directing Born Mar 26, 1933 Milan, Kingdom of Italy [now Italy] 200 credits
Biography
Giovanni Tinto Brass is an Italian film director, screenwriter, editor, and writer born on March 26, 1933, in Milan, Italy. Born Giovanni Brass, he adopted his professional name from a nickname given to him by his grandfather, the artist Italico Brass. Throughout his career, he has been recognized for his work across multiple genres, eventually earning a reputation as a master of Italian erotic cinema. With 79 known credits in the film industry, he is a significant figure in Italian filmmaking, known for his distinct artistic style and his transition from avant-garde projects to the erotic genre. He remains a notable name in international cinema history.
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Career overview
Tinto Brass began his career in the 1960s and 1970s, during which he directed numerous critically acclaimed avant-garde films spanning various genres. His early work established his reputation as a versatile filmmaker. Following the release of Salon Kitty in 1976 and Caligula in 1979, the style of his filmography shifted significantly toward the erotic genre. The production of Caligula was particularly notable, as the film was originally intended as a satire on power. However, producers re-edited the project without his consent, removing political elements and altering the final product into an erotic film.
In the decades that followed, Brass became primarily known for his contributions to erotic cinema. His notable later works include Cosi fan tutte, released in English as All Ladies Do It, as well as Paprika, Monella, also known as Frivolous Lola, and Trasgredire. These films solidified his status within the genre. Throughout his career, Brass has served in multiple creative capacities, including directing, screenwriting, and editing. His evolution from avant-garde experimentation to his later focus on erotic themes remains a defining characteristic of his professional legacy.
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Frequent co-stars
Franco Branciaroli
2 shared titles
Eolo Capritti
2 shared titles
Osiride Pevarello
2 shared titles
Erika Savastani
2 shared titles
Edoardo Florio
2 shared titles
Antoine de Caunes
1 shared title
Victoria Silvstedt
1 shared title
Kate Robbins
1 shared title
Lolo Ferrari
1 shared title
Jean-Paul Gaultier
1 shared title
Career timeline
Roberto Rossellini - Living Without A Script
Inferno Rosso: Joe D'Amato on the Road of Excess
Searching for Valentina: The World of Guido Crepax
Burning Love
Tinto Brass: Maestro of Erotic Cinema
Istintobrass
Crazy Dog
Case Chiuse
Hotel Courbet · DirectorHotel Courbet · WriterHotel Courbet · EditorImpotenti esistenzialiBehind The Scenes of Caligula
Kick the CockKick the Cock · DirectorKick the Cock · EditorIl nostro messiaLa rabbia
Tinto Brass: The Orgy Of PowerMy Roman Holiday With John Steiner
Adolfo Celi, a Man for Two Worlds
MonamourMonamour · WriterMonamour · EditorMonamour · DirectorMonamour · Story
Western all'italiana
PrivatePrivate · DirectorPrivate · AuthorPrivate · EditorPrivate · Story
Black AngelBlack Angel · DirectorBlack Angel · WriterBlack Angel · EditorBlack Angel · Screenplay
CheekyCheeky · DirectorCheeky · WriterCheeky · EditorCheeky · Story
Tinto Brass Presents Erotic Short Stories: Part 2 - QuattroTinto Brass Presents Erotic Short Stories: Part 2 - Quattro · ProducerTinto Brass Presents Erotic Short Stories: Part 2 - Quattro · PresenterThe Last SubwayThe Last Subway · Presenter
Erotic Short Circuits Vol. 1Erotic Short Circuits Vol. 1 · PresenterErotic Short Circuits Vol. 1 · ProducerFrivolous LolaFrivolous Lola · Director
Quando l'Italia non era un paese povero
P.O. Box Tinto BrassP.O. Box Tinto Brass · DirectorP.O. Box Tinto Brass · ScreenplayP.O. Box Tinto Brass · StoryP.O. Box Tinto Brass · Editor
The VoyeurThe Voyeur · DirectorThe Voyeur · EditorThe Voyeur · ScreenplayThe Voyeur · Story
Eurotrash
All Ladies Do ItAll Ladies Do It · DirectorAll Ladies Do It · StoryAll Ladies Do It · ScreenplayAll Ladies Do It · Editor
PaprikaPaprika · DirectorPaprika · EditorPaprika · ScreenplayPaprika · Story
Snack Bar BudapestSnack Bar Budapest · DirectorSnack Bar Budapest · Editor
Love & Passion · DirectorLove & Passion · EditorLove & Passion · Writer
Miranda · DirectorMiranda · WriterMiranda · Editor
The KeyThe Key · DirectorThe Key · WriterThe Key · Editor
A Documentary on the Making of 'Gore Vidal's Caligula'
Full filmography
- Roberto Rossellini - Living Without A Script (2025)
- Inferno Rosso: Joe D'Amato on the Road of Excess (2021) as Self (archive footage)
- Searching for Valentina: The World of Guido Crepax (2019) as Himself
- Burning Love (2015) as Self
- Tinto Brass: Maestro of Erotic Cinema (2014) as Self
- Istintobrass (2013) as Self
- Crazy Dog (2012) as il dottore
- Case Chiuse (2011)
- Hotel Courbet (2009) Director
- Hotel Courbet (2009) Writer
- Hotel Courbet (2009) Editor
- Impotenti esistenziali (2009) as De Fortis
- Behind The Scenes of Caligula (2009)
- Kick the Cock (2008) as The Boss
- Kick the Cock (2008) Director
- Kick the Cock (2008) Editor
- Il nostro messia (2008) as Critico
- La rabbia (2008) as Primo produttore
- Il nostro messia (2008) as Critico
- Tinto Brass: The Orgy Of Power (2007) as Self
- My Roman Holiday With John Steiner (2007) as Self - Archive Footage
- Adolfo Celi, a Man for Two Worlds (2006) as Self
- Monamour (2005) as Man with Cigar (uncredited)
- Monamour (2005) Writer
- Monamour (2005) Editor
- Monamour (2005) Director
- Monamour (2005) Story
- Monamour (2005) Screenplay
- Western all'italiana (2004)
- Private (2003) as Voyeur
- Private (2003) Director
- Private (2003) Author
- Private (2003) Editor
- Private (2003) Story
- Private (2003) Screenplay
- Black Angel (2002) as Film Director
- Black Angel (2002) Director
- Black Angel (2002) Writer
- Black Angel (2002) Editor
- Black Angel (2002) Screenplay
- Unchaste Relationships (2002)
- Unchaste Relationships (2002) Director
- Cheeky (2000) as Man in Photo Shop
- Cheeky (2000) Director
- Cheeky (2000) Writer
- Cheeky (2000) Editor
- Cheeky (2000) Story
- Cheeky (2000) Screenplay
- Tinto Brass Presents Erotic Short Stories: Part 2 - Quattro (1999) as Presenter
- Tinto Brass Presents Erotic Short Stories: Part 2 - Quattro (1999) Producer
- Tinto Brass Presents Erotic Short Stories: Part 2 - Quattro (1999) Presenter
- The Last Subway (1999) as Presenter
- The Last Subway (1999) Presenter
- The Last Subway (1999) Producer
- Blessed Transgression! (1999) as Presenter
- Blessed Transgression! (1999) Producer
- Blessed Transgression! (1999) Presenter
- Ladybird (1999) as Jehova's Witness
- Ladybird (1999) Producer
- Ladybird (1999) Presenter
- Dream (1999) as Presenter / Lifeguard
- Dream (1999) Presenter
- Dream (1999) Producer
- Julia (1999) as Presenter
- Julia (1999) Presenter
- Julia (1999) Producer
- A Magic Mirror (1999) as Porter
- A Magic Mirror (1999) Presenter
- A Magic Mirror (1999) Producer
- Candlewick (1999) as Defense attorney
- Tinto Brass Presents Erotic Short Stories: Part 4 - Improper Liaisons (1999) as Presenter
- Tinto Brass Presents Erotic Short Stories: Part 4 - Improper Liaisons (1999) Producer
- Tinto Brass Presents Erotic Short Stories: Part 4 - Improper Liaisons (1999) Presenter
- Hold My Wrists Tight (1999) as The Priest
- Hold My Wrists Tight (1999) Presenter
- Hold My Wrists Tight (1999) Producer
- Quattro (1999) as Presenter
- Quattro (1999) Presenter
- Quattro (1999) Producer
- Voyeur (1999) as Presenter
- Voyeur (1999) Producer
- Voyeur (1999) Presenter
- Weekend in Lecco (1999) as Stationmaster
- Weekend in Lecco (1999) Producer
- Weekend in Lecco (1999) Presenter
- Tinto Brass Presents Erotic Short Stories: Part 3 - Hold My Wrists Tight (1999) as Presenter
- Tinto Brass Presents Erotic Short Stories: Part 3 - Hold My Wrists Tight (1999) Producer
- Tinto Brass Presents Erotic Short Stories: Part 3 - Hold My Wrists Tight (1999) Presenter
- I Am the Way You Want Me (1999) as Presenter
- I Am the Way You Want Me (1999) Producer
- I Am the Way You Want Me (1999) Presenter
- Improper Liaisons (1999) as Presenter
- Tinto Brass Presents Erotic Short Stories: Part 1 - Julia (1999) as Presenter
- Tinto Brass Presents Erotic Short Stories: Part 1 - Julia (1999) Producer
- Improper Liaisons (1999) Producer
- Tinto Brass Presents Erotic Short Stories: Part 1 - Julia (1999) Presenter
- Improper Liaisons (1999) Presenter
- Erotic Short Circuits Vol. 1 (1998) as Presenter
- Erotic Short Circuits Vol. 1 (1998) Presenter
- Erotic Short Circuits Vol. 1 (1998) Producer
- Frivolous Lola (1998) as Orchestra Conductor (uncredited)
- Frivolous Lola (1998) Director
- Frivolous Lola (1998) Story
- Frivolous Lola (1998) Writer
- Frivolous Lola (1998) Editor
- Erotic Short Circuits Vol.2 (1998) as Presenter
- Erotic Short Circuits Vol.2 (1998) Producer
- Erotic Short Circuits Vol.2 (1998) Presenter
- Erotic Short Circuits Vol. 4 (1998) as Presenter
- Erotic Short Circuits Vol. 4 (1998) Presenter
- Erotic Short Circuits Vol. 4 (1998) Producer
- Erotic Short Circuits Vol.3 (1998) as Presenter / Jehova's Witness
- Erotic Short Circuits Vol.3 (1998) Producer
- Erotic Short Circuits Vol.3 (1998) Presenter
- Quando l'Italia non era un paese povero (1997)
- P.O. Box Tinto Brass (1995) as Tinto Brass
- P.O. Box Tinto Brass (1995) Director
- P.O. Box Tinto Brass (1995) Screenplay
- P.O. Box Tinto Brass (1995) Story
- P.O. Box Tinto Brass (1995) Editor
- The Voyeur (1994)
- The Voyeur (1994) Director
- The Voyeur (1994) Editor
- The Voyeur (1994) Screenplay
- The Voyeur (1994) Story
- The Voyeur (1994) Writer
- Eurotrash (1993)
- All Ladies Do It (1992) as Comendator Scarfatti (uncredited)
- All Ladies Do It (1992) Director
- All Ladies Do It (1992) Story
- All Ladies Do It (1992) Screenplay
- All Ladies Do It (1992) Editor
- Paprika (1991) as Doctor Babarelli (uncredited)
- Paprika (1991) Director
- Paprika (1991) Editor
- Paprika (1991) Screenplay
- Paprika (1991) Story
- Snack Bar Budapest (1988) as Giudice (uncredited)
- Snack Bar Budapest (1988) Director
- Snack Bar Budapest (1988) Editor
- Love & Passion (1987) Director
- Love & Passion (1987) Editor
- Love & Passion (1987) Writer
- Miranda (1985) Director
- Miranda (1985) Writer
- Miranda (1985) Editor
- The Key (1983) as Father Confessor
- The Key (1983) Director
- The Key (1983) Writer
- The Key (1983) Editor
- A Documentary on the Making of 'Gore Vidal's Caligula' (1981) as Self - Director
- Action (1980) as The Director
- Action (1980) Director
- Action (1980) Screenplay
- Action (1980) Editor
- NDR Talk Show (1979) as Self
- Caligula (1979) Camera Operator
- Caligula (1979) Director
- Caligula (1979) Editor
- Salon Kitty (1976) Director
- Salon Kitty (1976) Editor
- I Miss Sonia Henie (1971) Director
- I Miss Sonia Henie (1971) Writer
- Vacation (1971) Director
- Vacation (1971) Screenplay
- Vacation (1971) Producer
- Vacation (1971) Editor
- The Howl (1970) as Commissario di polizia
- The Howl (1970) Director
- The Howl (1970) Writer
- Dropout (1970) Writer
- Dropout (1970) Editor
- Dropout (1970) Director
- Attraction (1969) Director
- Attraction (1969) Writer
- Deadly Sweet (1967) Director
- Deadly Sweet (1967) Editor
- Deadly Sweet (1967) Writer
- Yankee (1966) Director
- Yankee (1966) Screenplay
- Yankee (1966) Story
- Yankee (1966) Editor
- My Wife (1964) Director
- Tempo libero (1964)
- Tempo libero (1964) Director
- Tempo libero (1964) Writer
- The Flying Saucer (1964) Director
- Ça ira - Il fiume della rivolta (1964) Director
- Woman Is a Wonderful Thing (1964) as Mario (segment "Una donna dolce, dolce") (uncredited)
- Tempo lavorativo (1964)
- Tempo lavorativo (1964) Director
- Tempo lavorativo (1964) Writer
- Who Works Is Lost (1963) Director
- Who Works Is Lost (1963) Story
- Who Works Is Lost (1963) Screenplay
- Who Works Is Lost (1963) Editor
- India: Matri Bhumi (1960) Assistant Director
- General Della Rovere (1959) First Assistant Director
- Venetian Honeymoon (1959) First Assistant Director
- Spatiodynamisme (1958) Director