Giovanni Brass was born in Milano on Sunday, 26 March 1933, but was raised in Venice. His grandfather, painter Italico Brass, gave the youngster the nickname of Tintoretto, which was itself the nickname of painter Jacopo Robusti (1518?C1594). (Incidentally, Gore Vidal, in a TV special called Artful Journeys: Vidal in Venice, referred to Tintoretto as the Cecil B. De Mille of Venetian painters.) Anyway, Tintoretto was soon shortened to Tinto. Tinto??s father was a noted and well-to-do lawyer, and Brass originally planned to pursue that same career. He completed his university law degree and practiced for three months, but then moved to Paris in 1957 and got a job as a projectionist at the Cin??math??que Fran?aise, where he also apprenticed to film archivist/curator Henri Langlois through 1960.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s he created many avant-garde films, such as Nerosubianco, L'urlo, and La Vacanza. He is best known for his erotic epics, Salon Kitty, The Key, and Caligula, which was a collaboration with celebrated author Gore Vidal, Franco Rossellini (nephew of the Italian filmmaker Roberto Rossellini), and Penthouse magazine publisher Bob Guccione. However, many consider Caligula to not be a true Tinto Brass film because post-production was not handled by Brass. In spite of this, it contains many of Brass's trademarks and remains his most widely-viewed work (and the highest-grossing Italian film ever released in the United States). After Caligula became a huge international box office hit, Tinto was hired to shoot a spy thriller Snack Bar Budapest. Afterwards, he decided that he should focus on erotica, in a way to rebel against the hypcracy of censors, explaining that sex is a normal part of life and we should just deal with it. His most famous erotics are: Miranda, Paprika , Cosi Fan Tutte, L'uomo Che Guarda, Fermo Posta, Monella, Trasgredire.
With his latest films Senso '45 (an update of the classic novella "Senso"), an erotic comedy Fallo! and Monamour Tinto cemented his reputation of an undisputed master of erotica and avante-garde art films. (See here)

Director:
2000s
1990s
1980s
1970s
1960s
1950s
Monamour (2005)
Fallo! (2003)
... aka Do It! (International: English title)
... aka Private (UK)
Senso '45 (2002)
... aka Black Angel (UK)
Trasgredire (2000)
... aka Cheeky (UK: DVD title)
... aka Tra(sgre)dire (Italy)
... aka Transgressions (USA: video title)

Monella (1998)
... aka Frivolous Lola (Hong Kong: English title) (UK)
Fermo posta Tinto Brass (1995)
... aka P.O. Box Tinto Brass (International: English title)
Uomo che guarda, L' (1994)
... aka The Voyeur
Cos?? fan tutte (1992)
... aka All Ladies Do It (USA: DVD box title)
... aka All Women Do It
Paprika (1991)
... aka Paprika, Life in a Brothel

Snack Bar Budapest (1988)
Capriccio (1987)
... aka Capri Remembered
... aka Love and Passion
Miranda (1985)
Chiave, La (1983)
... aka The Key
Action (1980)

Caligola (1979) (principal photography)
... aka Caligula (USA)
... aka Caligula, My Son (UK)
... aka Io, Caligola (Italy: recut version)
Salon Kitty (1976)
... aka Doppelspiel (West Germany)
... aka Madam Kitty (USA)
... aka Madame Kitty (France)
Vacanza, La (1971)
... aka Vacation
I Miss Sonia Henie (1971)
... aka Nedostaje mi Sonja Henie (Yugoslavia: Serbian title)
Drop-out (1970/I)
... aka Dropout (USA: dubbed version)
Urlo, L' (1970)
... aka The Howl

Nerosubianco (1969)
... aka Black on White (USA)
... aka The Artful Penetration of Barbara (USA: promotional title)
Col cuore in gola (1967)
... aka Dead stop - Le coeur aux l??vres (France)
... aka Deadly Sweet
... aka En cinqui??me vitesse (France)
... aka Heart Beat (UK: 8mm release title)
... aka I Am What I Am (USA)
... aka With Heart in Mouth
Yankee (1966)
... aka Americano, L' (Italy)
... aka Yankee l'americano (Italy)
... aka Yankee, El (Spain)
Disco volante, Il (1964)
... aka The Flying Saucer (USA)
Mia signora, La (1964) (segments "L'uccellino", "L'automobile")
... aka My Wife (International: English title)
?a ira (Il fiume della rivolta) (1964)
... aka Tell It Like It Is
Chi lavora ?? perduto (1963)
... aka In capo al mondo
... aka Who Works Is Lost

Spatiodynamisme (1958)

Writer:
2000s
1990s
1980s
1970s
1960s
Monamour (2005) (writer)
Fallo! (2003) (adaptation) (scenario)
... aka Do It! (International: English title)
... aka Private (UK)
Senso '45 (2002) (writer)
... aka Black Angel (UK)
Trasgredire (2000) (writer)
... aka Cheeky (UK: DVD title)
... aka Tra(sgre)dire (Italy)
... aka Transgressions (USA: video title)

Monella (1998) (story) (writer)
... aka Frivolous Lola (Hong Kong: English title) (UK)
Fermo posta Tinto Brass (1995) (screenplay) (story)
... aka P.O. Box Tinto Brass (International: English title)
Paprika (1995) (1989 screenplay)
... aka Anal Paprika
... aka The Last Italian Whore
Uomo che guarda, L' (1994) (writer)
... aka The Voyeur
Cos?? fan tutte (1992) (writer)
... aka All Ladies Do It (USA: DVD box title)
... aka All Women Do It
Paprika (1991) (writer)
... aka Paprika, Life in a Brothel

Snack Bar Budapest (1988) (writer)
Capriccio (1987) (writer)
... aka Capri Remembered
... aka Love and Passion
Miranda (1985) (writer)
Chiave, La (1983) (writer)
... aka The Key
Action (1980) (screenplay) (story)

Salon Kitty (1976) (screenplay)
... aka Doppelspiel (West Germany)
... aka Madam Kitty (USA)
... aka Madame Kitty (France)
Vacanza, La (1971) (screenplay) (story)
... aka Vacation
Drop-out (1970/I) (writer)
... aka Dropout (USA: dubbed version)
Urlo, L' (1970) (writer)
... aka The Howl

Nerosubianco (1969) (writer)
... aka Black on White (USA)
... aka The Artful Penetration of Barbara (USA: promotional title)
Col cuore in gola (1967) (writer)
... aka Dead stop - Le coeur aux l??vres (France)
... aka Deadly Sweet
... aka En cinqui??me vitesse (France)
... aka Heart Beat (UK: 8mm release title)
... aka I Am What I Am (USA)
... aka With Heart in Mouth
Yankee (1966) (screenplay) (story)
... aka Americano, L' (Italy)
... aka Yankee l'americano (Italy)
... aka Yankee, El (Spain)
Chi lavora ?? perduto (1963) (screenplay) (story)
... aka In capo al mondo
... aka Who Works Is Lost
Italia non ?? un paese povero, L' (1960) (uncredited)
... aka Italy Is Not a Poor Country

Editor:
2000s
1990s
1980s
1970s
1960s
Monamour (2005)
Fallo! (2003)
... aka Do It! (International: English title)
... aka Private (UK)
Senso '45 (2002)
... aka Black Angel (UK)
Trasgredire (2000)
... aka Cheeky (UK: DVD title)
... aka Tra(sgre)dire (Italy)
... aka Transgressions (USA: video title)

Monella (1998)
... aka Frivolous Lola (Hong Kong: English title) (UK)
Fermo posta Tinto Brass (1995)
... aka P.O. Box Tinto Brass (International: English title)
Uomo che guarda, L' (1994)
... aka The Voyeur
Cos?? fan tutte (1992)
... aka All Ladies Do It (USA: DVD box title)
... aka All Women Do It
Paprika (1991)
... aka Paprika, Life in a Brothel

Snack Bar Budapest (1988)
Capriccio (1987)
... aka Capri Remembered
... aka Love and Passion
Miranda (1985)
Chiave, La (1983)
... aka The Key
Action (1980)

Salon Kitty (1976)
... aka Doppelspiel (West Germany)
... aka Madam Kitty (USA)
... aka Madame Kitty (France)
Vacanza, La (1971)
... aka Vacation
Drop-out (1970/I)
... aka Dropout (USA: dubbed version)
Urlo, L' (1970)
... aka The Howl

Nerosubianco (1969)
... aka Black on White (USA)
... aka The Artful Penetration of Barbara (USA: promotional title)
Col cuore in gola (1967)
... aka Dead stop - Le coeur aux l??vres (France)
... aka Deadly Sweet
... aka En cinqui??me vitesse (France)
... aka Heart Beat (UK: 8mm release title)
... aka I Am What I Am (USA)
... aka With Heart in Mouth
Yankee (1966)
... aka Americano, L' (Italy)
... aka Yankee l'americano (Italy)
... aka Yankee, El (Spain)
Chi lavora ?? perduto (1963)
... aka In capo al mondo
... aka Who Works Is Lost

Actor:
In Production
2000s
1990s
1980s
1960s
Nostro messia, Il (2008) (completed) .... Critico

Rabbia, La (2008) .... Primo produttore
Fallo! (2003) .... Voyeur (episode "Dimme porca che me piaze" in London)
... aka Do It! (International: English title)
... aka Private (UK)
Senso '45 (2002) (uncredited)
... aka Black Angel (UK)
Trasgredire (2000) (uncredited) .... Man in photo shop
... aka Cheeky (UK: DVD title)
... aka Tra(sgre)dire (Italy)
... aka Transgressions (USA: video title)

Lucignolo (1999) .... Avvocato difensore
Coccinella, La (1999) .... Jehova's Witness
Sogno (1999)
Ultimo metro (1999) .... Guastafeste
Monella (1998) (uncredited) .... Orchestra Conductor
... aka Frivolous Lola (Hong Kong: English title) (UK)
Fermo posta Tinto Brass (1995) .... Tinto Brass
... aka P.O. Box Tinto Brass (International: English title)
Uomo che guarda, L' (1994) (uncredited)
... aka The Voyeur
Cos?? fan tutte (1992) (uncredited) .... Comendator Scarfatti
... aka All Ladies Do It (USA: DVD box title)
... aka All Women Do It
Paprika (1991) (uncredited) .... Dott. Babarelli
... aka Paprika, Life in a Brothel

Capriccio (1987) (uncredited)
... aka Capri Remembered
... aka Love and Passion
"Felicit??, La" (1981) (mini) TV mini-series
Action (1980)

Nerosubianco (1969) (uncredited) .... Gynecologist/Director
... aka Black on White (USA)
... aka The Artful Penetration of Barbara (USA: promotional title)
Donna ?? una cosa meravigliosa, La (1964)
... aka Woman Is a Wonderful Thing (International: English title)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director:
1960s
1950s
Italia non ?? un paese povero, L' (1960) (assistant director)
... aka Italy Is Not a Poor Country

Generale della Rovere, Il (1959) (first assistant director)
... aka G??n??ral della Rovere, Le (France)
... aka General della Rovere (USA)
India: Matri Bhumi (1959) (assistant director)
... aka Inde, terre m??re (France)
Prima notte, La (1959) (assistant director)
... aka Noces v??nitiennes, Les (France)
... aka Venetian Honeymoon (International: English title)

Producer:
Vacanza, La (1971) (producer)
... aka Vacation

Self:
2000s
1990s
1980s
Inside Salon Kitty (2003) (V) .... Himself

Giulia (1999/II) (uncredited) .... Himself - introduction
"Eurotrash" .... Himself (1 episode, 1993)
- Episode #1.3 (1993) TV episode .... Himself

A Documentary on the Making of 'Gore Vidal's Caligula' (1981) .... Himself - Director

Archive Footage:
"Quelli che... il calcio"
- Episode #15.27 (2008) TV episode .... Various

(See here)