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The Executioner

Original title: El verdugo
  • 19631963
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
6.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
El verdugo (1963)
Watch {VideoTitle}
Play trailer3:37
1 Video
55 Photos
  • Drama
  • Comedy
An undertaker marries an old executioner's daughter and must continue his father-in-law's profession after his retirement, although he doesn't like it.An undertaker marries an old executioner's daughter and must continue his father-in-law's profession after his retirement, although he doesn't like it.An undertaker marries an old executioner's daughter and must continue his father-in-law's profession after his retirement, although he doesn't like it.
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
6.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Luis García Berlanga
  • Writers
    • Luis García Berlanga(story)
    • Rafael Azcona(story)
    • Ennio Flaiano(screenplay collaboration)
  • Stars
    • Nino Manfredi
    • Emma Penella
    • José Isbert
Top credits
  • Director
    • Luis García Berlanga
  • Writers
    • Luis García Berlanga(story)
    • Rafael Azcona(story)
    • Ennio Flaiano(screenplay collaboration)
  • Stars
    • Nino Manfredi
    • Emma Penella
    • José Isbert
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 21User reviews
    • 20Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 wins & 2 nominations

    Videos1

    Trailer [OV]
    Trailer 3:37
    Trailer [OV]

    Photos55

    El verdugo (1963)
    Guido Alberti, Manuel Alexandre, Nino Manfredi, Enrique Pelayo, and Antonio Alfonso Vidal in El verdugo (1963)
    Guido Alberti, Manuel Alexandre, Nino Manfredi, Enrique Pelayo, José María Prada, and Antonio Alfonso Vidal in El verdugo (1963)
    Guido Alberti, Nino Manfredi, and José María Prada in El verdugo (1963)
    Nino Manfredi and Enrique Pelayo in El verdugo (1963)
    Antonio Ferrandis, Sergio Mendizábal, and José Orjas in El verdugo (1963)
    Nino Manfredi and Enrique Pelayo in El verdugo (1963)
    Nino Manfredi and Emma Penella in El verdugo (1963)
    Nino Manfredi and Emma Penella in El verdugo (1963)
    Nino Manfredi in El verdugo (1963)
    El verdugo (1963)
    Nino Manfredi in El verdugo (1963)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Nino Manfredi
    Nino Manfredi
    • José Luis Rodríguez, el enterradoras José Luis Rodríguez, el enterrador
    Emma Penella
    Emma Penella
    • Carmen, la hija de Amadeoas Carmen, la hija de Amadeo
    José Isbert
    José Isbert
    • Amadeo, el verdugoas Amadeo, el verdugo
    José Luis López Vázquez
    José Luis López Vázquez
    • Antonio Rodríguez, el hermano mayor de José Luisas Antonio Rodríguez, el hermano mayor de José Luis
    Ángel Álvarez
    Ángel Álvarez
    • Álvarez, el enterradoras Álvarez, el enterrador
    • (as Angel Alvarez)
    Guido Alberti
    • Director de la prisiónas Director de la prisión
    Julia Caba Alba
    Julia Caba Alba
    • Mujer visitante de la obra nº 2as Mujer visitante de la obra nº 2
    María Luisa Ponte
    María Luisa Ponte
    • Estefanía, esposa de Antonioas Estefanía, esposa de Antonio
    • (as Maria Luisa Ponte)
    María Isbert
    María Isbert
    • Ignacia, esposa de Álvarezas Ignacia, esposa de Álvarez
    • (as Maria Isbert)
    Erasmo Pascual
    Erasmo Pascual
    • San Martínas San Martín
    Xan das Bolas
    Xan das Bolas
    • Guarda de la obraas Guarda de la obra
    José Orjas
    José Orjas
    • Marquésas Marqués
    • (as Jose Orjas)
    José María Prada
    José María Prada
    • Vigilante con botella de champánas Vigilante con botella de champán
    • (as Jose Maria Prada)
    Félix Fernández
    Félix Fernández
    • Organistaas Organista
    • (as Felix Fernandez)
    Antonio Ferrandis
    Antonio Ferrandis
    • Funcionario de prisionesas Funcionario de prisiones
    Lola Gaos
    Lola Gaos
    • Mujer visitante de la obra nº 3as Mujer visitante de la obra nº 3
    • (as Dolores Gaos)
    Santiago Ontañón
    • Sr. Corcuera, el académicoas Sr. Corcuera, el académico
    • (as Santiago Ontañon)
    Alfredo Landa
    Alfredo Landa
    • Sacristánas Sacristán
    • Director
      • Luis García Berlanga
    • Writers
      • Luis García Berlanga(story) (screenplay)
      • Rafael Azcona(story) (screenplay)
      • Ennio Flaiano(screenplay collaboration)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      José Luis López Vázquez improvised the moment when measuring the child's head.
    • Quotes

      Chica en feria del libro: [subtitled version] Excuse me, do you have anything on Bergman or Antonioni?

      Sr. Corcuera, el académico: Bergman? The actress?

      Chica en feria del libro: No, not the actress. Thanks.

    • Connections
      Featured in Berlanga, plano personal (2011)
    • Soundtracks
      El verdugo
      (twist)

      Composed by Adolfo Waitzman

    User reviews21

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    not my favourite berlanga, but it's a great dramatic comedy that gives a lot of thought.
    I shouldn't have had expectations towards "el verdugo". but "bienvenido mr marshall" and "placido" made me thought this would be again a very acute comedy, with a lot of ironic laughs. it's not exactly. there's a lot of humour right (mostly in how absurd situations for most people are treaten as normal business - because it was) but it's also a family drama. mostly about a man, Jose Luis.

    You see his father in law is an executioner. which is not exactly the best seen position in society. Why? Because it deals ith what everyone else prefer to ignore. they're the "needed" people but also despised because they do their work - and can't get a better one. People make the laws but then they turn a blind eye where things happen. it's like is none of their business. The father in law Jose Isbert (i loved in "bienvenido mr marshall" as the mayor of the town) treats his job such as doing desk work, or a store clerk.

    for him putting his working bag at the table was normal business. Jose Luis starts to try to ignore his profession, until it goes right into his face- but the government pays and they need subsidies to get a new house. This takes a turn and the movie is again about what people prefer to put under the carpet.

    how it is to put a "normal joe" in the position of killing. yes, it's such a governmental order. that's how you try to rationalize it. Berlanga shown the hypocrisy but also how weirdly everything works: it's just another part of government. same bureaucracy. same problems. and how deep will you go for the need of your suburban low middle class in madrid. There are funny scenes, dramatic and one particularly brilliant and very dark.

    this movie worked completely for me, but i found it a bit contrived. not in the humour parts, but i was expecting more confusion, more people in the scenes, more shouting by everyone. this is probably easier for the non spanish speaker (or very semi speaker like me), because the characters take longer breaks while talking. but it still lacks a bit of the magic for me - but probably my expectations.

    putting that aside "el verdugo" is a dramatic comedy about the death penalty and how society at the time looked with indiference at everything.maybe they would defend it while drinking a coffee at the bar. but then, if they pass the corridor and the door is closed, they will probably faint. berlanga wants in a more dramatic way, to show us behind the curtain. didn't make the same for me as the others but it's still a very good film.
    helpful•3
    0
    • quaseprovisorio
    • Jul 13, 2020

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 13, 1964 (Italy)
    • Countries of origin
      • Spain
      • Italy
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Dzelat
    • Filming locations
      • Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
    • Production companies
      • Naga Films
      • Zebra Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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