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This masterpiece of black humor, beloved in Spain but too little seen elsewhere, threads a scathing critique of Franco-era values through a macabre farce about an undertaker who marries an executioner’s daughter and reluctantly takes over her father’s job so the family can keep their government-allotted apartment. As caustic today as it was in 1963, this early collaboration between Luis García Berlanga and his longtime screenwriter Rafael Azcona is an unerring depiction of what Berlanga called “the invisible traps that society sets up for us.” A furiously funny personal attack on capital punishment, The Executioner evaded the state censors who sought to suppress it, and today is regarded as one of the greatest Spanish films of all time.
Original Release
02/17/1964
US Release
03/29/1965
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Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Nino Manfredi | José Luis Rodríguez, el enterrador / José Luis Rodríguez, the Undertaker |
Emma Penella | Carmen, la hija de Amadeo / Carmen, Amadeo's Daughter |
José Isbert | Amadeo, el verdugo / Amadeo, the Executioner |
José Luis López Vázquez | Antonio Rodríguez, el hermano mayor de José Luis / Antonio Rodríguez, José Luis's Brother |
Ángel Álvarez | Álvarez, el enterrador / Álvarez, an Undertaker |
Guido Alberti | Director de la prisión / Prison Warden |
Julia Caba Alba | Mujer visitante de la obra nº 2 / Visiting Woman of the Work |
María Luisa Ponte | Estefanía / Estefanía, esposa de Antonio |
María Isbert | Ignacia, esposa de Álvarez / Ignacia |
Erasmo Pascual | San Martín |
Directors
Writers
Luis García Berlanga, Rafael Azcona, Ennio Flaiano
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Nino Manfredi | José Luis Rodríguez, el enterrador / José Luis Rodríguez, the Undertaker |
Emma Penella | Carmen, la hija de Amadeo / Carmen, Amadeo's Daughter |
José Isbert | Amadeo, el verdugo / Amadeo, the Executioner |
José Luis López Vázquez | Antonio Rodríguez, el hermano mayor de José Luis / Antonio Rodríguez, José Luis's Brother |
Ángel Álvarez | Álvarez, el enterrador / Álvarez, an Undertaker |
Guido Alberti | Director de la prisión / Prison Warden |
Julia Caba Alba | Mujer visitante de la obra nº 2 / Visiting Woman of the Work |
María Luisa Ponte | Estefanía / Estefanía, esposa de Antonio |
María Isbert | Ignacia, esposa de Álvarez / Ignacia |
Erasmo Pascual | San Martín |
Xan das Bolas | Guarda de la obra / Guardian of the Work |
José Orjas | Marqués / Marquis |
José María Prada | Vigilante con botella de champán / Guardian |
Félix Fernández | Organista / Organist |
Antonio Ferrandis | Funcionario de prisiones / Prison Officer |
Lola Gaos | Mujer visitante de la obra nº 3 / Visiting Woman of the Work |
Santiago Ontañón | Sr. Corcuera, el académico / Mr. Corcuera, the Academic |
Alfredo Landa | Sacristán / Sacristan |
José Sazatornil | Administrador / Administrator |
Agustín González | Hombre que pelea en la calle nº 1 / Man who Fights in the Street 1 |
Producers
Name | Role |
---|
Nazario Belmar | Executive Producer |
Moris Ergas | Producer |