THE EXECUTIONER
synopsis
The history starts with the main character (an old executioner in the Spain of early 60's) approaching retirement age. As his profession is not exactly what you could call "popular", he (a very gentle and nice man, caring, and proud of traditions) begins to worry about who might take his place when he retires. He has a daughter, but, unfortunately, she seems doomed to perpetual "spinsterhood": as soon as any prospective groom learns about her dad and her dad's "trade", he runs away from her, scared. A sad life... However, a new character enters: the local undertaker, a handsome and young man who has exactly the same problem... No girl wants him given his profession. So, you have the woman whom almost nobody would marry and the man whom almost nobody would marry. Obviously, they are meant for each other. But here the old executioner has something to say: He does not object to her daughter marrying the young undertaker; he seems a decent man, and all that... But there is a condition: ...
international title: | The Executioner |
original title: | El verdugo |
country: | Spain, Italy |
year: | 1963 |
genre: | fiction |
directed by: | Luis García Berlanga |
film run: | 90' |
release date: | IT 31/08/1963, ES 17/02/1964, FR 16/02/1965, UK 08/1965, HU 23/02/1967, DE 09/08/1971 |
screenplay: | Luis García Berlanga, Rafael Azcona, Ennio Flaiano |
cast: | Nino Manfredi, Emma Penella, José Isbert |
cinematography by: | Tonino Delli Colli |
film editing: | Alfonso Santacana |
executive producer: | Nazario Belmar |