MovieChat Forums > El verdugo (1964) Discussion > greatest spanish movie ever

greatest spanish movie ever


is this the greatest spanish movie ever?

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El Verdugo is a great movie and remains as a corrosive statement against death penalty.

The only actor that don't fit in the movie is Nino Manfredi. He was born in Italy and didn't speak spanish so his part was dubbed by spanish actor José María Prada (who also appears in the picture, dubbed himself by other actor)

It seems that Berlanga wanted José Luis López Vázquez to play that part, but the italian producers (this film was made under co-production)wanted an italian actor to star in the picture. Finally López Vázquez was assigned to play a small part (but also very funny) as the brother of Nino Manfredi's character.

I strongly think that this movie could have been much better with José Luis López Vázquez in the leading role as "José María" instead of Nino Manfredi.
Manfredi was also a great actor, but as a stranger he had to be dubbed,and that thing creates in the spectator the strange sensation of be seeing a person and listening to another each time his character appears on the screen.

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Yes, most probably, BEST SPANISH MOVIE EVER.

Never ceases to shock me every time I watch it.

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I saw it in Manchester at the art house cinema 18 years ago and have never forgotten it. Brilliant dark comedy and social critique of Spain under Franco.

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