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Now for something truly remarkable from the neglected Spanish cinema. Luis García Berlanga's wicked satire is a humanistic black comedy, free of cynicism. The borderline Kafkaesque situation of an everyman forced into a profession that horrifies him is funny and warm hearted - but with a ruthless logic that points to universal issues beyond Franco Fascism. The Executioner Blu-ray The Criterion Collection 840 1963 / B&W / 1:85 widescreen / 92 min. / El Verdugo / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date October 25, 2016 / 39.95 Starring Nino Manfredi, Emma Penella, José Isbert . Cinematography Tonino Delli Colli Film Editor Afonso Santacana Original Music Miguel Asins Arbó Written by Luis García Berlanga, Rafael Azcona, Ennio Flaiano Produced by Nazario Belmar Directed by Luis García Berlanga

Reviewed by Glenn Erickson

Criterion brings us 1963's The Executioner (El Verdugo), a major discovery for film fans that thought Spanish cinema began and ended with Luis Buñuel. I've seen politically-charged Spanish films from...

We here at The CriterionCast wear our admiration for The Criterion Collection squarely on our sleeves. Not only is it in the very title of this website and the podcast from which it spawned, but it is in the very DNA of what we strive to do through both ventures. At their very best, The Criterion Collection doesn’t so much bring to light gloriously dense home video releases of beloved, crystal clear classics from the history of film, but instead highlights lesser known masterpieces from throughout the world and spanning the entirety of film’s history as an artform. Be it esoteric experimental works like that of director Jean Painleve to baroque world cinema classics like La Cienaga, Criterion’s greatest achievement is giving the world a new glimpse at world history through the lens of those directors commenting on it through their films.

And few films quite hit...

BERLIN -- International sales company Lumina Films has signed up local stars to voice characters for each territory version of its CGI-animation Midsummer Dream. For the United Kingdom, Lumina said Rhys Ifans, Toby Blessed and Brian Blessed have been signed to provide the vocals for the movie, which is "loosely based on Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream.' " The announcement came Friday at the Berlin International Film Festival. Stars signed for Spanish-speaking territories include Gabino Diego, Jose Luis Gil, Emma Penella, Isabel Ordaz, Gemma Cuervo and Carmen Machi. Directed by Angel de la Cruz and Manolo Gomez for Spain's Dygra Films, Midsummer is a co-production with Portugal's AppiaFilmes.

BERLIN -- International sales company Lumina Films has signed up local stars to voice characters for each territory version of its CGI-animation Midsummer Dream. For the United Kingdom, Lumina said Rhys Ifans, Toby Blessed and Brian Blessed have been signed to provide the vocals for the movie, which is "loosely based on Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream.' " The announcement came Friday at the Berlin International Film Festival. Stars signed for Spanish-speaking territories include Gabino Diego, Jose Luis Gil, Emma Penella, Isabel Ordaz, Gemma Cuervo and Carmen Machi. Directed by Angel de La Cruz and Manolo Gomez for Spain's Dygra Films, Midsummer is a co-production with Portugal's AppiaFilmes.