The Exterminating Angel

The Exterminating Angel
Original film poster
SpanishEl ángel exterminador
Directed byLuis Buñuel
Screenplay byLuis Buñuel
Story byLuis Alcoriza
Luis Buñuel
Based onLos náufragos de la Calle de la Providencia
by José Bergamín
Produced byGustavo Alatriste
Starring
CinematographyGabriel Figueroa
Edited byCarlos Savage Jr.
Production
companies
Producciones Gustavo Alatriste
Estudios Churubusco
Distributed byAltura
Release dates
  • 16 May 1962 (1962-05-16) (Cannes)
  • 1 October 1964 (1964-10-01) (Mexico)
Running time
93 minutes
CountryMexico
LanguageSpanish

The Exterminating Angel (Spanish: El ángel exterminador) is a 1962 Mexican surrealist black comedy film written and directed by Luis Buñuel. The film stars Silvia Pinal and was produced by Pinal's then-husband Gustavo Alatriste. It tells the story of a group of wealthy guests who find themselves unable to leave after a lavish dinner party, and the chaos that ensues. Sharply satirical and allegorical, the film contains a depiction of the aristocracy that suggests they "harbor savage instincts and unspeakable secrets".[1]

In 2004, The New York Times included the film in a list of "The Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made".[2] The film was adapted into an opera of the same name in 2016.[3]

  1. ^ Ebert, Roger, The Exterminating Angel, RogerEbert.com, 11 May 1997. Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ^ The Film Critics of The New York Times (2004). "The Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 29 March 2005. Retrieved 21 March 2010.
  3. ^ Clements, Andrew (30 July 2016). "The Exterminating Angel review – Adès delivers unmissable operatic adaptation". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 30 July 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2016.