Pierrepoint (film)
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- This article is about the film "Pierrepoint". For the article on the executioner himself, see Albert Pierrepoint.
| Pierrepoint | |
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| Directed by | Adrian Shergold |
| Written by | Jeff Pope & Bob Mills |
| Starring | Timothy Spall, Juliet Stevenson, Eddie Marsan |
| Produced by | Christine Langan |
| Distributed by | Redbus Film Distribution (UK), IFC Films (USA) |
| Release date | April 7, 2006 (UK) |
| Runtime | 90 minutes |
| Language | English |
| IMDb page | |
Pierrepoint (2005), North American title The Last Hangman, is a British film directed by Adrian Shergold about the life of British executioner Albert Pierrepoint.
The film premiered at the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival and was released in the UK on April 7, 2006.
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[edit] Plot
The film follows Britain's most prolific hangman, Albert Pierrepoint (Timothy Spall) from the time he is accepted onto the list of the country's official hangmen in 1932 until his resignation in 1956. We see him deal privately with his secret job until his post as Britain's hangman at the executions of Nazi war criminals puts him in the public eye. Executing both James Inglis with the fastest hanging on record – seven seconds – and Ruth Ellis, Pierrepoint faces his toughest moment as the UK's "number one" executioner when he hangs his friend James "Tish" Corbitt, after Corbitt murders his girlfriend.
[edit] Themes
Pierrepoint deals with the subject of capital punishment, and specifically hanging, through the eyes of the executioner. We see many executions taking place, and even towards the end of the film, they have the power to shock. However, we do not see a dark, sinister executioner, but a human being who takes pride in his work and maintains respect for the condemned, especially after they have been killed. The secrecy involved in the process of execution is examined, with Pierrepoint becoming almost a celebrity figure after his work in Germany at the executions of war criminals. This affects his work and his family, since both he and his wife encounter support and abuse from the public.
[edit] Cast
- Timothy Spall - Albert Pierrepoint
- Juliet Stevenson - Annie Pierrepoint
- Eddie Marsan - James 'Tish' Corbitt
- Ben Mckay- Timothy Evans
- Michael Norton - Josef Kramer
