Famous executioner topic for film
Albert Pierrepoint delivered groceries for a living in England in the early 1930s.
But like his father, he found a way to supplement his income. He executed people.
He got paid per execution, along with a hot meal.
Timothy Spall recreates Pierrepoint in “Pierrepoint, The Last Hangman.”
Between 1933 and 1955, he executed 608, including convicted Nazis.
The film opens with a prison official telling a group of men just how the procedure works, stressing what happens at the prison, stays at the prison.
Pierrepoint seems nervous as the procedure is explained, while a fellow nubie can’t controll his excitement, until the first execution.
Then it is Pierrepoint’s methodical, exact procedures that get the job done quickly and efficiently. The other worker is horrified, vomits into his hankerchief, throws his share of the money at Pierrepoint and leaves, never to return.
Pierrepoint works hard to keep his home life separate from his freelance execution job. Director Adrian Shergold emphasises his executing duties more than homelife.
He fumbles his way into asking a store clerk, Annie, (Juliet Stevenson) for a date while living with his mother. The next thing you know, Mom is out of the picture and he’s married to Annie.
Pierrepoint is proud that he has broken his father’s record in the speed at which he executed, well, an execution. He takes quiet pride when he is complimented on his talent.
We see glimpses of Pierrepoint in private life, talking to his wife, singing for the crowd at the local pub with his mates.
But Pierrepoint’s anonimity disappears when he is assigned to execute 47 Nazis at Nuremburg.
He has his beliefs, which includes once the person is dead, he or she has paid for his or her sins and is pure again. Part of his job is to strip the bodies while they are still hung, wash them and prepare them for burial.
He is horrified when they run out of coffins for the Nazis and demands they find more before the excutions continue.
Pierrepoint wins unwanted notoriety for the Nuremburg executions.
But the money he earns allows he and wife to buy and open a pub.
But with his fame, it is more difficult to retain that line between homelife and executions.
It is even more difficult when a special person is executed. I was able to predict this would happen, but will let you figure it out on your own.
It is in these scenes that we see Spall’s acting talents shine.
The same scene is repeated many times in the film, when he barges into the doomed person’s cell, twirls him or her around, secures the person’s arms and have he or she follow him to the gallows.
But it is fascinating in each instance. Fortunately, the real Pierrepoint kept a meticulous journal.
One prisoner cries for help. Another keeps saying “forgive me.” Another keeps crying, ‘help me.” Others are eeriely quiet.
The film gets graphic and is certainly disturbing.
So if you are hanging around the video store and don’t know what to rent, give “Pierrepoint” a look.
It probably won’t make you want to switch careers.
Read more Viper reviews at videoviper.blogspot.com. This appeared in Star Beacon WEEKENDER July 11, 2008.
PIERREPOINT: THE LAST HANGMAN
• Directed by Adrian Shergold, written by Bob Mills and Jeff Pope
• Rated R for disturbing images, nudity and brief sexuality
• Runtime: 90 minutes
• 3 stars out of 4
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