Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2631 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-09-10
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, PAL
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 92 minutes

Synopsis
PIERREPOINT tells the true story of Albert Pierrepoint--Britain's most prolific executioner--and the struggles that he faces to lead a normal life. The film explores the mental state of a man who has decided to kill people for a living. Features a superb performance by Timothy Spall as Albert Pierrepoint.

Customer Reviews

Touching, mesmerising and poignant
Despite the darkness of the subject matter, 'Pierrepoint' is a wonderful,utterly absorbing film. Timothy Spall is mesmerising as the famous executioner - he conveys the dignity and compassion of the man - and the reviewer who commented that he should have been given a raft of awards is quite right. The remainder of the cast are stellar - Juliet Stevenson brings a quiet depth to the role of Pierrepoint's wife which is a delight. And the little sub-plot with the friend, 'Tosh' (which I believe is a true story), is truly moving.
The film makes no judgments - it simply portrays Pierrepoint's life and the inner struggle he sometimes had in coming to terms with his curious calling: a calling he inherited from his father and uncle. Pierrepoint himself did not make judgments either, saying the law had already done that.
This will not be a film to everyone's taste, but for me it was a wonderful hour and a half.

A Visually Moving Experience.
I wasnt quite sure what to expect from this film when I began to view it. Having read both Pierrepoint's and his assistant Syd Dearnley's autobiographies some years ago (Syd is known as George in this film), I thought it might be sensationlised for the sake of the viewer. However, this is not the case. What we have here is a very moving human drama about a simple storeman who eventually became a publican who was acknowledged as the best hangman of his time. Pierrepoint developed an efficiency much admired by his peers in despatching the condemned to a swift and humane death. However, as time went on, and the controversys around Capital Punishment began to grow, particularly after the Derek Bentley case (which isnt mentioned in the film, although the controversy over Timothy Evans is) during the early 1950s, the stress on Pierrepoint began to gnaw at his conscience. The scene depicting the execution of Ruth Ellis is one of the most profoundly moving scenes ever seen on the screen, filmed in slow motion, it was probably this act which may have led to Pierrepoint finally relinquishing the hangmans role.

It is not an entertaining film, it isnt meant to be. But it is wonderfully filmed and acted. The director Adrian Shergold has achieved a remarkable success in bringing this difficult human story to the screen. Both Timothy Spall and Juliet Stevenson portray their respectives roles with so much professionalism and dignity. Both deserve to be nominated.

Needs to be seen by a wider audience since it got a limited release on the cinema circuit. Good sound, although much of the picture is dark enhancing the era of the 1940s and the 1950s.

Thought Provoking
This is a very moving and thought provoking film. I did keep asking myself how these people were able to do this job, throughout the film. Timothy Spall plays the part of Pierrepoint so well. In many ways this was such an unhuman way to treat people yet Pierrepoint shows a respect for the prisoners he has come to execute, which makes you warm to him, even though he carries out such a grim task.

A very well made film which I think makes you want to ask more questions about the man and his profession after seeing it. This is a very emotional film, but well worth seeing.