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United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), English ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu, SYNOPSIS: Albert Pierrepont delivered groceries - and was a hangman. Following his father's footsteps he quickly became known for his efficiency and compassion, rising to become 'the best in the land'. From the early 1933 until the end of his career in 1955 he executed some 608 people including 47 of the Nuremburg Nazis for which he earned the gratitude of a nation. But by the time he hanged Ruth Ellis, the last women to be executed in Britain, public sentiments had changed....and so had Pierrepont. ...The Last Hangman ( Pierrepoint )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
68 of 69 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
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.
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.
56 of 57 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
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.
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.
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
What a great find this film was. I haven't read the book so can't comment on whether it is a faithful adaptation. Taken by itself, the film was totally engrossing. I am a lifelong opponent of capital punishment but thankfully the film didn't preach (except a nice reminder at the very end from Pierrepoint himself that it achieves nothing) but instead showed a man going about his work with dignity and compassion. His treatment of the condemned was very moving as was his insistence that once they'd paid the ultimate price they were innocent again and deserved to be treated as such. My one criticism is that the portrayal of Mrs Pierrepoint felt rather one dimensional - a sad waste of Juliet Stevenson's considerable acting ability. However, the portrayal of Pierrepoint himself by the wonderful Timothy Spall more than compensated for that.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
could of been 5 stars
For those interested in the subject material, absolutely captovating film. Certainly gave the audience plenty to think about, be they pro or anti capital punishment. Read more
Published 12 days ago by Red Rose
Pierrepoint DVD
This is a very true to life dvd of the work that peirrepoint did,the people he worked with even the people he hanged over the years he was a hangman and shows how after war he was... Read more
Published 23 days ago by K. Tilson
excellent film
Did not want to watch this film it looked dull. Even though the subject matter was an unpleasent one it was a moving and enjoyable film.
Published 1 month ago by Mr. Steve Parsons
One who remembers
As one who remembers the last few hangings this DVD seems to be a reasonably accurate portrayal of these events. Read more
Published 2 months ago by James Wells
Wrong Region
Unfortunately, I live in Australia and the DVD I purchased was for region 1 instead of 4.
Wasted my money. Admittedly I have not contacted anyone so I have to "suck"it up
Wasted my money. Admittedly I have not contacted anyone so I have to "suck"it up
Published 3 months ago by Pesky
British Cinema at it's Best
One of the most incredible British films I've ever seen. Brilliant script, beautiful acting. A moving tale about the compassion of Pierrepoint and the horrors of his job.
Published 4 months ago by D00dlebug
A Fine Historical Portrait
I saw this film in two sittings. It works with the gruesome subject matter as well as it can. From what I've read it's quite faithful to the biography of the man, though it doesn't... Read more
Published 4 months ago by William Cohen
purchase for a third party
Bought this item for a third party.They said they enjoyed it.I can't make any real meaningful comment upon it myself,other than I have heard from others that it is quite good.
Published 5 months ago by D. Hampton
English film at its best
did not know much about Pierrepoint but love English films I was not dissapointed highly reccommend this film as Timothy Spall is a great actor and portrays a man with a job the... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Vale
pierepoint
A great DVD, delivered within one working day, at a good price.
Thank you for a rapid delivery and a good dvd
Thank you for a rapid delivery and a good dvd
Published 7 months ago by kav
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