Pierrepoint (DVD)

Albert Pierrepoint is pleased to get the job as a hangman, and takes great pride in his work, going to the trouble of estimating the height and weight of the victim to ensure that they die as quickly and humanely as possible. His talent for quick executions wins him the approval of those as senior as Field Marshall Montgomery, who offers his services as hangman for many German war criminals. In private, Pierrepoint is a fun-loving man who enjoys ...
...showing that although the job Pierrepoint carried out was horrific, he did care for his victims, ensuring that the young and fragile had the quickest death. His relationship with his wife is touchingly portrayed, particularly when he is forced to face up to the feelings of the public. But the part that moved me the most was when he had to carry out the execution of someone he knew - I think this really brought home to him that he was doing a job ... more

Albert Pierrepoint is pleased to get the job as a hangman, and takes great pride in his work, going to the trouble of estimating the height and weight of the victim to ensure that they die as quickly and humanely as possible. His talent for quick executions wins him the approval of those as senior as Field Marshall Montgomery, who offers his services as hangman for many German war criminals. In private, Pierrepoint is a fun-loving man who enjoys a drink and a singing session down his local pub. As time goes by, however, the stresses of the job begin to tell on him, particularly when he has to execute one of his friends. And when the death penalty lobbyists come to the fore, he is accused of being a murderer. Will he continue to take pride in his job? Or is it time to give in to the demands of the public?

I have had great admiration for Timothy Spall as an actor since the early days of Auf Wiedersehen Pet. As Albert Pierrepoint, he does not disappoint. He easily portrays the two sides of the man, showing that although the job Pierrepoint carried out was horrific, he did care for his victims, ensuring that the young and fragile had the quickest death. His relationship with his wife is touchingly portrayed, particularly when he is forced to face up to the feelings of the public. But the part that moved me the most was when he had to carry out the execution of someone he knew - I think this really brought home to him that he was doing a job that couldn't be reversed, and Spall managed to portray all this with the minimum of speech and actions, something that a lesser actor just couldn't have done. He really has a great screen presence in what is more or less a one-man film and I just don't think that many other actors could have done justice to the role.

His wife, Annie, is played by Juliet Stevenson, another quality actor, and although she only has a few brief appearances, what we do see is excellent. For many years, Albert kept his profession a secret from Annie, but she read his log books and had already worked out the truth before he finally told her. And I think she preferred it this way, happy to take the money, but not wanting to hear the details. But when her husband is accused of having blood on his hands, she finds it hard to take the public attitude, but still doesn't want to discuss the subject with Albert. Like Timothy Spall, it doesn't take a great deal for Stevenson to show this - it is written all over her face. And I really felt for her as an innocent bystander who just happened to have married a man branded a murderer, whilst loving and wanting to support him at the same time.

This is a film about a hangman and there are obviously some rather unpleasant parts. However, they are generally very tastefully done. Most of the hangings show the victim's head being covered, the noose put round their neck and the gate beneath their feet being opened, but that is all. There is one execution of a woman, after which Pierrepoint cleans down her naked body while she is still hanging from the noose - this is the most unpleasant part, but I must admit I found it more interesting than disgusting, particularly because it shows Pierrepoint's respect for the dead, criminal or not. There is a rating of 15 on the film, so parents will want to check it out before allowing children to watch it.

Despite the lack of graphic detail, the film is really quite chilling, particularly when we are given the chance to see the victim being taken from their cell to the place of execution, hearing them plead for their lives. Probably the most moving was Timothy Evans who was trying to make the authorities aware that he was innocent right up to the last minute - of course, he was innocent, but was to die before it was proved. Pierrepoint coped with this by being as professional as he could and carrying out the execution as quickly and cleanly as possible, but it would be a hard-hearted person not to have some kind of reaction to it.

While watching the film, it is impossible to avoid thinking about the subject of capital punishment and whether the death penalty should be brought back. And if so, should those who carry out the executions be held responsible for their victims? I am personally against the death penalty and hope that it is never brought back (although there are times when I would gladly be the executioner myself), but it is fascinating to think about how those doing the executing would cope with their jobs, particularly in a society that is so split in its opinions. It is so easy to close your mind to it, but if executions were carried out as they still are in other countries, it would have to be someone's job to carry it out.

It is the theme of capital punishment that unfortunately made this film less successful in the box office than it deserves to be - many thought that it was too strongly anti-capital punishment, to the detriment of the facts. It should be noted that this film, made in 2005, is known as The Last Hangman outside the UK, where it is simply called Pierrepoint. This is actually a misleading title, because Pierrepoint resigned in the fifties before the death penalty was relinquished in the early sixties. However, he was undoubtedly the most prolific and best-known hangman of the twentieth century in the UK.

If I have to criticise the film at all, it is that it does get a little dull and repetitive at times, particularly when Pierrepoint is carrying out his duties - when there is a human element highlighted, it is much more interesting, but simply seeing the boring practicalities does get a bit much. Thankfully, director Julian Shergold keeps the film short - it is only 90 minutes - so it doesn't get too out of hand. Shergold also deserves to be commended for the attention to detail in the period features - the story takes place throughout the Second World War up until the fifties.

I found this film generally compelling and very well-made, proving that the UK film industry is still very much alive and kicking. Timothy Spall in particular should be commended for his performance. I was lucky enough to see it for free on television, but it is a film worth the purchase if you haven't already seen it - whatever your stance on capital punishment. I like films that make me think. Recommended.

The DVD is available from play.com for £4.99.

Classification: 15

Running time: 90 minutes 

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