THE EXECUTIONERS is the tale of the hangmen, everyday folk, with a trade who also acted as the country's part-time killers. This gruesome but fascinating documentary explores... more
The Executioners
They Were Cobblers, Salesmen, Barbers and Landlords. Working Men. But They Were Anything ... more
But Ordinary. They Were The State's Part-time Killers;PART 1: THE HANGMANFrom 1968 to 1964, their work was shrouded in mystery, conducted, as the state euphemistically put it, in 'private'. And behind prison walls these common working-men refined the process of judicial executions from an agonising, brutal death to one of the swiftest and most certain anywhere in the world. What did they do? Why did they do it? And what did it do to them? This is the story of The Private Executioners, a unique history of British capital punishment, seen through the eyes of those who dispensed it.PART 2: DYNASTIES OF DEATHA typical 19th century wedding photograph. The guests well-groomed. Eminently respectable. There is nothing to distinguish it from countless others. But it tells the very darkest story of French history.The groom, Henri Desfourneauz, is a killer, To his left, Anatole Deibler have killed more than a thousand men. But they were not criminals. Nor soldiers. They killed for money. But were not volunteers. They had no choice. They were the bourreau - the executioners. And they live their lives apart from ordinary men - in the shadow of the Guillotine.PART 3: STATES OF DEATH:In Britain it was the rope. In France the guillotine. But in its short history the United States of America has experimented with a bewildering array of execution methods. And continues to do so.This programme examines the history of the five principal methods: Hanging, Firing Squad, Electric Chair, Gas CHamber and Lethal Injection. And the reasons behind their development have often been as shocking as the results, from corporate wars to so-called 'religious' sensibilities.But perhaps the most overlooked aspect of American execution protocols has been the role of the executioner. Whereas British and French executioners were invariably well-known and truly responsible for the execution, even to the extent of supporting the condemned in their final moments, American executioners (with few notable exceptions) have been altogether more shadowy figures.
Plot: The tale of the hangmen, everyday folk, with a trade who also acted as the country's part-time killers.
Release details
DVD Region: DVD
Studio(s): Alba Home Vision; Pinnacle Vision
Release date: 15/11/2004
No of Discs: 1
Catalogue No: ALB 0001
Barcode: 5060096420026
DVD Description
THE EXECUTIONERS is the tale of the hangmen, everyday folk, with a trade who also acted as the country's part-time killers. This gruesome but fascinating documentary explores Britain's history of capital punishment, as well as investigating other methods of execution in France and America.
Advantages: Brilliantly funny, great action scenes Disadvantages: None
...(Please note - I will not be reviewing Special Features as have not yet had the chance to watch these)
I originally went to see Hot Fuzz at the cinema with The Boyfriend ? purely because the ?chick flick? I had wanted to see was sold out and The Boyfriend was practically wetting himself with excitement at the thought of seeing this film so I gave in ? and I loved it! I know I?ve thoroughly enjoyed a film when I?ve come out of the cinema and spent ages talking about it with whoever I?ve gone to see it with and saying ?the so and so bit was great wasn?t it? and ?what about when he said?.? Which is exactly what happened with Hot Fuzz. The Boyfriend and I were talking about it for hours in fact and we both eagerly awaited the release on DVD (which we finally bought yesterday after 2 hours and 3 different supermarket trips to find it...
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Advantages: Good Heel and technically faultless Disadvantages: Getting older and needs some sprucing up!
...Chris Benoit – a man who previously in his career has been known as the Executioner – has fantastic ability, of that there is no doubt. At the moment, he really also is one of the chosen heels in the WWF, enjoying a lucrative run with the Big Show Paul Wight, and Shane McMahon. He is a fantastic veteran wrestler with an amazing repertoire of technical submission holds and pinning combinations, and is another on who can have a good crack at a title reign for some time perhaps. His current run with Big Show needs to end soon though so he can be great on his own....
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Advantages: Quite good extras Disadvantages: All in one long episode
...Fimbles ? Smelly Jelly
I have to admit that Fimbles are not one of my favourite children?s programmes though my daughter loves it so we decided to go and get her a DVD so when we wanted to watch something on the television, she could watch it happily on the laptop ? which she enjoys doing as its mummy?s laptop and she isn?t meant to touch it!
The Fimbles are Fimbo, Florrie and Baby Pom, who all live in a lovely, colourful place called Fimble Valley. The Fimbles are cuddly hippo like creatures each with lovely colourful ?skins?. Other characters in this programme include a blue tree frog called Rockit and a mole called Roly Mo, a pink bird called Bessie and her chick Ribble. Most of the other characters are essentially large puppets except the chick who is just a great ball of fluff with eyes stuck on it, unmoving in the main...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
helpful 07.09.2009
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