The Last Hangman (2005)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Adrian Shergold

Writers:

Bob Mills (writer)
Jeff Pope (writer)

Release Date:

7 April 2006 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Respected citizen. Loving husband. Professional killer.

Plot:

The life and times of Albert Pierrepoint - Britain's most prolific hangman

Plot Keywords:

Hangman | Nazi | Celebrity | Hood | Hanging

Awards:

2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Simon Armstrong	...	Minister
Ann Bell	...	Violet Van Der Elst
Nicholas Blane	...	Governor of Strangeways
Clive Brunt	...	Warder at Strangeways
Cavan Clerkin	...	George Cooper
James Corden	...	Kirky
Marie Critchley	...	Woman in Pub
Neil Fitzmaurice	...	Cliff the Scouser
Keiran Flynn	...	Neville
Clive Francis	...	Field Marshall Montgomery
Christopher Fulford	...	Sykes
Frances Shergold	...	Alice
Elizabeth Hopley	...	Dorothea Waddingham
Peter Jonfield	...	Mr. Andrews
Bernard Kay	...	Uncle Tom

Also Known As:

Pierrepoint (UK) (new title) (USA)
Pierrepoint: The Last Hangman (Australia) (DVD title)

MPAA:

Rated R for disturbing images, nudity and brief sexuality.

Runtime:

UK:90 min | Argentina:90 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:15 | USA:R | Singapore:M18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Ealing Studios, Ealing, London, England, UK

Company:

Granada Television

Trivia:

Despite the title Pierrepoint was not Britain's last hangman. He retired in the mid 1950s, shortly after executing Ruth Ellis - (see Dance with a Stranger (1985)). Britain never had a "last hangman", as the last two executions before suspension of capital punishment were carried out in different cities at the same time. As the last two people executed were both guilty of the murder of John West, it was decided to carry out sentence at the same time in Aug 1964. In Nov 1965 People were still being sentenced to death.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: There was a close-up shot of Pierrepoint's hand at one point showing quite clearly a plain gold wedding band. It was customary in Britain at this time for men to wear no ring signifying that they were married. If they chose to wear a ring, it was usually a signet ring. Plain wedding bands came in much later from the 60s onwards.

Quotes:

Albert Pierrepoint: It's not been easy. I've got things in here too
[points at head]
Albert Pierrepoint: that I'd rather they weren't there. Oh, aye. I can keep them at bay, yeah. But they're waiting for me. Waiting for me to let my guard down. Waiting all the bloody time they are.

Soundtrack:

Makin' Whoopee

interesting character study

This film details the life and career of Albert Pierrepoint, the Lancashire hangman and owner of the pub 'Help the Poor Struggler' from the 1930s through to the 1960s. His profession is in the blood - following in his father's footsteps - but until the war he stayed anonymous, not even discussing matters with his wife.

Timothy Spall does well in the lead, although the historical accuracy is questionable in places. As a character study it works well, but ultimately it is a fairly depressing watch. The quotation at the end makes clear that Pierrepoint did become disillusioned with his quick and dispassionate job, moving from pride in the speed of his work to the feeling that something is inherently wrong with one person causing another's life to end with deliberate calculation.

Pierrepoint is a film which raises a lot of questions, but ultimately treats them in a superficial way. Historical cases well documented such as Evans and Ellis pass by without much note, which depersonalises them and makes their inclusion something of a lost opportunity.