Pierrepoint [2005]

Customer Reviews:

Seperated at birth.......2008-02-28

This was an excellent film. I would have given it 5 stars if it wasn't for the fact that Timothy Spall kept reminding me of the Vogons from Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.

Loved it !.......2008-02-02

Like many people who have written reviews here, I too have read Pierrepoint's autobiography and I often quote his reasons for opposing capital punishment when asked for my own.

This was a great film and Timothy Spall looks like the man and sounded just as I imagined he would.

I'm not sure that I got a sense from the autobiography that Pierrepoint was SO driven to beat records (although he DID see it as his sacred duty to execute the condemned as quickly as possible), or that he would brag about being the Number 1.

The man's sense of the privacy of his work is well depicted, but he would never have allowed anyone to cheer him in the pub - and the regulars would have made sure that it didn't happen.

I'm also not sure that the "Tish and Tosh" episode had such a great influence on his decision to resign as seemed to be suggested by the film.

It would also have been interesting, as many here have said, to see more of the relationship between "Uncle Tom and Our Albert".

Nevertheless, a fine film that gives a great sense of time and place, and like Pierrepoint's autobiography stays clear of gore and sensationalism.

(Almost) full marks and let's Timothy Spall in more meaty roles like this!

Moving.......2007-12-16

I bought the film after reading, and thoroughly enjoying, Pierrepoint's autobiography. The film is a reasonably faithful dramatisation of the key sections of the book. Timothy Spall is excellent, as you'd expect, and the period is very well captured. The film suffers for being quite short (one and a half hours) and can therefore only tell a part of the story. For instance, there is very little about Pierrepoint's introduction to the trade through his father and uncle, which would explain why he was drawn to the role. The film is also guilty of creating a great deal more drama than is present in the book, but I can accept this is necessary in order to produce a film that will satisfy audiences.

I wouldn't wish to be too negative as it's a good film that I would recommend to anyone interested in this period of history. Had it been an hour longer and covered the whole of the man's life, then I would have given it five stars. I would recommend that you buy the book with the film.

Stoic and dignified in dealing with criminal murderers.......2007-10-26

Having read two books and watched the DVD on the hangman Pierrepoint.I could understand the fibre of the man,and how he was always serious calm and collected in dealing with any prisoners execution,what ever crimes they had committed.The DVD had inaccuracys in dealing with the Belsen camp guards executions.It was not a commisioned officer who was Pierrepoint's assistant,it was RSM O'Neil a warrent officer.A very able man because he spoke fluient German and was similar in manner to Pierrepoint. Irma Grese a women guard was heard screeming abuse at Pierrepoint,when in fact the only word she used was, ''schnell'' hurry up. Pierrepoint acted quickly, capped her then the noose and fly to the trap door lever,to cause instantanious death in the specified drop.The adulation Pierrepoint received on returning to his pub,after an execution would under no circumstances be tollerated.Pierrepoint is portrayed as a disturbed man,which was never the case,and his wife is shown to have access to his written records which was never true,she never at any time mentioned her husbands work as Hangman.The real Pierrepoint was a jovial man who was very cmplementary to women in particular. It is true that he did say at the end of his career as hangman.That hanging was revenge by the state,and he tendered his sesignation as the state executioner.He died at 82 years odf age and his wife lived to be 93.

A good adaptation of the Autobiography of Pierrepoint........2007-08-23

Timothy Spall portrays Albert Pierrepoint very well indeed.

I would recommend that anyone wishing to see this film reads Albert Pierrepoint's autobiography beforehand, as it explains a lot of what is going on in the film in detail. Without this prior knowledge, some parts of the film don't make that much sense, unless you know your history of course (Such as the story of John Christie).

The story starts with Pierrepoint undertaking his training, which I feel is brushed over too quickly. He then moves onto being the number one hangman within a few minutes, and before you know it he is executing the Belsen guards. Again, it just feels too quick. But then again with a film as gripping as this, time does fly by.

For me the best thing that this film delivers is realism. Usually with film adaptations, there is an increase in violence or gore, but not so here.

I would have liked to have seen the relationship between Albert and his father, Henry (who was the first Pierrepoint to become a hangman). Also it would have been nice to see more of the relationship between Albert and his Uncle Tom, who took him under his wing in the early years when Albert was an assistant executioner.

On the whole this was a good film, which did well to fit the professional life of the revered Albert Pirrepoint into an hour and a half.

Anyone interested in Capital Punishment will find this film very interesting, and everyone else will find it very moving, regardless of your death penalty views.

Customer Reviews:

Hey.......2004-02-03

I really liked this DVD, and have alredy been practising with it several times! The Goddess workout gives a big introduction to almost everythin thats needed.

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