Customer Reviews
A good film rendition of Pierrepoint's autobiography - By: Gassucker, 20 Jun 2008 
Whatever the pros & cons of capital punishment & how the vistims of it were "chosen" to participate this film does not set out to pass judgement. Indeed reading between the lines of his autobiography it was precicely this point which gave Pierrpoint moments of doubt, this is only touched upon in the film. What it does show very well without sensationalising it was the sheer dedication & precision he employed in doing his task. He was compassionate to those he had to dispatch even if they were among the most ruthless & merciless killers in existance (see the scene of execution of Nazi war criminals). You will wonder why places like America seem to make such a hash of things taking for ever to get it done when Pierrpoint could painlessly execute someone in less than 30 seconds from entering the cell door. Brilliantly acted by Timothy Spalll & the supporting cast. It deserved a far better distribution than it got.
Great Acting - By: Eye Can, 06 Apr 2008 
Moving sensitive acting evocative of time & place.
A Totallly engrossing & interesting portrayal of characters & subject.
All positive reviews of film supported. Could watch again.
Extraordinary Performance by Timothy Spall - By: K. Holland, 19 Mar 2008 Extraordinary Performance by Timothy Spalll as Albert Pierrepoint Britain's hangman a man who by the end of his "career" had notched up 608 executions. Timothy Spalll portrays the man & his demons as he seeks to become the number 1 in his profession. Juliet Stevenson also puts in a stalwart performance as his wife who also bears the burden of his work.
Seperated at birth - By: ade, 28 Feb 2008 This was an excellent film. I would have given it 5 stars if it wasn't for the fact that Timothy Spalll kept reminding me of the Vogons from Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.
Loved it ! - By: Andy Randle, 02 Feb 2008 Like many people who have written reviews here, I too have read Pierrepoint's autobiography & I often quote his reasons for opposing capital punishment when asked for my own.
This was a great film & Timothy Spalll looks like the man & 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 alllowed anyone to cheer him in the pub - & the regulars would have made sure that it didn't happen.
I'm also not sure that the "Tish & 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 & Our Albert".
Nevertheless, a fine film that gives a great sense of time & place, & like Pierrepoint's autobiography stays clear of gore & sensationalism.
(Almost) full marks & let's Timothy Spalll in more meaty roles like this!
