About a year ago I saw a British film about a man who was a professional hangman. It was set about the 40s - 60s, well done (if a touch dour) but I can't recall who was in it or what it was called. I seem to recall he was alright with the job until he found out he'd hanged an innocent man.
Sorry, I have nothing more to give - it's a blur.
Could it be Daybreak (1948) with Eric Portman? He played a barber who was also the public hangman. After inheriting some money and adopting a new life he married Ann Todd, but she had an affair with Maxwell Reed and during a fight Portman was believed killed. Max was convicted of the murder and Portman, now returned to his old life, was all set to hang Max for his own murder. However .....
Max and Ann Todd get down to the nitty gritty in Daybreak.
I don't think so. It was a recently made film. Probably should have mentioned that!
That sounds like a great film, though - I'll have to look that one up. Love Eric Portman!
Is it Pierrepoint? Timothy Spall took the title role in this movie, originally made for TV but given a cinema release.
Pierrepoint.(The Last Hangman in US)
Was it not ` AlbertPierrpoint (the last hangman)` with Timothy Spall Kitty? Not an innocent man but he did have to hang someone he knew from his pub days which I think disturbed him. If it`s not that, sounds like you would enjoy the Spall drama anyway if you haven`t seen it yet.
http://www.youtube.c...feature=related
xx
If it's a new one then it probably is Pierrepoint/Last Hangman.
Opps, I think we all posted Pierrpoint at the same time lol.
xx
Was it 'pierrepoint'? (ha ha)
name='faginsgirl' date='10 July 2010 - 12:21 PM' timestamp='1278764510' post='449833']
Opps, I think we all posted Pierrpoint at the same time lol.
xx
Well, if nothing else you're on the same track!
Thanks all, it seems Pierrpoint is the right film. I think he hanged John Christie's lodger and then Christie? I can't recall if it was because of the execution of the lodger (whose name also escapes me - I'm doing well tonight, aren't I?) or someone he knew, he started backing away from the profession. I suppose I'll have to watch it again to find out.
Thanks everyone!
I believe Mr.Pierrepoint handed in his cards over money. The anti-hanging crowd like to say it was over executing the wrong person or having to hang the Murderer Ruth Ellis. He wanted out of pocket expenses for a late reprieve and was refused so he hung up his rope as they say.
name='Toscana' date='10 July 2010 - 12:49 PM' timestamp='1278766160' post='449846']
I believe Mr.Pierrepoint handed in his cards over money. The anti-hanging crowd like to say it was over executing the wrong person or having to hang the Murderer Ruth Ellis. He wanted out of pocket expenses for a late reprieve and was refused so he hung up his rope as they say.
Well, that takes all the wind out of the sails of the story a bit. When it looked like he was a man who'd had an epiphany, that was one thing, but if he was a chap who just wanted a meal allowance, that's quite another!
name='Toscana' date='10 July 2010 - 01:49 PM' timestamp='1278766160' post='449846']
I believe Mr.Pierrepoint handed in his cards over money. The anti-hanging crowd like to say it was over executing the wrong person or having to hang the Murderer Ruth Ellis. He wanted out of pocket expenses for a late reprieve and was refused so he hung up his rope as they say.
I`m not so sure. The sister of Ruth Ellis was interviewed saying that hanging Ruth did change him and they even went to visit her grave together.
The lodger was Timothy Evans Kitty.
xx
Interesting point, I have never heard that before. They moved her body and others from the confines of Holloway prison in the early-mid 70's. Which means it could have been 20 years after her execution before they visited her new grave together.
From what I have read about Pierrepoint he had a very straight forward view of what he did. It was a profession that had to be done to the very best of his ability and after the act the bodies were treated with respect, whoever they were and whatever they had done as they had paid their price. Much later in his life he may like most of us changed his mind about things. But I cant see him resigning over Ellis alone after all there is no doubt that she was guilty of murder, in fact it is only by chance that she did not kill Gladys Yule at the same time.
name='faginsgirl' date='10 July 2010 - 01:13 PM' timestamp='1278767626' post='449857']
I`m not so sure. The sister of Ruth Ellis was interviewed saying that hanging Ruth did change him and they even went to visit her grave together.
The lodger was Timothy Evans Kitty.
xx
Thanks faginsgirl!I had it on the tip of my brain but just kept coming up with John Hurt.
In his autobiography Pierrpoint said that the story that he resigned "because of the shock sustained through the recent execution of a woman Ruth Ellis" is "absolutely false". He wrote that the Home Office asked him not to fully reveal the reasonm but Pierrepoint does say "capital punisherment, in my view, achieved nothing except revenge".
name='Wee Sonny MacGregor' date='10 July 2010 - 04:59 PM' timestamp='1278781146' post='449919']
In his autobiography Pierrpoint said that the story that he resigned "because of the shock sustained through the recent execution of a woman Ruth Ellis" is "absolutely false". He wrote that the Home Office asked him not to fully reveal the reasonm but Pierrepoint does say "capital punisherment, in my view, achieved nothing except revenge".
Why did he find Ruth Ellis's execution more disturbing than any of the others?
Eh? He didn't, according to the quote in Wee Sonny MacGregor's post.name='Kitty Whiskers' date='11 July 2010 - 01:03 AM' timestamp='1278806581' post='450061']
Why did he find Ruth Ellis's execution more disturbing than any of the others?
name='Timmy_Lea' date='11 July 2010 - 12:29 AM' timestamp='1278808143' post='450069']
Eh? He didn't, according to the quote in Wee Sonny MacGregor's post.
Oh sorry - I mean why do some people perceive that Pierrpoint found Ruth Ellis's execution disturbing? Surely he'd executed women before, and if he approached it so clinically, would it be any different to all the others? I guess I'm just interested how he came to the conclusion it was 'revenge not justice'.
(I should add here I'm not a death penalty advocate, I just find his change of heart a little intriguing).
Not sure, guess there weren't as many women hanged & the Ruth Ellis case was a notorious one at the time.name='Kitty Whiskers' date='11 July 2010 - 01:37 AM' timestamp='1278808662' post='450074']
Oh sorry - I mean why do some people perceive that Pierrpoint found Ruth Ellis's execution disturbing? Surely he'd executed women before, and if he approached it so clinically, would it be any different to all the others? I guess I'm just interested how he came to the conclusion it was 'revenge not justice'.
(I should add here I'm not a death penalty advocate, I just find his change of heart a little intriguing).
Plus I agree with him, capital punishment is simply revenge & has nothing to do with justice.
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