Film Break: Timothy Spall as Albert Pierrepoint

Released in 2006, the film Pierrepoint brings us the story of one of England's most prolific executioners, Albert Pierrepoint. Played compellingly by Timothy Spall, Pierrepoint assumed the mantle of family tradition, following in the footsteps of his father and uncle when he received training for and was placed on the list of executioners in 1933.

As the film opens, Pierrepoint and others are being instructed in the process of delivering a condemned prisoner to the hangman's noose, which we learn is a matter of precision and timing as well as physical condition, weight and height. It is this attention to detail and precision which later distinguishes the otherwise unassuming Pierrepoint,eventually bringing him to the attention of British military officials. One of these selects Pierrepoint to come to Germany to execute Nazi war criminals from the concentration camp in Belsen. But for the publication of this fact, Pierrpoint may have continued working anonymously.

While it might be easy to dismiss any hangman as brutish or callous, Spall's portrayal of Pierrepoint reveals a happily married man with neighbors and friends who sees his hangman's duties as service to England's home office. Furthermore, the specificity with which he renders his services leaves no room for the condemned to suffer, something Pierrepoint views as compassionate.

With his identity and reputation as a hangman exposed, Pierrepoint is initially widely cheered for executing nazis. However, as the hangman for English felons, he also faces contempt and the rising tide against the death penalty beginning in England.

The grocery delivery man turned publican also experiences a shock when one of his pub regulars, convicted of the murder of a former girlfriend, is to be hanged, and Pierrepoint learns he is the man's executioner.

Albert Pierrepoint resigned his post in 1955, later writing a book about his experiences as a hangman. Two footnotes appear as the film. One notes that Pierrepoint took part in 608 executions. The other is a quote in which Pierrepoint observes that the death penalty, rather than deterring crime, only satisfies a need for revenge.

The last hanging in England occured in 1964, and the death penalty for murder abolished there in 1969, although it remained in effect for certain other crimes until 1998.

As a viewer, I was left wondering why anyone would choose to become a hangman. The motive certainly wasn't money since hangman were paid little and sometimes nothing at all.

Tim Spall's performance makes this a must-see, one's views on capital punishment not withstanding. Other equally notable cast members include Juliet Stevenson as Anne Pierrepoint and Eddie Marsan as James "Tish" Corbett.

An interesting aside is that this film was titled The Last Hangman and in fact, Albert Pierrepoint was not the last at all, simply the most well known.

Until Next Time...