ALLAN HUNTER at the Movies

BETWEEN 1934 and 1956, Albert Pierrepoint was responsible for the deaths of more than 600 individuals. Some might consider him one of Britain’s most notorious serial killers, but in fact death was his profession.

He was a hangman who took great pride in his work. ‘Pierrepoint’ tries to convey the character of the man and the struggle with his conscience that came to dominate his later years.

Starting at Pentonville Prison in 1932, Pierrepoint offers a glimpse into two decades of British social history, and has a grey, sombre, documentary-like feel. It also has an exceptional performance from Timothy Spall, who is able to convey both the ordinary and extraordinary elements of Pierrepoint’s nature.

On one level, he is a modest, self-effacing man, shyly courting and marrying his ambitious wife, Anne (Juliet Stevenson). Initially, even she is unaware of his secret double life as a hangman.

In this arena, he is hugely respected for his diligence, attention to detail and determination to ensure that every hanging is as swift and efficient as possible.

In 1946, Pierrepoint is dispatched to Nuremberg to officiate at the mass hangings of Nazi war criminals. The sheer volume of executions and the loss of his anonymity become defining moments that push him towards a painful contemplation of his profession.

The tragic fate of his friend Tish (Eddie Marsan) and the growing swell of public opinion against capital punishment further erode the certainty that has sustained him through twenty years.

Understated, well-acted and thoroughly absorbing, Pierrepoint is almost like a companion piece to ‘Vera Drake’ in the way it evokes British history of the last century, and leaves an audience with plenty of food for thought.

Selected nationwide release
Director: Adrian Shergold
Stars: Timothy Spall, Juliet Stevenson, Cavan Clerkin, Eddie Marsan, Christopher Fulford
Screenplay: Jeff Pope and Bob Mills
Certificate: 15
Running time: 90 mins
Country: UK
Year: 2005

© Allan Hunter, 2006