This film takes us back to the days of capital punishment. Days some people believe the United Kingdom should return to. Who would be willing to do this job now. Even Pierrepoint himself said that hanging never achieved anything. Also Pierrepoint himself is portrayed as such a wonderfully caring person, carefully cleaning and preparing the body for postmortem and burial. This was part of the job, and just that,the job he was paid to do. As was shown in the film, the job was kept quiet. Maybe more to do with the official secrets act then a personal privacy issue. People say the man carried out his duties with compassion and sensitivity. A shame he never showed these emotions to the relatives of those executed, as the request to Ruth Ellis' sister for him to be allowed to be photographed by Ruths grave shows neither. Obviously a little artistic licence is required, but let us be thankful that this time is left firmly in he past where it belongs.
Review of Pierrepoint: The Last Hangman
