The Executioner's Song (1982) (TV)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Lawrence Schiller

Writers:

Norman Mailer (book)
Norman Mailer (screenplay)

Release Date:

28 November 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Crime | Drama

Plot:

The story of Gary Gilmore, a convicted murderer who lobbied for his own execution.

Plot Keywords:

Execution | Pulitzer Prize Source | Murder | Capital Punishment | Suicide

Awards:

Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 3 nominations

Cast

Tommy Lee Jones	...	Gary Mark Gilmore
Christine Lahti	...	Brenda Nicol
Rosanna Arquette	...	Nicole Baker
Eli Wallach	...	Uncle Vern Damico
Steven Keats	...	Larry Samuels
Jordan Clarke	...	Johnny Nicol
Richard Venture	...	Earl Dorius
Jenny Wright	...	April Baker
Walter Olkewicz	...	Pete Galovan
Michael LeClair	...	Rikki Wood
Pat Corley	...	Val Conlan
Mary Ethel Gregory	...	Ida Damico
John Dennis Johnston	...	Jimmy Poker-Game
Norris Mailer	...	Lu-Ann (as Norris Church)
Kenneth O'Brien	...	Spencer McGrath

Runtime:

Sweden:136 min | USA:157 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | South Korea:18 | Australia:M | Sweden:15 | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Orem, Utah, USA

Company:

Film Communications Inc.

Trivia:

The character of Larry Samuels, played by Steven Keats, was based on the film's producer / director, Lawrence Schiller.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Right after the execution, when the crew is checking the body to make sure he is dead you see Tommy lee's hand move his fingers tap his leg.

Movie Connections:

Version of Shot in the Heart (2001) (TV)

If you are intrigued by this story...

you may also be interested in the Mikhal Gilmore biography about his brother, Gary, and how they grew up in Oregon, being brutally abused by their father. Apparently, Gary Gilmore spent more time in juvenile detention homes than could be counted, and these institutions promoted the violent and hostile behavior which came to be seen by Gilmore as normal, even acceptable.

This film is primarily a documentary; look for Eli Wallach as Gilmore's Uncle Vern, trying to help his nephew function in the world. In Salt Lake City, Utah, where most of the film takes place, there is a cold unforgiving environment, similar to the environment Gilmore grew up in. As he grew up during the depression, options were scarce. Hostility, anger and frustration led to physical abuse, acting out, and eventually, murder. Rosanna Arquette is believable as the long-suffering girlfriend of Gilmore, who refuses to face reality.

This is an excellent film, due for a remake; perhaps Mikhal Gilmore could translate his book version into film. In real life, Gilmore's mother was devastated and traumatized, living in a trailer, mourning the horrible life her son had endured, a child who had no options, who grew up as an armed robber, and who finally demanded the state of Utah execute him in Draconian fashion. 9/10.