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Tales from the Crypt
S1.E1
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IMDbPro

The Man Who Was Death

  • Episode aired Jun 10, 1989
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 26m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
William Sadler in Tales from the Crypt (1989)
ComedyCrimeFantasy
After the death penalty is abolished, an executioner continues his former job through freelancing...After the death penalty is abolished, an executioner continues his former job through freelancing...After the death penalty is abolished, an executioner continues his former job through freelancing...
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
    • Walter Hill
    • Steven Dodd
    • Walter Hill(screenplay)
    • Robert Reneau(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • William Sadler
    • J.W. Smith
    • Roy Brocksmith
    • Walter Hill
    • Steven Dodd
    • Walter Hill(screenplay)
    • Robert Reneau(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • William Sadler
    • J.W. Smith
    • Roy Brocksmith
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 21User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos10

    Robert Winley in Tales from the Crypt (1989)
    William Sadler in Tales from the Crypt (1989)
    Gerrit Graham and Dani Minnick in Tales from the Crypt (1989)
    Gerrit Graham and Dani Minnick in Tales from the Crypt (1989)
    William Sadler in Tales from the Crypt (1989)
    William Sadler in Tales from the Crypt (1989)
    Gerrit Graham and Dani Minnick in Tales from the Crypt (1989)
    Tales from the Crypt (1989)
    Tales from the Crypt (1989)

    Top cast

    Edit
    William Sadler
    William Sadler
    • Niles Talbot
    • (as Bill Sadler)
    J.W. Smith
    • Charley Ledbetter
    Roy Brocksmith
    Roy Brocksmith
    • Vic
    David Wohl
    David Wohl
    • Warden Havers
    Gerrit Graham
    Gerrit Graham
    • Theodore Carne
    Dani Minnick
    Dani Minnick
    • Cynthia Baldwin
    Tony Abatemarco
    Tony Abatemarco
    • Detective
    Mimi Kennedy
    Mimi Kennedy
    • Distraught Woman
    Robert Winley
    Robert Winley
    • Jimmy Flood
    Eve Brent
    Eve Brent
    • Judge #1
    Edgar Small
    • Judge #2
    Mark Lowenthal
    • District Attorney
    F.J. O'Neil
    • Priest
    Raymond O'Connor
    Raymond O'Connor
    • Jury Foreman
    • (as Raymond O'Conner)
    Jennifer Evans
    • Newscaster #1
    • (as M. Jennifer Evans)
    Patti Yasutake
    Patti Yasutake
    • Newscaster #2
    Al Allen
    • Attorney
    • (as 'Al' M. Allen)
    Kate Benton
    • Waitress
      • Walter Hill
      • Steven Dodd
      • Walter Hill(screenplay)
      • Robert Reneau(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      William Sadler initially auditioned for the role of the detective who arrests Niles Talbot but asked at his audition about auditioning to play Talbot. The casting director informed Sadler that they sought Christopher Walken or John Malkovich for the role. Nevertheless, Sadler was allowed to audition and was eventually cast as Talbot.
    • Goofs
      electrocuting the female dancer in the cage as he tries by connecting the cables to the cage would actually not work, as the one safe place is inside the cage (cage of Faraday).
    • Quotes

      Niles Talbot: The old rule: treat whores like queens and queens like whores.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Tales from the Crypt: Crypt Keeper's History of Season One (2005)
    • Soundtracks
      Tales from the Crypt Theme
      Composed by Danny Elfman

    User reviews21

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    BEST EPISODE & WILLIAM SADLER IS BRILLIANT
    This is the best "Tales from the Crypt" episode in my opinion, this really shows the dark twisted humor that started it all & expertly directed by Walter Hill (The Warriors,Trespass) & a breakthrough lead role by the underrated William Sadler who really shines here as the sadistic executioner for the prison system. Now Bill Sadler, what a fantastic actor with an incredible screen presence & a great country voice & is usually looked at as a B-movie actor or a know-the-face actor but to me he's so much more as I've been a Sadler fan since the early 90's when i discovered his great screen presence as the villain of Die Hard 2, which i think is easily the best film of that franchise & Sadler is a big part of why!!! Also as a Cool villain in Hard to kill, I also saw him in this Tales from the Crypt episode here & the Walter Hill directed urban thriller Trespass & of course as the now legendary "Death" in the fun Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey & the excellent Cult Classic Tales from the Crypt movie: Demon Knight (my favourite film & role of Sadler's) & of course I've seen Sadler pop up in all sorts over the years from a bit-part car salesman role in the James Belushi Cop-Comedy K-9 to his excellent intense performances in the epic & Classic drama's The Shawshank Redemption & The Green Mile but it's those earlier roles i first mentioned that have had an impact on my movie loving mind. Sadler is a big part of my movie world & he's a childhood hero of mine & still remains one of my all time favourite actors.

    This Crypt episode is shot beautifully, especially the night time scenes with all the lights of the busy streets & Neon signs & the music is fun & Sadler's character is hilarious as he narrates the episode like an old Detective from a Noir movie, it's all perfectly shot & stands as my personal favourite episode of the excellent Tales from the Crypt series. Bill Sadler is a legend of Cinema, be that "big" Cinema or B-movie Cult Cinema, anything where Sadler turns in a performance is worth checking out on my opinion
    helpful•0
    0
    • lukem-52760
    • Jun 19, 2020

    Details

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    • Release date
      • June 10, 1989 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
      • Harbor Freeway, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Tales From The Crypt Holdings
      • Home Box Office (HBO)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 26 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby

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