The Man Who Was Death
- Episode aired Jun 10, 1989
- Not RatedNot Rated
- 26m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
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
- Steven Dodd
- Walter Hill(screenplay)
- Robert Reneau(screenplay)
- Stars
- Steven Dodd
- Walter Hill(screenplay)
- Robert Reneau(screenplay)
- Stars
William Sadler
- Niles Talbot
- (as Bill Sadler)
Raymond O'Connor
- Jury Foreman
- (as Raymond O'Conner)
Jennifer Evans
- Newscaster #1
- (as M. Jennifer Evans)
- Steven Dodd
- Walter Hill(screenplay)
- Robert Reneau(screenplay)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWilliam 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.
- Goofselectrocuting 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.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Tales from the Crypt: Crypt Keeper's History of Season One (2005)
- SoundtracksTales from the Crypt Theme
Composed by Danny Elfman
Review
Featured review
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
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•00
- lukem-52760
- Jun 19, 2020
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What is the broadcast (satellite or terrestrial TV) release date of The Man Who Was Death (1989) in Canada?
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