The Executioner's Song (1982)

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Tommy Lee Jones won an Emmy for his searing performance as wanton killer Gary Gilmore in The Executioner's Song. The film covers the last nine months of Gilmore's life, beginning with his release from prison in 1976. Linking up with teen-age divorcee Nicole Baker (Rosanna Arquette), Gilmore makes a… More Tommy Lee Jones won an Emmy for his searing performance as wanton killer Gary Gilmore in The Executioner's Song. The film covers the last nine months of Gilmore's life, beginning with his release from prison in 1976. Linking up with teen-age divorcee Nicole Baker (Rosanna Arquette), Gilmore makes a half-hearted effort to go straight, but ends up embarking on a robbery spree that culminates in two cold-blooded murders. Arrested and sentenced to be executed, Gilmore insists upon being put to death (Utah law required a firing squad for this); he spends his final days as a poster boy for anti-death penalty activists and as a "client" for an entrepreneur (Steven Keats) who wants to make a film of Gilmore's life. Adapted by Norman Mailer from his own book, The Executioner's Song originally aired in two parts on November 28 and 29, 1982. It has since been boiled down to a 97-minute theatrical film for European consumption, with additional scenes of violence and nudity. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 15 min.
Directed By: Lawrence Schiller
Genres: Drama, Television

In Theaters: Nov 28, 1982 Wide
On DVD: Aug 5, 2008

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Cast

            Tommy Lee Jones as Gary Gilmore

            Rosanna Arquette as Nicole Baker

            Eli Wallach as Uncle Vern Damico

            Christine Lahti as Brenda Nicol

            Steven Keats as Larry Samuels

            Jay Bernard as Prison Official

            Thomas A. Carlin as Speaker #1

            John Chappell as Ron Stanger

            Pat Corley as Val Conlan

            Charles Cyphers as Noall Wootton

            Susan French as Bessie Gilmore

            Ray Girardin as Snyder

            Rance Howard as Lieutenant Nelson

            Victoria Jean as Pepper

            John Dennis Johnston as Jimmy Poker-Game

            Michael Le Clair as Rikki Wood

            Kenneth W. O'Brien as Spencer McGrath

            Walter Olkewicz as Pete Galovan

            H.E.D. Redford as Norman Fulmer

            Oscar Rowland as Judge #1

            William Sanderson as Gibbs

            Richard Venture as Earl Dorius

            Kenneth White as Warden Smith

            Jenny Wright as April Baker

            Jim Youngs as Sterling Baker

            Grace Zabriskie as Kathryne Baker

            Jordan Clarke
            
            Robert Boon as Doctor #1

            Grant Gottschall as Mikal Gilmore

            Russ McGinn as First Patrolman
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