The Executioner's Song (1982) (TV)

	Directed by: Lawrence Schiller	COUNTRY USA GENRE Bio/Crime/Drama NORWEGIAN TITLE Saken Gary Gilmore RUNNING TIME 136 minutes (European cut)
	Produced by: Lawrence Schiller
	Written by (based on his own novel): Norman Mailer

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Gary Gilmore	Tommy Lee Jones
Brenda Nicol	Christine Lahti
Nicole Baker	Rosanna Arquette	½
Uncle Vern Damico	Eli Wallach
Larry Samuels	Steven Keats	-
Johnny Nicol	Jordan Clarke	-
Earl Dorius	Richard Venture	-
April Baker	Jenny Wright	-
Pete Galovan	Walter Olkewicz	-
Rikki Wood	Michael LeClair	-
Val Conlan	Pat Corley	-
Lt. Johnson	Rance Howard	-
Sterling Baker	Jim Youngs	-
Kathryne Baker	Grace Zabriskie	-

Review

A fine cast, spearheaded by Tommy Lee Jones' powerful performance as the erratic, bullheaded Gary Gilmore, help elevate this made-for-TV drama based on Norman Mailer's 1979 true crime novel into a simmering and at times engrossing picture. The production values are better than in your average TV productions of the era, and although Lawrence Schiller's direction and the reediting down from the original two-part format to the now available 136 minute cut give the film an unevenness in rhythm, the strong characterizations and profound writing make it transcend its obvious limitations. In its best moments, The Executioner's Song touches upon timeless truths. Christine Lahti and Eli Wallach give very sympathetic performances as Gilmore's cousin and uncle, respectively. And Rosanna Arquette is exquisite as his girlfriend.