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Films with theme "Films about capital punishment", sorted by rating
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, 1h52Directed by Elio Petri
Origin Italie
Genres Drama, Thriller, Horror, Crime
Themes Prison films, Political films, Films about capital punishment
Actors Gian Maria Volonté, Florinda Bolkan, Salvo Randone, Orazio Orlando, Arturo Dominici, Gianfranco Barra
A recently promoted police inspector (Gian Maria Volonté) kills his mistress (Florinda Bolkan), and then covers up his involvement in the crime. He insinuates himself into the investigation, planting clues to steer his subordinate officers toward a series of other suspects, including the woman's gay husband and a student radical. He then exonerates the other suspects and leads the investigators toward him, in order to prove that he is "above suspicion" and can get away with anything, even while being investigated. In the end, he confesses to the crime in front of his superiors - who refuse to believe him. Sure that he is safe, he recants his confession, and receives the approval of the police commissioner.
The Night of the Hunter (1955)
, 1h33Directed by Charles Laughton, Robert Mitchum, Terry Sanders
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Horror, Noir, Crime
Themes Medical-themed films, Serial killer films, Films about psychiatry, Films about capital punishment
Actors Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish, James Gleason, Billy Chapin, Peter Graves
In the 1930s West Virginia, along the Ohio River, Reverend Harry Powell, a serial killer, flees the scene of his latest victim. Powell is a self-anointed preacher with a penchant for switchblade knives; a misogynist who is both attracted to and repulsed by women. He travels rural roads, preaching in small towns, and seems to believe he is doing God's work. The letters "L-O-V-E" are tattooed on one hand and the letters "H-A-T-E" on the other, which Powell uses as symbols in impromptu sermons. In one small town, police arrest Powell for driving a stolen car and sentence him to jail, unaware that he is a murderer.
The Thin Blue Line (1988)
, 1h43Directed by Errol Morris
Origin USA
Genres Documentary, Crime
Themes Prison films, Documentary films about law, Films about capital punishment, Documentary films about law enforcement
The story began on Thanksgiving weekend in 1976. In October 1976, 28-year-old Randall Adams and his brother had left Ohio. They were driving to California. En route, they arrived in Dallas on the night of Thanksgiving, Thursday 25 November 1976. The next morning, Adams was offered a job. On Saturday, 27 November Adams went to start work at his new job but no one turned up because it was a weekend. On the way home, his car ran out of fuel.
The Ox-Bow Incident (1943)
, 1h15Directed by James Tinling, William A. Wellman
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Action, Western
Themes Films about capital punishment, Children's films
Actors Henry Fonda, Dana Andrews, Anthony Quinn, Harry Morgan, Jane Darwell, William Eythe
In Bridger's Wells, Nevada in 1885, Art Croft (Harry Morgan) and Gil Carter (Henry Fonda) ride into town and enter Darby's Saloon. The atmosphere is subdued due to recent incidents of cattle-rustling. Art and Gil are suspected to be rustlers because they are rarely seen in town.
A Short Film About Killing (1988)
, 1h24Directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski
Origin Pologne
Genres Drama, Crime
Themes Prison films, Films about capital punishment
Actors Mirosław Baka, Krystyna Janda, Krzysztof Globisz, Maciej Maciejewski, Olgierd Łukaszewicz, Artur Barciś
Waldemar Rekowski (Jan Tesarz) is a middle-aged taxicab driver in Warsaw who enjoys his profession and the freedom it affords. His concern for turning a profit leads him to ignore some potential fares in favor of others. An overweight and crude man, Waldemar also enjoys staring at young women.
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory (2012)
Directed by Joe Berlinger, Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky
Origin USA
Genres Documentary, Crime
Themes Prison films, Documentary films about law, Films about capital punishment
Actors Johnny Depp
Dix-neuf ans après avoir été incarcérés pour le meurtre de trois enfants de 8 ans à West Memphis, trois adolescents voient les charges contre eux s'étioler...
The New Land (1972)
, 2h15Directed by Jan Troell
Origin Suede
Genres Drama, Historical, Western
Themes Films about immigration, Films about capital punishment
Actors Max von Sydow, Liv Ullmann, Eddie Axberg, Monica Zetterlund, Pierre Lindstedt, Allan Edwall
The film begins where the previous film, The Emigrants ended, with Karl Oskar bringing Kristina and their three small children, Johan, Marta and Harald, along with Karl Oskar's brother Robert, Robert's friend Arvid, through the woods to the land he claimed at Lake Ki Chi Saga. Upon their arrival, Karl Oskar leads them to a small shanty he found on the land, telling them it will provide them shelter until he can build them a farmhouse, and he points out to Kristina how fertile the topsoil is. With three small children and Kristina expecting another child, Karl Oskar pours all their resources into building them a house before winter arrives. He begins clearing the land of the tall pine trees, and with the help of Robert, Arvid and some of their Swedish neighbors, construct for them a small farmhouse.
Dancer in the Dark (2000)
, 2h20Directed by Lars von Trier
Origin German
Genres Drama, Musical, Crime
Themes Films about alcoholism, Films about families, Films about immigration, Medical-themed films, Films about music and musicians, Prison films, Films about the labor movement, La précarité, Musical films, Films about disabilities, Films about capital punishment, La cécité
Actors Björk, Catherine Deneuve, David Morse, Cara Seymour, Peter Stormare, Siobhan Fallon Hogan
The film is set in Washington state in 1964 and focuses on Selma Ježková (Björk), a Czech immigrant who has moved to the United States with her son, Gene Ježek (Vladica Kostic). They live a life of poverty as Selma works at a factory with her good friend Kathy (Catherine Deneuve), whom she nicknames "Cvalda" (which means "chubby" in Czech). She rents a trailer home on the property of town policeman Bill Houston (David Morse) and his wife Linda (Cara Seymour). She is also pursued by the shy but persistent Jeff (Peter Stormare), who also works at the factory.
In Cold Blood (1967)
, 2h14Directed by Richard Brooks
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Documentary, Historical, Crime
Themes Prison films, Films about capital punishment
Actors Robert Blake, Scott Wilson, John Forsythe, Paul Stewart, James Flavin, Gerald S. O'Loughlin
November 1959. Perry Smith (Robert Blake) and "Dick" Hickock (Scott Wilson) concoct a plan to invade the home of the Clutter family, as Mr. Clutter supposedly keeps a large supply of cash on hand in a safe. While the two criminals feel their plan for the robbery is sound, it quickly unravels, resulting in the murders of Mr. and Mrs. Clutter and their two teenage children. The bodies are discovered the next day, and a police investigation is immediately launched. As the investigation builds, the two wanted men continue to elude law enforcement by heading south and crossing into Mexico; but, after a while, they return to the U.S. and decide to travel to Las Vegas to win some money at gambling. There, they are arrested for violating parole, being in possession of a stolen car, and passing bad checks.
Angels with Dirty Faces (1938)
, 1h37Directed by Michael Curtiz
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Action, Crime
Themes Films about religion, Films about capital punishment, Gangster films
Actors James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, Humphrey Bogart, Ann Sheridan, George Bancroft, Billy Halop
Rocky Sullivan (James Cagney) and Jerry Connolly (Pat O'Brien) are childhood friends who robbed a railroad car as kids. Rocky saved Jerry's life during the chase by pulling him out of the way of a steam train while running from the guards that saw them. Rocky was then caught by the police, but Jerry—who could run faster—escaped. Rocky, after being sent to reform school, grew up to become a notorious gangster, while Jerry became a religious priest who mentored at-risk youth.
West of Memphis (2012)
, 2h27Origin USA
Genres Documentary
Themes Prison films, Documentary films about law, Films about capital punishment, Documentary films about law enforcement
Actors Peter Jackson
Dix-neuf ans après avoir été incarcérés pour le meurtre de trois enfants de 8 ans à West Memphis, trois adolescents voient les charges contre eux s'étioler.
The Executioner (1963)
, 1h31Directed by Luis García Berlanga
Origin Espagne
Genres Drama, Comedy
Themes Films about capital punishment
Actors Nino Manfredi, Guido Alberti, Emma Penella, José Luis López Vázquez, Ángel Álvarez, Julia Caba Alba
The story starts with the main character (an old executioner in Spain in the early 60's) approaching retirement age. As his profession is quite rare, he (a very gentle and nice man, caring, and proud of traditions) begins to worry about who might take his place when he retires. He has a daughter, but, unfortunately, she seems doomed to perpetual "spinsterhood": as soon as any prospective groom learns about her dad and her dad's "trade", he runs away from her, scared. However, a new character enters: the local undertaker, a young handsome man who has exactly the same problem... No girl wants him given his profession. So, you have the woman whom almost nobody would marry and the man whom almost nobody would marry. Obviously, they are meant for each other and soon get married.
Fourteen Days in May (1988)
, 1h28Origin United-kingdom
Genres Documentary
Themes Prison films, Documentary films about law, Films about capital punishment, Documentary films about law enforcement
Willful Murder (1981)
, 2h12Directed by Kei Kumai
Origin Japon
Genres Drama, Crime
Themes Prison films, Films about capital punishment
Actors Yōko Asaji, Tatsuya Nakadai, Mikijirō Hira, Kōji Yakusho, Hisashi Igawa, Kei Yamamoto
Le président des Chemins de fer nationaux japonais est retrouvé mort pendant une période où le service ferroviaire est perturbé par de nombreux licenciements, grèves et fermetures. Le gouvernement affirme que le président a été assassiné ; la police prétend qu'il s'agit d'un suicide. Un journaliste perplexe suit l'affaire pendant des années, mais la question fondamentale reste sans réponse : la victime a-t-elle été tuée par des membres du mouvement communiste naissant au Japon, ou la mort a-t-elle été mise en scène par les autorités dans l'espoir de discréditer les communistes ?
Monsieur Verdoux (1947)
, 2h4Directed by Charlie Chaplin
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Comedy, Comedy-drama, Crime
Themes Serial killer films, Films about capital punishment
Actors Martha Raye, William Frawley, Charlie Chaplin, Isobel Elsom, Edna Purviance, Fritz Leiber
Henri Verdoux had been a bank teller for thirty years before being laid off. To support his wife and child, he turns to the business of marrying and murdering wealthy widows. The Couvais family becomes suspicious when Thelma Couvais draws all her money and disappears, only two weeks after marrying a man named "Varnay", whom they only know through a photograph. As Verdoux (Chaplin) prepares to sell the residence of the murdered Thelma, widowed Marie Grosnay visits the residence. Verdoux sees her as another "business" opportunity and attempts to charm her, but she refuses. In the following weeks, Verdoux has a flower girl repeatedly send Grosnay flowers. In need of money to invest, Verdoux, as M. Floray, visits widow Lydia Floray (Hoffman), who complains that his engineering job has kept him away too long. That night, Verdoux murders her for her money.