I'm looking for a film from the 70s or 80s, I believe. I'm pretty
sure it was a made-for-TV film, I want to say that it was filmed by
the BBC or Thames...It's title was "The Executioner." I only
sketchily remember the storyline, but it consisted of something to do
with diamond theft during World War II and a spy of some sort, I
think. As I remember it, there may have been two friends who
committed a theft, one swallowing the diamonds, or something like
this. My apologies for the vagueness. I think one of the soliders
was Polish? Or Easter European. Again, very sketchy memory...Good
luck! |
Request for Question Clarification by
pinkfreud-ga
on
28 Mar 2005 17:47 PST
Does this sound like your film?
"The Executioner [VHS] (1970)
George Peppard is a British agent who must track down and eliminate a
colleague-turned-traitor, but finds his job complicated by Joan
Collins, his ex-lover and the agent's wife. Top-notch suspense
thriller co-stars Keith Michell, Oscar Homolka. 107 min"
http://www.moviesunlimited.com/musite/product.asp?sku=SC7635
|
Clarification of Question by
arsenic2718-ga
on
28 Mar 2005 19:48 PST
Yep, that sounds like it's it! Thanks a bunch.
|
I'm glad to have been able to help you find your film. I've reposted
the information below.
"The Executioner [VHS] (1970)
George Peppard is a British agent who must track down and eliminate a
colleague-turned-traitor, but finds his job complicated by Joan
Collins, his ex-lover and the agent's wife. Top-notch suspense
thriller co-stars Keith Michell, Oscar Homolka. 107 min. Manufacturer:
Goodtimes Home Video. This tape is previously viewed. Box condition:
B. Tape appearance: B. NOTE: This Title Is Out Of Print; Limit One Per
Customer.
Category: Serious Collector Director: Sam Wanamaker
Cast: George Baker, Candice Bergen, Peter Bull, Joan Collins, Judy
Geeson, Charles Gray, Oskar Homolka, Keith Michell, Nigel Patrick,
George Peppard, Alexander Scourby
Rated: PG Color
Was $69.99 $62.99 VHS"
Movies Unlimited
http://www.moviesunlimited.com/musite/product.asp?sku=SC7635
Here are some additional (and less expensive) sources for used copies
of "The Executioner" on VHS:
eBay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=309&item=6369484869&rd=1&ssPageName=WD1V
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=309&item=6369485403&rd=1&ssPageName=WD1V
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=309&item=6304577582&rd=1&ssPageName=WD1V
half.eBay
http://half.ebay.com/cat/buy/prod.cgi?cpid=1930504&domain_id=1877&meta_id=3
Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/offer-listing/6303257402/ref=dp_pb_a//104-8416173-3073508?condition=all
My Google search strategy:
Google Web Search: "the executioner" spy OR agent movie OR film
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22the+executioner%22+spy+OR+agent+movie+OR+film
I hope this helps. Please request clarification if anything is unclear
or incomplete; I'll gladly offer further assistance before you rate my
answer.
Best regards,
pinkfreud |
Request for Answer Clarification by
arsenic2718-ga
on
09 Jun 2005 14:20 PDT
So actually, this copy isn't the film I was thinking of. To provide
more information: the one that I was thinking of (I think) was
produced by BBC-Thames and involved a Polish soldier who is prosecuted
for killing a Nazi. It involves the theft of a diamond (which is
swallowed), and was made in the 70s or early 80s. In any case, if you
could locate this film, I'd be much obliged. Thanks a bunch!
|
Request for Answer Clarification by
arsenic2718-ga
on
09 Jun 2005 14:21 PDT
Just to add in, the Polish soldier is fighting for the English as an
expatriate...Thanks!
|
Clarification of Answer by
pinkfreud-ga
on
09 Jun 2005 14:37 PDT
I am sorry to hear that this was not the correct film. Since it has
been more than 30 days, I do not believe you can get a refund from
Google Answers. I'll see what I else can find for you.
Are you quite certain that the title is "The Executioner"?
|
Request for Answer Clarification by
arsenic2718-ga
on
09 Jun 2005 19:26 PDT
Almost positive, though I may be wrong. It may not have been a film,
it could have been a TV Movie or part of some series of movies, but it
was full length and I believe put on by BBC Thames. Thanks for your
help; don't worry about the refund, I just hope I can get an answer.
Thanks a bunch!
|
Clarification of Answer by
pinkfreud-ga
on
09 Jun 2005 19:29 PDT
I've put some feelers out. I hope I can find this for you. It sounds
like a movie I would enjoy! If I come across anything that sounds
promising, I'll let you know.
|
Request for Answer Clarification by
arsenic2718-ga
on
09 Jun 2005 19:32 PDT
Alright--thanks a bunch! It does sound quite interesting--my dad told
me about it. He saw it in Israel in the 70s/80s. A Polish/English
expatriate put on trial for murdering a Nazi and turns out to be a Jew
who was framed, etc. Apparently quite good. Anyway, thanks for your
help! Good luck.
|
Clarification of Answer by
pinkfreud-ga
on
09 Jun 2005 21:58 PDT
Thanks for the extra details. I hope I can find someone who can offer
a clue that will lead to identifying this. As I mentioned, I've
contacted a few folks who might be able to help. I'll post here if I
learn anything useful.
|
Clarification of Answer by
pinkfreud-ga
on
10 Jun 2005 12:09 PDT
I think I've found some good information for you. This is a
description of an episode from a BBC television series called "Play
for Today":
"The Executioner - w Lionel Goldstein. Polish army officer Paul Rogers
kills a Nazi in WWII, then finds himself on trail in present-day West
Germany, in an attempt by prosecutor Robert Stephens to get the
statute of limitations on Nazi war crimes trials lifted, by
demonstrating the impartiality of the trial system. In the process it
is revealed that the Nazi was a senior SS officer and Rogers is a Jew,
thus severely crippling Stephens' case. Rogers, meanwhile, has sussed
what's going on and refuses to walk away quietly from the courtroom,
seeking to blow the whistle on the Nazi-like ends-justifying-means
modus operandi of the whole affair. An intelligent examination of the
moral complexities of what was then a hotly debated issue."
http://tv.cream.org/lookin/playfortoday/playtoday4.htm
What do you think?
|
Request for Answer Clarification by
arsenic2718-ga
on
10 Jun 2005 12:36 PDT
Sounds exactly right! Thanks so much--hopefully I can find a place to
buy it or download it...
|
Clarification of Answer by
pinkfreud-ga
on
10 Jun 2005 12:45 PDT
So far I have had no luck locating a videotape of this program. I'm
afraid the chances are slim; home video was in its infancy in 1980,
and finding an episode of a television program from that period may
not be possible. I'll certainly let you know if I find anything.
|
Clarification of Answer by
pinkfreud-ga
on
10 Jun 2005 13:51 PDT
A friend from the UK has informed me that the BBC destroyed its own
copies of the earlier episodes of "Play for Today," and only episodes
since 1982 survive in the BBC's archives. Unless a private collector
has a copy of "The Executioner," the prospects look quite dim. I've
emailed three collectors, and if I get any good news, I'll let you
know.
|
Request for Answer Clarification by
arsenic2718-ga
on
10 Jun 2005 16:15 PDT
That sounds great! Thanks a bunch, I really appreciate all this. Good luck!
|
Clarification of Answer by
pinkfreud-ga
on
10 Jun 2005 16:20 PDT
Thanks for your patience. I'll keep you posted of anything I may learn.
~pinkfreud
|
Request for Answer Clarification by
arsenic2718-ga
on
10 Jun 2005 16:33 PDT
Thanks again. If there's anything I can do, please don't hesitate to let me know.
|
Clarification of Answer by
pinkfreud-ga
on
10 Jun 2005 16:54 PDT
I am required to post a response every time I receive a Request for
Clarification, so I'm just posting this to clear the "NEEDS ATTENTION"
flag from my list of answered questions. You don't need to respond to
this message, because that will require that I respond to your
response, and we'd end up in an endless round of ping-pong. ;-)
~pinkfreud
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