''The Traveling Executioner'' is a 1970 American

comedy-drama Comedy drama (also known by the portmanteau dramedy) is a hybrid genre of works that combine elements of comedy and Drama (film and television), drama. In film, as well as scripted television series, serious dramatic subjects (such as death, il ...

western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

film directed by

Jack Smight John Ronald Smight (March 9, 1925 – September 1, 2003) was an American theatre and film director. His film credits include ''Harper (film), Harper'' (1966), ''No Way to Treat a Lady (film), No Way to Treat a Lady'' (1968), ''Airport 1975'' (19 ...

and starring

Stacy Keach Walter Stacy Keach Jr. (born June 2, 1941) is an American actor, active in theatre, film and television since the 1960s. Keach first distinguished himself in Off-Broadway productions and remains a prominent figure in American theatre across his ...

, Bud Cort,

Stefan Gierasch Stefan Gierasch (February 5, 1926 – September 6, 2014) was an American film and television actor. Personal Gierasch was a native of New York and studied at The Actors Studio. Gierasch was married 33 years to actress Hedy Sontag at the time o ...

and Marianna Hill. The musical '' The Fields of Ambrosia'' is based on the film.

Plot

Jonas Candide, a former carnival showman, travels around the South, in 1918, with his own portable electric chair, going from prison to prison with his young assistant, Jimmy, charging one hundred dollars per execution. Two of Jonas' potential victims are siblings Willy and Gundred Herzallerliebst. While Jonas successfully executes Willy, he falls for Gundred, hoping to fake her execution. He does, but then things turn dark for him.

Cast

as Jonas Candide * Marianna Hill as Gundred Herzallerliebst * Bud Cort as Jimmy * Graham Jarvis as Doc Prittle * James Sloyan as Piquant * M. Emmet Walsh as Warden Brodski * John Bottoms as Lawyer * Ford Rainey as Stanley Mae * James Greene as Gravey Combs * Sam Reese as Priest *

as Willy Herzallerliebst * Logan Ramsey as La Follette * Charles Tyner as Virgil * William Mims as Lynn * Val Avery as Jake * Walt Barnes as Sheriff * Charlie Briggs as Zak * Paul Gauntt as Jeremy * Claire Brennen as Woman Passerby (uncredited) * Martine Fraser as 2^nd Child (uncredited) * Tony Fraser as 1^st Child (uncredited) * Katherine MacGregor as Alice Thorn (uncredited) * Pat Patterson as Roscoe (uncredited) * Lorna Thayer as Madam (uncredited)

Notes

Dyan Cannon was originally announced for the female lead.

Reception

'' Variety'' gave a positive review calling the film ''"a macabre, tastefully seamy comedy-drama about bayou prison life, circa 1918."''

References

External links