10 Rillington Place
Dir: Richard Fleischer
1971
*****
A frighteningly real version of events with meticulous attention to detail and based on fact rather than heresy. It's quite a terrifying account of the murders committed by John Reginald Christie, played brilliantly by Richard Attenborough. This isn't just to feed those who have a morbid appetite, it also shows the inadequacies of the British justice system at the time and is a most devastating statement on capital punishment, the sole reason Attenborough signed on to play the lead role, a part he otherwise would have avoided. It is interesting to note that both Timothy John Evans and Christie were hanged by Albert Pierrepoint who also acted as an unofficial adviser. Pierrepoint himself became an opponent of capital punishment. The history of the case makes for good reading too, I actually used to work not far from where Rillington Place once stood, it's unrecognisable now but that's almost more reason not to forget what really happened.