| The Traveling Executioner | |
| Director: | Jack Smight |
| Producer: | Jack Smight |
| Music: | Jerry Goldsmith |
| Cinematography: | Philip H. Lathrop |
| Editing: | Neil Travis |
| Studio: | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Distributor: | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Runtime: | 95 minutes |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
The Traveling Executioner is a 1970 American comedy-drama western film directed by Jack Smight and starring Stacy Keach, Bud Cort, Stefan Gierasch and Marianna Hill.[1]
The musical The Fields of Ambrosia is based on the film.[2]
Jonas Candide, a former carnival showman,[3] 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.
Dyan Cannon was originally announced for the female lead.[4]
Variety gave a positive review calling the film "a macabre, tastefully seamy comedy-drama about bayou prison life, circa 1918."[5]