"The Executioner's Song" from 1982 was a TV movie, and on Netflix, I believe they send out the director's cut. It has lots of Roseanna Arquette's breasts and other body parts.Based on the book by Norman Mailer (who also wrote the screenplay), this is the story of Gary Gilmore, who became famous by demanding that the state of Utah go ahead with his execution. It was the first execution in the US since the 1960s and the first since 1972 when the Supreme Court ruled that death sentences prior to that date were unconstitutional, which is why the Manson group was not executed.Gilmore, who requested to face a firing squad, became kind of a cause celebre. As a hero of some sort, I suppose he fits in well with today's idea of a celebrity. He was basically a loser who always chose the easy way out. When he was released on parole for robbery, he had the help and support of his cousin (Christine Lahti) and his uncle (Eli Wallach), but he was unable to hold down a job and became obsessed with a 19-year-old (Arquette) with two children.He then returned to the robbery business and for no good reason shot and killed two people after he robbed them.I believe this was a TV movie in two parts, so what I saw was shortened. As a result, to make way for Arquette's body, there was quite a bit cut, making it jerky.My main problem was getting any sympathy going for Gilmore or Arquette. Tommy Lee Jones did a terrific job, but even though Gary's family loved him and just hated the things he did, I as an audience member didn't share their feelings. As far as I'm concerned, he wanted to die because he didn't want to stay in prison. He robbed so he could pay for a truck and didn't have to work. Same old story - the easy way out.This story was described as "tragic." The tragedy is that the Arquette character had two children. She was a whack job who tried to commit suicide so that she and Gary could continue their affair in heaven. It said at the end of the movie that she moved and started over. I hope for the sake of her kids that she made it. I have no doubt with her figure she met somebody. Let's hope it wasn't another loser.

After reading neolani54 comments it brought back a flood of memories about the events of the movie. I had just returned from my mission and had just married and lived 3 blocks from the hotel where one of the murders took place. Like many others who were students in Provo, we all took part time jobs to support our new families. It was such a terrible thing to happen and could have been any one of us. The movie has always been one of my favorite Tommy Lee Jones movies. I also grew up near Willard, Utah where Melvin Dumar got famous from his experience with Howard Hughes. (another Tommy Lee Jones movie). I have never been an advocate of capital punishment mainly because I personally believe that spending the rest of your life in jail is much more punishment than moving on to the here-after. However, I remember the early morning hours when Gilmore was executed and how glad I was that he was taken from the face of the Earth. Such a heinous and senseless act on absolutely innocent and peace loving souls. I hate to give any recognition to Gilmore, but at least he saw what he had done and fought for the punishment that he knew he deserved. It was unthinkable that there were so many people who were fighting save his miserable life.

For a long "television film," I thought this story moved along well, even with the main characters being so sleazy the story gets a little unappealing at times. Of course, when has Rosanna Arquette ever played anything else in her younger days? Also, when did she not show off her big breasts? However, I usually find her playing interesting characters and she looked young and pretty in this early career (for her) TV-movie. As for Tommy Lee Jones, who plays the main character "Gary Gilmore," I've always found him interesting, too. In this, Jones plays the famous real-life killer while Arquette is "Nicole Baker," his teenage girlfriend. Jones does a nice job showing how mentally messed up Gilmore was back then.I surprised at the language in here for a television movie, but then again, I saw the "European version" of this movie. The longer American version, I assume, cut out some that language and perhaps some of Arquette's "skin."I rarely comment about anybody else's review but I recommend reading the comments by "noelani" here since this woman lived in Gilmore's backyard, so to speak, during this period and has some interesting things to say.

i have seen this movie and it is a must have for any movie collection i would love to be able to find it i don't think it has been released on DVD yet. please if anyone knows where i can get this movie please let me know if you catch it on TV you will enjoy it tommy lee jone is exciting and rosanna arquette the girl friend is a knockout if you know what i mean the story is based on a true story which makes it that much more appealing to see i really don't know what else to say but they say you have to fill out ten lines to submit a comment so please excuse my babbling on i am just trying to fill in the ten lines that they ask for so please be patient with me but please see the movie if you get the chance you won't regret it have a great day