The Traveling Executioner

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.

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

 * Stacy Keach 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
 * Stefan Gierasch 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 2nd Child (uncredited)
 * Tony Fraser as 1st Child (uncredited)
 * Katherine MacGregor as Alice Thorn (uncredited)
 * Pat Patterson as Roscoe (uncredited)
 * Lorna Thayer as Madam (uncredited)

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