John Bottoms

A drunken Swede plays cards with strangers at a snowed-in hotel in the 1880s, and tragedy follows his actions. From a Stephen Crane story. With David Warner, directed by Jan Kadar.

In 38 seconds he'll send you on your way to the Fields of Ambrosia, sizzling; like a piece of Bacon. Stacy Keach electrifies in this starling black comedy about an itinerant electrocutioner. It's 1918, and Jonas Candide travels the South with a portable electric chair. Offering up his services to various authorities at a price of $100 a jolt, the ex-Carney tends to his charges with his own brand of tender loving care. Dispensing his own philosophy and consolation, he assures the prisoners that the Fields of Ambrosia await them on the other side of their ordeal. And then he throws the switch. Jonas' life of lethal loquacity becomes undone after he is contracted to bring his ministrations to a pair of siblings and he finds himself drawn to one of them. Bud Cort also excels in this too rarely seen dark jewel of a film, playing Jonas' bumbling assistant.