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The Jericho Mile (1979)

TV Movie  -   -  Crime | Drama | Sport  -  18 March 1979 (USA)
7.3
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Ratings: 7.3/10 from 749 users  
Reviews: 23 user | 2 critic

Rain Murphy is a man sentenced to life in prison, choosing to do his time in near-isolation, and engages in distance running when given the opportunity for free-time. While his form and ... See full summary »

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Writers:

(story), (teleplay), 1 more credit »
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Title: The Jericho Mile (TV 1979)

The Jericho Mile (TV 1979) on IMDb 7.3/10

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Won 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination. See more awards »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
Larry 'Rain' Murphy
...
R.C. Stiles
...
Cotton Crown
...
Dr. D
...
Dr. Bill Janowski
...
Warden Earl Gulliver
...
Jerry Beloit
...
Wylene
...
O.A.U. Chairman
Miguel Pinero ...
Rubio
...
Joker Gibb
Edmund Penney ...
OAU Official
Burton Gilliam ...
Jimmy-Jack
Ji-Tu Cumbuka ...
Brother Lateef
Wilmore Thomas ...
Moo-Moo
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Storyline

Rain Murphy is a man sentenced to life in prison, choosing to do his time in near-isolation, and engages in distance running when given the opportunity for free-time. While his form and speed capture the attention of prison officials who believe he could be competitive for the Olympics, Murphy expresses disinterest. But when the one man he has befriended is taken advantage of by political groups within the prison, Murphy decides to pursue the opportunity presented to him in his memory. This action not only has profound changes on him, but also on the atmosphere of the inmates in the prison and their outlook on the accomplishments he can make. Written by Tara Ragatz

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

prison | running | revenge | drugs

Taglines:

He's running for his freedom ... and his life.

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Sport

Certificate:

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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

18 March 1979 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Comme un homme libre  »

Company Credits

Production Co:

 »
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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

(Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

During the shoot in Folsom, there were thirteen stabbings and one murder among the inmates, but not a single crewmember was injured or threatened over the course of the production, and no one ever witnessed any violence. See more »

Quotes

Larry 'Rain' Murphy: [recalling his crime] They say I shot him over and over.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in The Making of 'Heat' (2005) See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
Absolutely superlative and does not become dated
6 April 2009 | by (United States) – See all my reviews

A film that deserved theatrical release. This made-for-television movie is a cinematic gem that exemplifies the technique of Michael Mann with stirring contemporary music tightly integrated to the visual images. Always with Mr. Mann, the amplification of impact by the music is almost as if there is an invisible academy-award-winning actor added to the ensemble of cast, writer, director and cinematographer.

This film is definitely one of my all time favorites. While nothing is perfect, this film comes very, very close.

Along with an excellent script, great direction and masterful acting by Richard Strauss, there is an all-star ensemble of character actors at their finest: Roger Mosely; Brian Dennehy; Ed Lauter; Geoffrey Lewis; Richard Moll; Miguel Pinero; William Prince; Burton Guilliam; Ji-Tu Cumbuka; Richard Lawson and Billy Green Bush. You may not recognize the names, but you will recognize every face.

If this comes on TV, sit down with popcorn, turn up the sound for an amazing soundtrack and score, and prepare to be riveted for the 97 minutes of the film. I highly recommend recording it, since it is only available on VHS and DVD from Holland and the DVD is region 2 encoded.


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