The Jericho Mile (1979)

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 »

Director:

Michael Mann

Writers:

Patrick J. Nolan (story), Patrick J. Nolan (teleplay),

Stars:

Peter Strauss, Richard Lawson, Roger E. Mosley

Won 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Strauss	...	Larry 'Rain' Murphy
Richard Lawson	...	R.C. Stiles
Roger E. Mosley	...	Cotton Crown
Brian Dennehy	...	Dr. D
Geoffrey Lewis	...	Dr. Bill Janowski
Billy Green Bush	...	Warden Earl Gulliver
Ed Lauter	...	Jerry Beloit
Beverly Todd	...	Wylene
William Prince	...	O.A.U. Chairman
Miguel Pinero	...	Rubio
Richard Moll	...	Joker Gibb
Edmund Penney	...	OAU Official
Burton Gilliam	...	Jimmy-Jack
Ji-Tu Cumbuka	...	Brother Lateef
Wilmore Thomas	...	Moo-Moo

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.

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Plot Keywords:

prison | running | revenge | drugs

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Sport

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 March 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

Comme un homme libre

Filming Locations:

Folsom State Prison - 300 Prison Road, Represa, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

ABC Circle Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

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.

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Quotes

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

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Connections

Referenced in The Making of 'Heat' (2005)

User Reviews

Absolutely superlative and does not become dated

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.