First Degree (Video 1995)

A police detective's personal involvement with a beautiful widow takes a professional turn when she is accused of murdering her husband.

Director:

Jeff Woolnough

Writer:

Ron Base

Stars:

Rob Lowe, Leslie Hope, Tom McCamus

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rob Lowe	...	Det. Rick Mallory
Leslie Hope	...	Hadley Pyne
Tom McCamus	...	Amos Turzo
Joseph Griffin	...	Rico Perrini
Nadia Capone	...	Tina Jernigan
Brett Halsey	...	Alonzo Galeno
Peter Boretski	...	Jacob Sarner
Don Francks	...	Lou Matlin
Bryan Renfro	...	Andrew Pyne
Pierre Kenneth Cross	...	Henri
Patricia Gage	...	Margeaux Pyne
David B. Nichols	...	Jason
Falconer Abraham	...	Ed Grasic
Gayle Ackroyd	...	Gayle, P.I. Secretary
Carlo Rota	...	Joe Galeno

Storyline

When prominent businessman Andrew Pyne is found shot in a New York alley, one of the NYPD's best, Rick Mallory, suspects a Galeno Mob hit. When he and his partner, Amos Turzo try to question Pyne's widow, Hadley, they are quickly ushered out by her mother-in-law Margeaux. Later when Rick comes back to search Pyne's apartment, he finds material linking the dead man with Endtook, the Galeno's company. The police raid Joe Galeno's house and find the gun that killed Pyne. Joe Galeno is arrested and Rick returns to the Pyne apartment to tell Hadley. She is very distraught, and as Rick comforts her, they become engaged in an ardent affair. Joe Galeno's cousin, Alonzo, is convinced Joe is innocent. He hires Rico Perrini, Rick's former partner, now a private detective, to work on the case. Rico tracks down Pyne's rumored killer, a low-life thug named Tony Fabian, who confesses that Hadley paid him to kill her husband. Rick is now under suspicion and transferred out of homicide. Rick knows ...

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Plot Keywords:

detective | widow | investigation | murder | independent film

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Taglines:

Everyone is capable of murder in the...

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Genres:

Crime | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, violence and some sexuality

Details

Country:

Canada UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

October 1995 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Al margen de la ley

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alliance, Incorporated Television Company (ITC), Westcom Entertainment Group

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color (Actra)

User Reviews

Not that bad

I watched this movie on a lazy Sunday afternoon, and though I agree with others that it wasn't the best, it was good enough for that type of viewing, with commercials. The major plus here for me was Tom McCamus, one of my favorite actors, which then gave me a clue that it was a Canadian film. I like Canadian films, I often watch CBC for their offerings. I'm not sure what would have made this movie better because it really does have a pretty good storyline, and a good ending, it just lost something in the translation to film. If someone asked me if it was good, I'd just say watch it if you are not expecting great art, it has its moments.