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IMDbPro

First Monday in October

  • 19811981
  • RR
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
First Monday in October (1981)
For the first time in history a woman is appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, where she becomes a friendly rival to a liberal associate.
Play trailer2:58
3 Videos
11 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama
For the first time in history a woman is appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, where she becomes a friendly rival to a liberal associate.For the first time in history a woman is appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, where she becomes a friendly rival to a liberal associate.For the first time in history a woman is appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, where she becomes a friendly rival to a liberal associate.
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Ronald Neame
  • Writers
    • Jerome Lawrence(play)
    • Robert E. Lee(play)
  • Stars
    • Walter Matthau
    • Jill Clayburgh
    • Barnard Hughes
Top credits
  • Director
    • Ronald Neame
  • Writers
    • Jerome Lawrence(play)
    • Robert E. Lee(play)
  • Stars
    • Walter Matthau
    • Jill Clayburgh
    • Barnard Hughes
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 26User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 nominations

    Videos3

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:58
    Trailer
    First Monday in October
    Clip 1:03
    First Monday in October
    Sneak Previews Season 4 Episode 1
    Video 29:23
    Sneak Previews Season 4 Episode 1

    Photos11

    First Monday in October (1981)
    Walter Matthau and Jill Clayburgh in First Monday in October (1981)
    Walter Matthau and Jill Clayburgh in First Monday in October (1981)
    Walter Matthau and Jill Clayburgh in First Monday in October (1981)
    Walter Matthau, Jill Clayburgh, Wiley Harker, Charles Lampkin, Richard McMurray, F.J. O'Neil, Lew Palter, and Herb Vigran in First Monday in October (1981)
    Walter Matthau in First Monday in October (1981)
    Jill Clayburgh in First Monday in October (1981)
    Walter Matthau in First Monday in October (1981)
    Walter Matthau and Jill Clayburgh in First Monday in October (1981)
    First Monday in October (1981)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Walter Matthau
    Walter Matthau
    • Dan Snowas Dan Snow
    Jill Clayburgh
    Jill Clayburgh
    • Ruth Loomisas Ruth Loomis
    Barnard Hughes
    Barnard Hughes
    • Chief Justice James Jefferson Crawfordas Chief Justice James Jefferson Crawford
    Jan Sterling
    Jan Sterling
    • Christine Snowas Christine Snow
    James Stephens
    James Stephens
    • Mason Woodsas Mason Woods
    Joshua Bryant
    Joshua Bryant
    • Bill Russellas Bill Russell
    Wiley Harker
    Wiley Harker
    • Justice Harold Webbas Justice Harold Webb
    F.J. O'Neil
    • Justice Waldo Thompsonas Justice Waldo Thompson
    Charles Lampkin
    Charles Lampkin
    • Justice Josiah Clewesas Justice Josiah Clewes
    Lew Palter
    Lew Palter
    • Justice Benjamin Halperinas Justice Benjamin Halperin
    Richard McMurray
    • Justice Richard Careyas Justice Richard Carey
    Herb Vigran
    Herb Vigran
    • Justice Ambrose Quincyas Justice Ambrose Quincy
    Edmund Stoiber
    • Committee Chairmanas Committee Chairman
    Noble Willingham
    Noble Willingham
    • Nebraska Attorneyas Nebraska Attorney
    Richard McKenzie
    Richard McKenzie
    • Hostile Senatoras Hostile Senator
    Ann Doran
    Ann Doran
    • Storekeeperas Storekeeper
    Dallas Alinder
    • Normanas Norman
    Olive Dunbar
    Olive Dunbar
    • Ms. Radabaughas Ms. Radabaugh
    • Director
      • Ronald Neame
    • Writers
      • Jerome Lawrence(play) (screenplay)
      • Robert E. Lee(play) (screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The Justice Dan Snow character played by Walter Matthau is based on real-life Justice William O. Douglas, who was appointed to the Supreme Court at the age of 40. Douglas was one of the great liberals in High Court history who believed so nearly absolutely in the First Amendment protections of free speech that he did not attend screenings of pornographic films (a plot device in the movie) as he believed that the movies or any form of expression could not be censored under the U.S. Constitution. Thus, he did not need to see the film as he was going to automatically vote against censoring it.
    • Goofs
      Justice Loomis views a pornographic film to decide it it has "redeeming social or artistic importance". This is an outdated standard for obscenity which was superseded by the so-called "Miller test" in 1973.
    • Quotes

      Justice Dan Snow: She wants me to disqualify myself because I won't go down there and sit through that pile of crap?

      Chief Justice Crawford: Uh, well, uh...

      Justice Dan Snow: So its crap. What if it is crap? That's not the point. Crap's got the right to be crap.

      Chief Justice Crawford: Drop the legal language, Dan.

    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: Continental Divide, Mommie Dearest, Only When I Laugh, Body Heat, First Monday in October (1981)
    • Soundtracks
      Hornpipe
      (uncredited)

      from "Water Music"

      Music by George Frideric Handel

      Arranged by Ian Fraser

    User reviews26

    Review
    Top review
    4/10
    Certainly timely in 1981, but with little entertainment value...
    The US Supreme Court elects its first Madam Justice, an attractive, widowed judge from California; the first issue on the docket is whether a Nebraska zealot pining for family values can ban a pornographic film (it's title: "The Naked Nymphomaniac"). Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee's script, based upon their play, is cognizant of the effects of a female voice on the Supreme Court, but doesn't give Jill Clayburgh's Ruth Loomis anything but obvious points to make. She is a Woman, hear her Roar! The cutesy repartee with fellow Justice Snow (an uncomfortable-seeming Walter Matthau) matches her women's-lib quips with his scratchy retorts, and no matter how truthful Loomis' arguments may be, everything in this version is underlined with whimsy. It's a poor substitute for strong political comedy, coming off more like a Hepburn-and-Tracy cast-off unearthed in a filing cabinet. *1/2 from ****
    helpful•4
    2
    • moonspinner55
    • Jul 11, 2010

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 21, 1981 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Ein Montag im Oktober
    • Filming locations
      • Santa Ana, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $12,480,249
    • Gross worldwide
      • $12,480,249
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 38 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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