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.

Director:

Ronald Neame

Writers:

Jerome Lawrence (play), Jerome Lawrence (screenplay)

Stars:

Walter Matthau, Jill Clayburgh, Barnard Hughes

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Walter Matthau	...	Dan Snow
Jill Clayburgh	...	Ruth Loomis
Barnard Hughes	...	Chief Justice James Jefferson Crawford
Jan Sterling	...	Christine Snow
James Stephens	...	Mason Woods
Joshua Bryant	...	Bill Russell
Wiley Harker	...	Justice Harold Webb
F.J. O'Neil	...	Justice Waldo Thompson
Charles Lampkin	...	Justice Josiah Clewes
Lew Palter	...	Justice Benjamin Halperin
Richard McMurray	...	Justice Richard Carey
Herb Vigran	...	Justice Ambrose Quincy
Edmund Stoiber	...	Committee Chairman
Noble Willingham	...	Nebraska Attorney
Richard McKenzie	...	Hostile Senator

Storyline

Ruth Loomis becomes the first woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court. A staunch conservative, she immediately runs into conflict with Dan Snow, the high court's resident liberal. Although they never agree on the issues before the Court, they develop a respect and affection for each other after several comedic encounters.

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Plot Keywords:

into | supreme court | cross examination | legal appeal | appeal to the supreme court | 

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Taglines:

In the Supreme Court, there are only eight of them against all of her.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 August 1981 (USA)

Also Known As:

...Kinek a bírónő

Filming Locations:

June Lake, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Reportedly, actress Jane Fonda turned down the lead role played by Jill Clayburgh because of the part's conservative nature and preferred to do On Golden Pond (1981) instead with her father Henry Fonda. On Golden Pond earned Jane Fonda an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Ironically, Henry Fonda originated Walter Matthau's role, as Associate Justice Dan Snow, in the original 1978 Broadway theatrical production.

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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.

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Quotes

Justice Dan Snow: You're not bothering me, you're interrupting me, but you're not bothering me.

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Connections

Featured in Sneak Previews: The Dogs of 1981 (1982)

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Soundtracks

Night Drive
(uncredited)
Written by Giorgio Moroder

User Reviews

Harmless and Lighthearted Intellectual Comedy/Drama

President Ronald Reagan's appointment of Sandra Day O'Connor as the first woman Supreme Court Justice in the USA in 1981 may have inspired this movie even though the original play was several years earlier.

Jill Clayburgh stars as the unattached, conservative, and sprightly Ruth Loomis from California who remains undaunted as the new Justice. Co-star Walter Matthau (Dan Snow) is the cantankerous, veteran liberal Justice with whom she repartees on various legal issues. Obviously there are long dialog scenes. Snow is an advocate of free speech and expression. "I'll defend everybody's right to speak and every man's right to be wrong!" he exclaims. Snow also rails, "There are only eight of us left against all of her." There is one odd exchange delivered by Justice Loomis during her confirmation: "The F.B.I. is wrong in reporting to you that I have no children. Ideas are my children, and I have hundreds of them." Yikes! But, exhibiting good chemistry, both stars are at the top of their game. Clayburgh and Matthau are both quick-witted and likable.

The movie was shot on location in the District of Columbia and also in California. As the plot is rather thin, the acting carries the movie. It is not bad, but it is also no classic.