An eager and idealistic young attorney defends an Alcatraz prisoner accused of murdering a fellow inmate. The extenuating circumstances: his client had just spent over three years in solitary confinement.
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Title: Murder in the First (1995)
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2 wins & 2 nominations.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Christian Slater | ... | James Stamphill | |
| Kevin Bacon | ... | Henri Young | |
| Gary Oldman | ... | Associate Milton Glenn | |
| Embeth Davidtz | ... | Mary McCasslin | |
| William H. Macy | ... | William McNeil (as Bill Macy) | |
| Stephen Tobolowsky | ... | Mr. Henkin | |
| Brad Dourif | ... | Byron Stamphill | |
| R. Lee Ermey | ... | Judge Clawson | |
| Mia Kirshner | ... | Adult Rosetta Young | |
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Ben Slack | ... | Jerry Hoolihan |
| Stefan Gierasch | ... | Warden James Humson | |
| Kyra Sedgwick | ... | Blanche | |
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Alex Bookston | ... | Alcatraz Doc (as Alexander Bookston) |
| Richie Allan | ... | Jury Foreman | |
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Herb Ritts | ... | Mike Kelly |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
Henri Young stole five dollars from a post office and ended up going to prison - to the most famous, or infamous, prison of them all: Alcatraz. He tried to escape, failed, and spent three years and two months in solitary confinement - in a dungeon, with no light, no heat and no toilet. Milton Glenn, the assistant warden, who was given free reign by his duty-shirking superior, was responsible for Young's treatment. Glenn even took a straight razor and hobbled Young for life. After three years and two months, Young was taken out of solitary confinement and put with the rest of the prisoners. Almost immediately, Young took a spoon and stabbed a fellow prisoner in the neck, killing him. Now, Young is on trial for murder, and if he's convicted he'll go to the gas chamber. An eager and idealistic young attorney, James Stamphill, is given this impossible case, and argues before a shocked courtroom that Young had a co-conspirator. The true murderer, he says, was Alcatraz. Written by J. Spurlin
Taglines:
They locked him up. They crushed his spirit. But they couldn't hide the truth. See more »Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated R for strong images of prison brutalities, sexuality and language | See all certifications »Parents Guide:
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Written by Erskine Hawkins, William Johnson, Julian Dash, and Buddy Feyne
Performed by The Andrews Sisters
Courtesy of MCA Records
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Blanche, the prostitute that James Stamphill brings to visit Henri Young (Kevin Bacon) in prison, is played by Kyra Sedgwick, Kevin Bacon's real-life wife. See more »Goofs
The judge schedules Henri's trial for "June 22, a week from Thursday," in 1941. June 22 was on a Sunday in 1941. See more »Crazy Credits
This Film is Inspired by a True Story See more »Soundtracks
Tuxedo JunctionWritten by Erskine Hawkins, William Johnson, Julian Dash, and Buddy Feyne
Performed by The Andrews Sisters
Courtesy of MCA Records
See more »
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Details
Language:
EnglishRelease Date:
20 January 1995 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Murder in the First See more »Filming Locations:
Triscenic Production Services Inc - 13042 Bradley Ave, Sylmar, Los Angeles, California, USA See more »Edit
Box Office
Opening Weekend USA:
$4,719,188, 22 January 1995Gross USA:
$17,381,942Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$17,381,942Company Credits
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Technical Specs
Runtime:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1Contribute to This Page
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Having caught up again with this film on t.v., I can only support all other commentators who have observed how utterly ridiculous is the American Academy Award system for not having even nominated the utterly brilliant performance by Kevin Bacon in this film for the best actor award, let alone in not giving him the damned thing! I am always impressed by whatever Kevin Bacon does, and am constantly surprised that he is one of those stars who always seems to creep under the public's radar of appreciation and awareness. As to the comments about the film not exactly being the "true" story of Henri Young, there again it always come down to the precise meaning and interpretation of a film's initial caveat of "inspired by a true story". Certainly, the film will have me searching the internet for more of the "true" facts of this harrowing story. And whether exactly the film was totally "true" or not, as any visitor to Alcatraz (as I have been myself) can tell you, just imagine yourself in any part of that prison in its heyday and say whether any filmic representation needs to be totally 100% accurate to convey the horrendous nature of what it must have been like there. Returning to the antics of the members of the U.S. Academy Award, their failures over this Kevin Bacon performance remind me of the time they robbed Cate Blanchett for her out of this world outstanding performance in "Elizabeth" in favour of that whimpering blonde piece of fluffy air Gwyneth Paltrow for the paltry "Shakespeare in Love".