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IMDbPro

Murder in the First

  • 19951995
  • RR
  • 2h 2m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
29K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
9,376
1,288
Kevin Bacon and Christian Slater in Murder in the First (1995)
DramaThriller
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 solitar... Read allAn 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.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.
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
29K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
9,376
1,288
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Marc Rocco
    • Writer
      • Dan Gordon
    • Stars
      • Christian Slater
      • Kevin Bacon
      • Gary Oldman
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Marc Rocco
    • Writer
      • Dan Gordon
    • Stars
      • Christian Slater
      • Kevin Bacon
      • Gary Oldman
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 136User reviews
    • 43Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 2 nominations

    Videos1

    Murder In The First
    Trailer 2:04
    Murder In The First

    Photos23

    Kevin Bacon and Christian Slater in Murder in the First (1995)
    Christian Slater in Murder in the First (1995)
    Kevin Bacon in Murder in the First (1995)
    Kevin Bacon, Gary Oldman, and Christian Slater in Murder in the First (1995)
    Kevin Bacon and Christian Slater in Murder in the First (1995)
    Kevin Bacon, Gary Oldman, and Christian Slater in Murder in the First (1995)
    Kevin Bacon, Sandra Bullock, Michael Douglas, Christian Slater, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Viggo Mortensen in Murder in the First (1995)
    R. Lee Ermey in Murder in the First (1995)
    Gary Oldman in Murder in the First (1995)
    Kevin Bacon and Gary Oldman in Murder in the First (1995)
    Kevin Bacon in Murder in the First (1995)
    Kevin Bacon and Christian Slater in Murder in the First (1995)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Christian Slater
    Christian Slater
    • James Stamphill
    Kevin Bacon
    Kevin Bacon
    • Henri Young
    Gary Oldman
    Gary Oldman
    • Associate Milton Glenn
    Embeth Davidtz
    Embeth Davidtz
    • Mary McCasslin
    William H. Macy
    William H. Macy
    • William McNeil
    • (as Bill Macy)
    Stephen Tobolowsky
    Stephen Tobolowsky
    • Mr. Henkin
    Brad Dourif
    Brad Dourif
    • Byron Stamphill
    R. Lee Ermey
    R. Lee Ermey
    • Judge Clawson
    Mia Kirshner
    Mia Kirshner
    • Adult Rosetta Young
    Ben Slack
    • Jerry Hoolihan
    Stefan Gierasch
    Stefan Gierasch
    • Warden James Humson
    Kyra Sedgwick
    Kyra Sedgwick
    • Blanche
    Alex Bookston
    • Alcatraz Doc
    • (as Alexander Bookston)
    Richie Allan
    Richie Allan
    • Jury Foreman
    Herb Ritts
    • Mike Kelly
    Charles Boswell
    Charles Boswell
    • Simpson
    David Michael Sterling
    • Inmate Rufus 'Ray' McCain
    • (as David Sterling)
    Michael Melvin
    • Inmate Arthur 'Doc' Barker
    • Director
      • Marc Rocco
    • Writer
      • Dan Gordon
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In real life, Henri Young's defense was handled by two prominent San Francisco attorneys, Sol A. Abrams and James Martin MacInnes. They offered the temporary insanity defense, saying that Young's brutal treatment on Alcatraz had led him to murder his fellow inmate, Rufus McCain. The jury bought the argument, and returned a verdict of Involuntary manslaughter, largely because the Alcatraz officials who testified at Young's trial refused to provide any actual details of prisoner treatment at the prison to contradict Young's defense. (Alcatraz officials and guards lived under strict rules not to talk about prison procedures when off the island, for fear these details would make it into the newspapers and be used by criminals in breakout attempts.)
    • Goofs
      Henry Young didn't go to Alcatraz for "stealing 5 dollars." In real life, he was both a bank robber and a murderer, and had already been in at least two state prisons before landing at Alcatraz.
      • - - - -
      Henri Young is different from Henry Young (see Wikipedia). Henry did indeed go to prison for stealing 5 Dollars.
    • Quotes

      James Stamphill: Did you kill Rufus McCain?

      Henri Young: I was the weapon, but I ain't no killer.

    • Crazy credits
      This Film is Inspired by a True Story
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Memo to the Academy - 1995 (1995)
    • Soundtracks
      Tuxedo Junction
      Written by Erskine Hawkins, William Johnson, Julian Dash, and Buddy Feyne

      Performed by The Andrews Sisters

      Courtesy of MCA Records

    User reviews136

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    A story of friendship and the tender mercies we all take for granted.
    This appears to be a prison movie about the injustices inflicted upon a hapless inmate named Henri Young. In reflection it is actually about friendship and the every day things we take for granted. At the heart of this movie, Kevin Bacon's character, Young, asks Christian Slater's character, Stamphill, if they were on the outside, would they be friends? He answers without much thought, yes, of course. Then Bacon says, I could've been like you. He sees in this young attorney, his own life & what it might have been if not for $5. He asks Slater, did you ever steal $5? Of course he had, from his brother, who told him never to do it again. Henri Young's punishment was to go to a federal penitentiary where upon trying to escape, he was "sentenced" or left to die, for 3 long years in solitary confinement. Young's character has never been with a woman and he's 28 years old. In a very moving scene (wisely done without music, although the music in this movie is beautiful) Stamphill brings a woman into the cell in an attempt to give him a few moments as a man. Unfortuantely, he cannot even bring himself to enjoy this - the look on his face will absolutely make you break down and cry. The performances by everyone are terrific. Contrary to previous reviewers, there is nothing wrong with Slater's performance. Thankfully, it is understated as it should be. Also, it should be rather obvious, that with a role this meaty & important, Bacon's outstanding performance is likely to make any other actor in the same scene, seem less of an accomplishment. This is definately Kevin Bacon's most important role and should have garnered an Oscar nomination. This is a not to be missed movie- and wouldn't you know it, it's based on a true story. In the end, it's about a triumph of the human spirit. I was lucky enough to see this at the theater when it first came out- you're lucky because it's available on video- go rent it tonight if you're interested in a good story.
    helpful•26
    6
    • rondine
    • Mar 6, 1999

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 20, 1995 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • France
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • İlk Canilik
    • Filming locations
      • Alcatraz Island, San Francisco Bay, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Warner Bros.
      • Canal+
      • The Wolper Organization
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $17,381,942
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,719,188
      • Jan 22, 1995
    • Gross worldwide
      • $17,381,942
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 2 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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