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IMDbPro

Murder in the First

  • 1995
  • R
  • 2h 2m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
30K
YOUR RATING
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.

  • Director
    • Marc Rocco
  • Writer
    • Dan Gordon
  • Stars
    • Christian Slater
    • Kevin Bacon
    • Gary Oldman
  • See production, box office & company info
    • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    30K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Marc Rocco
    • Writer
      • Dan Gordon
    • Stars
      • Christian Slater
      • Kevin Bacon
      • Gary Oldman
    • 140User reviews
    • 45Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 2 nominations

    Videos1

    Murder In The First
    Trailer 2:04
    Watch 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 Siskel & Ebert: 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 reviews140

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Brilliant Movie : Truly Uplifting
    This is one of my favorite movies;; and I have a not about this on my Electrifying performances by both Kevin Bacon and Slater.

    Very few movies come across that are that gripping.Moves you up to your seat. And then there is always this tension and drama, anxiety about what's next to come.

    The fact that this is based on a true life story makes it a more powerful saga. A saga that smells courage, conviction and commitment. How many movies like this exist. This movies falls under the ranks of Shaw Shank redemption.. Pappion, The Holocaust, Its a wonderful life.. et all..

    really a bone of a movie. I have watched it so many times that each and every scene is tattooed on my brain. I can even close my eyes and see the trail unfold.

    If you haven't watched it - you are not just missing an American Classic but also you are missing examples and stories to tell your kids - what happened once upon a west.. Cheers Olga Lednichenko
    helpful•5
    0
    • OlgaLednichenko
    • Sep 12, 2008

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    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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