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Murder in the First
Directed by
Marc Rocco
R
1995
2h 2m
Crime
,
Drama
,
and more
7.3
54%
79%
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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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Cast of Murder in the First
Christian Slater
James Stamphill
Kevin Bacon
Henri Young
Gary Oldman
Glenn
Embeth Davidtz
Mary McCasslin
William H. Macy
Bill McNeill
Stephen Tobolowsky
Mr. Henkin
Brad Dourif
Byron Stamphill
Kyra Sedgwick
Blanche
Mia Kirshner
Rosetta Young
R. Lee Ermey
Judge Clawson
Stefan Gierasch
Warden James Humson
Mary Mackey
Prison Guard's Wife
Gary Ballard
Alcatraz Guard Swenson
Richie Allan
Jury Foreman
Ben Slack
Jerry Hoolihan
Alex Bookston
Alcatraz Doc
Herb Ritts
Mike Kelly
Charles Boswell
Simpson
Tony Barr
Winthrop
Stuart Nisbet
Harve
Marc Rocco
Director
Dan Gordon
Writer
Marc Frydman
Producer
Mark Wolper
Producer
Murder in the First Ratings & Reviews
匚卂尺ㄥ
March 1, 2025
An excellent ensemble cast has produced a film that is beyond brilliant. Kevin Bacon is outstanding in his portrayal of a man broken by the officials in Alcatraz. This is the story of his trial for murder and of his inhumane and illegal treatment by the prison guards operating on instructions of the prison authorities. His original crime: stealing $5, to buy food for his family--reminiscent of Jean Valjean in Les Miserables. That mistreatment has turned him into little more than a base animal, psychologically damaged by repeated beatings and by three years in solitary confinement. Do watch this film.
The New Yorker
Anthony Lane
Playing the hero of an issues movie (and this one is dripping with issues) is usually a thankless task, but Slater carries this one with ease.
Women in the Life
Sheila Reid
It's depressing, it's dark and dingy and so far it's the strongest set of performances on the big screen this year.
The Virginian-Pilot
Mal Vincent
See this only for Bacon's compelling performance. Factual or not, he creates a moving portrait of a young man who never had a chance.
Common Sense Media
Sarah Wenk
Moving story of justice but too intense for kids.
PopcornQ
Brandon Judell
A must see for Kevin Bacon's performance, especially in the early scenes.
Kansas City Kansan
Steve Crum
It is Bacon's absolutely powerhouse performance that helps make 'Murder' one of the classic prison pictures of all time. (published 1-27-95)
Juicy Cerebellum
Alex Sandell
Average thriller.
Rolling Stone
Peter Travers
More than likely you will forgive the compromises -- the story of Henri Young needed to be told.
Los Angeles Times
Kenneth Turan
Woefully over-manipulative and over-the-top.
Chicago Sun-Times
Roger Ebert
Slater, who in certain shots looks curiously like Kevin Costner, is an actor with talent, but he is too young for this role, and not confident enough to dial down a little.
San Francisco Chronicle
Mick LaSalle
An example of what happens when a picture has everything going for it except good writing and good direction.
Austin Chronicle
Marc Savlov
Unsalvageable and inadvertently silly.
The New Republic
Stanley Kauffmann
It's a struggle for Bacon -- and I'm not doubting the facts of the matter -- because the part is so clearly designed to knock us out; but Bacon is honest, in touch with Young's sources or lack of them.
Washington Post
Desson Thomson
A reasonably exhilarating hybrid of prison movie and courtroom drama.
Washington Post
Rita Kempley
Though based on a true story, this grueling drama is peopled by characters that have been fictionalized into big house cliches.
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