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Murder in the First (1994)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 5.5/10
Reviews Counted: 36
Fresh: 18 | Rotten: 18

No consensus yet.

Average Rating: 4.7/10
Critic Reviews: 11
Fresh: 4 | Rotten: 7

No consensus yet.

audience

liked it
Average Rating: 3.5/5
User Ratings: 20,535

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Movie Info

This shocking prison drama was inspired by a true story. In 1938, Henri Young (Kevin Bacon), sentenced to Alcatraz for stealing $5, attempted to escape from prison with three other prisoners. One of the escapees was captured, and to curry favor with Warden Glenn (Gary Oldman), he informed on the others. Young was soon brought back to custody, and was to be punished by spending 19 days in solitary confinement. Nineteen days stretched into three years, in which Young was kept in a pit with no

R, 2 hr. 2 min.

Mystery & Suspense, Drama

Directed By: Marc Rocco

In Theaters: Jun 1, 1994 Wide

On DVD: Jun 22, 1999

Warner Home Video

Murder in the First Trailer & Photos

Cast

Christian Slater
James Stamphill
Kevin Bacon
Henri Young
Gary Oldman
Associate Warden Glenn
Embeth Davidtz
Mary McCasslin
William H. Macy
William McNeil
Brad Dourif
Byron Stamphill
R. Lee Ermey
Judge Clawson
Gary Ballard
Alcatraz Guard Swenson
Tony Barr
Winthrop
Douglas Bennett
Inmate #3
Charles Boswell
Simpson
Eddie Bowz
Alcatraz Guard
Eve Brenner
Winthrop's Secretary
Sheldon Feldner
Man on the Street
Stefan Gierasch
Warden James Humson
James Keane
Alcatraz Guard
Mia Kirshner
Adult Rosetta Young
Danny Kovacs
Man on the Street
George Maguire (II)
Inmate #1
Michael Merrins
Alcatraz Guard
Stuart Nisbet
Harve
Randy Pelish
Alcatraz Guard Wimer
Kyra Sedgwick
Blanche
Ben Slack
Jerry Hoolihan
Neil Summers
Alcatraz Guard Whitney
Tim Winters
Alcatraz Guard
Gary Lee Davis
Giant of a Man
Stephen Tobolowsky
Mr. Henkin
Michael Melvin
Inmate Arthur "Doc" Bar...
Wally Rose
Shopkeeper
William Hall
Man on the Street
Rob Lee
Newsreel Reporter
George Maguire (I)

Critic Reviews for Murder in the First

All Critics (40) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (18) | Rotten (18) | DVD (1)

The figures are right, the investment looks good, but the emotional pay-off is minimal.

April 12, 2002 Full Review Source: Globe and Mail

| Comment

Rick Groen

Globe and Mail

Top Critic

More than likely you will forgive the compromises -- the story of Henri Young needed to be told.

May 12, 2001 Comment

Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

Top Critic

Woefully over-manipulative and over-the-top.

February 13, 2001 Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times

| Comment

Kenneth Turan

Los Angeles Times

Top Critic

A reasonably exhilarating hybrid of prison movie and courtroom drama.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post

| Comment

Desson Thomson

Washington Post

Top Critic

Regardless of how this version raises the hackles of Alcatraz aficionados, Marc Rocco's movie is a solid and affecting example of film making.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: ReelViews

| Comment

James Berardinelli

ReelViews

Top Critic

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.

January 1, 2000 Comment

Stanley Kauffmann

New Republic

Top Critic

Moving story of justice but too intense for kids.

January 2, 2011 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comment

Sarah Wenk

Common Sense Media

A must see for Kevin Bacon's performance, especially in the early scenes.

January 30, 2005 Comment

Brandon Judell

PopcornQ

It is Bacon's absolutely powerhouse performance that helps make 'Murder' one of the classic prison pictures of all time. (published 1-27-95)

January 4, 2005 Full Review | Comment

Steve Crum

Kansas City Kansan Source: Kansas City Kansan

Average thriller.

December 23, 2004 Comment

Alex Sandell

Juicy Cerebellum

O roteiro manique�sta e a dire��o pesada, nada sutil, de Rocco comprometem irremediavelmente o filme - que ainda conta com a atua��o nada convincente de Slater.

April 13, 2004 Comment

Pablo Villaca

Cinema em Cena

An arbitrary by-the-numbers courtroom/crime yarn that sometimes shifts between being too preachy and pretentious.

May 29, 2003 Comment

Frank Ochieng

Movie Eye

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Murder in the First

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James Stamphill: Unlike many men who lived long after, Henry Young did not die in vain. In the end he was not afraid. He lived and he died in triumph. If only we could all do that.�"One broke his silence. The other broke the system."I did not for the most part like Murder in the First. Most of that came from my general

December 18, 2011

Melvin White

Super Reviewer

I thought this was just another boring prison drama, but it is based on a true story, which makes it slightly more interesting. If you like prison dramas, you'll like it better than me.

September 6, 2010

AJ Verser

Super Reviewer

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