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.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.5/5
User Ratings: 20,535
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
Jun 1, 1994 Wide
Jun 22, 1999
Warner Home Video
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.
More than likely you will forgive the compromises -- the story of Henri Young needed to be told.
Woefully over-manipulative and over-the-top.
A reasonably exhilarating hybrid of prison movie and courtroom drama.
Regardless of how this version raises the hackles of Alcatraz aficionados, Marc Rocco's movie is a solid and affecting example of film making.
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.
Moving story of justice but too intense for kids.
A must see for Kevin Bacon's performance, especially in the early scenes.
It is Bacon's absolutely powerhouse performance that helps make 'Murder' one of the classic prison pictures of all time. (published 1-27-95)
Average thriller.
O roteiro maniqueísta e a direção pesada, nada sutil, de Rocco comprometem irremediavelmente o filme - que ainda conta com a atuação nada convincente de Slater.
An arbitrary by-the-numbers courtroom/crime yarn that sometimes shifts between being too preachy and pretentious.
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
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, 2010Super Reviewer
| 35% | The Hangover Part II |
| 25% | Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Par... |
| 81% | Kung Fu Panda 2 |
| 44% | Cowboys & Aliens |
| 83% | Rise of the Planet of the Apes |
| 25% | Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Par... |
| 88% | Lady and the Tramp |
| 69% | A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas |
| 21% | Fireflies in the Garden |
| 45% | The Rebound |
Journey 2 Not Worth the Trip
What are his 10 best movies ever?
See the all-new action-packed trailer!
Five new Marvelous pictures