Murder in the First

Year:

1995

Duration:

122 min

Genres:

Drama | Thriller

IMDB rate:

7.3

Director:

Marc Rocco

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

Details

Country: USA

Release Date: 1995-01-20

Filming Locations: Triscenic Production Services Inc - 13042 Bradley Ave, Sylmar, Los Angeles, California, USA

Earnings

Gross: $17,382,000 (USA)£804,934 (UK)

Cast

Actor

Character

Eve Brenner

Christian Slater

James Stamphill

Kevin Bacon

Henri Young

Gary Oldman

Milton Glenn

Embeth Davidtz

Mary McCasslin

William H. Macy

D.A. William McNeil

Stephen Tobolowsky

Mr. Henkin

Brad Dourif

Byron Stamphill

R. Lee Ermey

Judge Clawson

Mia Kirshner

Adult Rosetta Young

Ben Slack

Jerry Hoolihan

Stefan Gierasch

Warden James Humson

Kyra Sedgwick

Blanche, Hooker

Alex Bookston

Alcatraz Doc (as Alexander Bookston)

Richie Allan

Jury Foreman

Herb Ritts

Mike Kelly

Charles Boswell

Derek Simpson, Former Alcatraz Guard

David Michael Sterling

Inmate Rufus 'Ray' McCain (as David Sterling)

Michael Melvin

Inmate Arthur 'Doc' Barker

George Maguire

Inmate #1

Nick Scoggin

Inmate #2

Douglas Bennett

Inmate #3

Joseph Richards

Inmate #4

Julius Varnado

Inmate #5

Tony Barr

Winthrop

Stuart Nisbet

Harve

Gary Ballard

Alcatraz Guard Swenson

Randy Pelish

Alcatraz Guard Wimer

Neil Summers

Alcatraz Guard Whitney

Sonny King

Alcatraz Guard Wimer (as Sonny H. King)

Eddie Bowz

Alcatraz Guard

Brian Leckner

Alcatraz Guard

Time Winters

Alcatraz Guard

James Keane

Alcatraz Guard

Lance Brady

Alcatraz Guard

Michael Merrins

Alcatraz Guard

Ray Quartermus

City Jail Guard

Lee Mathis

City Jail Guard

Wayne Parks

City Jail Guard

Warren Spottswood

Cable Car Conductor

Thomas Fenske

Newsreel Reporter

Robert Lee

Newsreel Reporter

Sheldon Feldner

Man on the Street

Fred Franklin

Man on the Street

Danny Kovacs

Man on the Street

Joseph Lucas

Man on the Street

William Hall

Man on the Street

Bill Barretta

Man on the Street

Randall Dudley

Man on the Street

Wally Rose

Shopkeeper

Amanda Borden

Rosetta Young, age 9

Joseph Cole

Marshall Gates

Richard Kwong

Chinese Monk

Gary Lee Davis

Giant of a Man

Mel Allen

Himself (archive sound) (uncredited)

Cabran E. Chamberlain

Prisoner (uncredited)

Bundy Chanock

Police Officer (uncredited)

Tory Christopher

Public Defender (uncredited)

James Anthony Cotton

Alcatraz Guard (uncredited)

Charles Cyphers

Bailif (uncredited)

Laird Macintosh

Reporter (uncredited)

Mary Mackey

Prison Guard's Wife (uncredited)

Daniel Mandehr

Alcatraz Guard (uncredited)

Theo Mayes

Prison Barber (uncredited)

Dennis Pappalardo

Inmate (uncredited)

Douglas W. Randall

Prison Guard (uncredited)

Rafael Siegel

Newspaper Reporter (uncredited)

Joseph Quinn Simpkins

Reporter (uncredited)

James A. Swan

Alcatraz Guard (uncredited)

Nicole Vigil

Restaurant Patron (uncredited)

Ryken Zane

Reporter (uncredited)

Did you know?

Trivia

The real Henry Young remained at Alcatraz until 1948, when he was transferred to the Medical Center for Federal Prisoners at Springfield, Missouri. When his Federal sentence expired in 1954, he was turned over to the Washington State Penitentiary at Walla Walla to begin a life sentence for an earlier murder conviction. In 1972, at the age of 61, Young was released from Washington State Penitentiary, but he jumped parole and, according to Washington State authorities, his whereabouts are unknown, therefore, Young might still be alive.

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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.)

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While filming courtroom scenes, the location was hit by the 6.7 Northridge, California, earthquake. Kevin Bacon was handcuffed to a large table, he took refuge underneath, while an enormous crystal chandelier swung overhead. The warehouse studio was later condemned.

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Goofs

In the scene when Christian Slater's character is running down the hill after the Trolley in San Fransisco, you see many cars that are appropriate for the period lining the streets. If you look closely, however, you'll see Red-Zones. There weren't Red Zones in San Fransisco during this time.

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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.

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The position of the spoon in Henri's hand changes while he's at the table just before murdering Rufus.

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Quotes

James Stamphill: [murder conviction looming] Mister Young, we have *got* to talk. Would you like a cigarette?