Search - Murder in the First on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Violence, Adult Situations, Not For Children, Adult Language Movie Release: 1995 DVD Release: 06/22/1999 Format: DVD - Pan and Scan,Soft-Matted WSE for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English, French SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 2 mins Studio: Warner Home Video Total Copies: 8 Genres: Drama, Psychological Drama, Prison Film See Also: Murder in the First

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 light, no toilet, no furniture, and nothing to read. Young emerged from solitary a vengeful madman, and he quickly murdered the convict who turned him in. Young was put on trial for the killing, and assigned a first-time public defender, James Stamphill (Christian Slater). Stamphill was horrified by Young's tales of the conditions at Alcatraz, and he used them as the basis of his defense for his client, believing that anyone would be driven to madness and murder if they had been treated the same way as Young. Murder in the First also features Embeth Davidtz, William H. Macy, Brad Dourif, and R. Lee Ermey. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Christian Slater - James Stamphill
Kevin Bacon - Henri Young
Gary Oldman - Associate Warden Glenn
Embeth Davidtz - Mary McCasslin
William H. Macy - William McNeil

Director Marc Rocco's exploration of the case that brought an end to Alcatraz comes to DVD with two different transfers. The widescreen image preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 and is preferable to the standard full-frame 1.33:1 presentation. English and French soundtracks are rendered in Dolby Digital Stereo. Subtitles are accessible in both of those languages as well. There are no supplemental materials of note on this disc, which is something of a shame seeing as the story is based on real events. The film's highlight, a riveting performance by Kevin Bacon, resonates as intensely on the small screen as it did in theaters. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide