MURDER IN THE FIRST
US, 1995, 122 minutes, Colour.
Christian Slater, Kevin Bacon, Gary Oldman, Embeth Davidtz, William H. Macy, Brad Dourif, R. Lee Ermy, Mia Kirshner, Stefan Gierasch, Kyra Sedgwick, Stephen Tobolowski.
Directed by Marc Rocco.
Another prison film, very demanding, a picture of injustice in Alcatraz in the 30s, Murder in the First. Kevin Bacon is superb as the victim prisoner. Set in the early 40s, the film recreates the horrors of prison injustice and then moves to being a powerful courtroom drama with Christian Slater as a young, inexperienced lawyer, expected to lose his case defending the brutalised Bacon. But, he challenges the system - as the film does its audience. Prisons and justice.
Don Siegel’s Escape from Alcatraz was a story about escapes from the prison and starred Clint Eastwood. The other celebrated Alcatraz story was The Birdman of Alcatraz with Burt Lancaster.
1.The history of Alcatraz? The history of prisons in the United States? The legal perspectives of the film? Personal crises? The combination of these themes?
2.The use of newsreel footage blending into black and white film for recreating the 1930s, the 1940s? San Francisco, the details of Alcatraz, the courts? Public opinion about crime, sentencing, Alcatraz? The atmospheric score?
3.The title, Henry Young and his offence? The officials and their turning a man mad, to crime? The justice issues, legal issues? The final decision? The recommendation of the jury?
4.The history of Alcatraz, in the civil war, in San Francisco harbour? For Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly? The failure of attempted escapes? The administration, Humson and his absences, public figure? Glenn and his harsh administration? The rules? The rules for solitary confinement, decision to make exceptions for Henry Young? The interviews about discipline and the success of Alcatraz? The dungeons, the isolation, the dark? The exposure of Alcatraz and the cruelty? Reform and ultimate closure?
5.The introduction to Henry Young, James Stamphill and his voice-over? The background of his petty crime, his sister, the attempt to escape from Alcatraz, the solitary, for over three years? The treatment by Glenn, the other wardens and guards? His back-story? Audience interest and sympathy?
6.The graphic visualising of his imprisonment, the isolation, the punishment, lying naked, the darkness, the food, the bashings, the rare exercise? His muttering to himself, keeping baseball information to keep sane? The passing of the years? His getting out, bewilderment, hearing voices? In the dining room, the reaction, the spoon and his killing the inmate?
7.The warden, his rare visits, rarely checking? Policy? Supported by the government? His behaviour in the court, cross-examined, his falling back on the fact that Henry Young had tried to escape?
8.Glenn, his cruelty, his relationship with the warden? Brutality to the prisoners, especially to Henry Young? His being interrogated in the court, his arrogance, his succumbing to pressure, his anger?
9.James Stamphill and his career, his studies? His relationship with Mary? In the office? With Mr Henkin? His being given the job? The antagonism of Henkin? His visits to Henry Young, the lack of communication, gradual trust, the talk about baseball and Joe di Maggio?
10.Mary, her place in the department, her relationship to James, her visit to the dungeons and being overpowered? James and his being sacked, her taking his place? Their drifting apart?
11.James’s research, the information about the dungeons, the visit? The discussions with his brother, his brother taking the photo? His contacting the warder, their being bashed? The witnesses? His confrontation with his brother – and his comment about their later reconciliation?
12.In court, Henry Young and his slouching, silence, poking his tongue out at the little girl? Mc Neill and the prosecution, his sure case, his stances, objections? The judge, Stamphill and his stances, the interchanges, the procedures, his decision to try Alcatraz and its administrators?
13.The severity of the judge, his decision about objections, his decision about arraigning Alcatraz? His managing the trial?
14.The details of the procedure, the cross-examinations, the alcoholic witness and his being dismissed? The truth gradually emerging? The cross-examination of Glenn and Humson?
15.The decision to put Henry Young on the stand, his wanting to change his lawyer, his wanting to die? Stamphill making him tell the truth, especially about his fear of going back to Alcatraz?
16.Stamphill, his character, development, change? Arranging for Henry’s sister to come and visit him? The effect on Henry?
17.The aftermath, Henry going back to Alcatraz, the reception by Glenn, his suicide?
18.Insights into American prison systems, the 1930s and 1940s, the administration of justice, legal aspects?
