Murder in the First is a dramatic film directed by Marc Rocco and released in 1995. The movie is based on the true story of Henri Young, a criminal who was sent to Alcatraz in the 1930s. Young, who was serving a sentence for stealing $5, robbed a grocery store during his brief stint as a free man. He was sentenced to three years in prison but ended up spending 17 years at Alcatraz because of his numerous escape attempts.
After one particularly bold escape attempt, Young was caught and sent to the "hole," where he was put in solitary confinement. He was supposed to spend just 19 days in the tiny, pitch-black cell, but instead spent more than three years there. The movie depicts his harrowing ordeal, showing how Young gradually descended into madness.
When Young was finally released from the hole, he killed a fellow prisoner with a spoon. This act of violence led to a trial in which Young's lawyer, James Stamphill, argued that Alcatraz was responsible for Young's descent into madness. The movie depicts Stamphill's attempts to prove that Young was driven to murder because of the brutal treatment he received at the hands of the prison authorities.
Murder in the First stars Kevin Bacon as Henri Young and Christian Slater as James Stamphill. The movie was well-received by critics, with many praising the performances of the lead actors. It was also nominated for the prestigious Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.