A lawyer in his youth (Christian Slater) takes on the case of an inmate (Kevin Bacon) held at Alcatraz, who stands accused of murder in 1941. The defense centers around the idea that it was the prison’s harsh conditions that led to the crime. Gary Oldman portrays a Warden lacking compassion – technically an associate Warden – and R. Lee Ermey appears as the presiding judge. "Murder in the First," released in 1995, is a combination of prison scenes and courtroom proceedings claiming to be “inspired by true events.” This indicates that it isn't a biographical account of Henri Young; instead, his story serves as a vehicle for exposing questionable and inhumane practices at Alcatraz during the 1930s. It’s worth researching the actual history afterward, not just Young’s experiences and trial, but also aspects like the ‘Dungeon’ and how prisoners were handled in solitary confinement early on at that infamous island. The film does a decent job of transporting viewers to the era of the 1930s and early 40s, though the filmmakers seem to have exaggerated the depiction of prison officials' cruelty and Young’s supposed innocence (which wasn’t entirely accurate), suggesting an underlying purpose. However, since Young’s case encompassed multiple issues and incidents at Alcatraz, this aspect can be forgiven. Despite its flaws, it shares similarities with "The Shawshank Redemption," a surprise success from the previous year (though initially not recognized as such). I wouldn't go so far as to say “Murder in the First” is on par with that film, but those who enjoyed "Shawshank" will likely find something to appreciate here. Embeth Davidtz, Kyra Sedgwick and Mia Kirshner also appear in supporting roles; Davidtz delivers a particularly strong performance. The movie has a running time of 2 hours and 2 minutes and was filmed on location in San Francisco & Alcatraz Island, with the courtroom scenes shot at Triscenic Production Services Inc. near Los Angeles. GRADE: B-

Source on TMDB