Murder in the First (VHS, 1998, Warner Bros. Hits)

Terrific true story about the trial that brought down Alcatraz. It tells the tale of Henry Young (Kevin Bacon), whose parents had died leaving him alone to look after his younger sister, then later wrongly imprisoned for murder and sent to alcatraz. Where he is tortured by the prison warden Mr.Glenn (Gary Oldman).
When his escape plan fails, he isthrown down a steel flight of stairs, beaten, his ankles were slashed condemning him to walk with a hobbnle for the rest of his life and then placed in solitary confinement for three years. Then when he is taken out of solitary confinement he kills the man who grassed on him and his life is put on trial. Taking his case to court is Christian Slater's young attorney, who turns the trial into an indictment of a repellent institution.
There are some memorable performances with Kevin bacon stealing the show. He gives a convincing performance as the young convict and made me realise what a fine and under-rated actor he is. Gary Oldman was great as always and did his sinister bad guy routine very well. But I felt Christian Slater's performance was a bit wooden and he only just scraped by.

This film was moving made me really feel for Henry Young. The only possible flaws being Christian Slater and at times it was ever so slightly cheesy. But overall I would say this was a great film by Marc Rocco. Forcefull stuff