First Monday In October

Starring: Walter Matthau, Jill Clayburgh, Barnard Hughes, et al.

Walter Matthau and Jill Clayburgh star in this dramatic comedy that centers around the appointment of the first woman to the U.S. Supreme Court. She is aggressive, witty, magnetic and an arch-conservative. He is wry, opinionated and resoundingly liberal. One hundred and one men have preceded the new female justice to seat on the bench of the nation's highest court, but now it's eight men and her. All unanimously accept their new colleague -- except Matthau, "The Great Dissenter." He becomes the source of her fury, her challenges, her antagonism...and finally, her loving admiration. Matthau and Clayburgh are unforgettably and hilariously opposed in this contemporary tale that goes behind the bench with wit, wisdom and great conviction.

• Format: DVD
• Language: English
• UPC: 097360140842
• Release Date: May 2003
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Publisher: Paramount
• Director: Ronald Neame
• Starring: Walter Matthau, Jill Clayburgh, Barnard Hughes, Jan Sterling, James Stephens, Joshua Bryant, Wiley Harker, F.J. O'Neil, Charles Lampkin, Lew Palter
• Runtime: 1 hour, 39 minutes
• Number of Disks: 1
• Other Video Info: color
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.

Customer Reviews

See the Lysol Lady of Orange County

Long before Sandra Day O'Connor (In 1981, President Reagan appointed her to the U.S. Supreme Court), there was a play about the first woman on the Supreme Court. This movie, "First Monday in October" (1981), chronicles the potential problems of allowing such a radical act to happen. It involves momentum engines and cabals. This is a great supporting cast; try to remember where you saw them before. Justice Dan Snow (Walter Matthau) and Justice Ruth Hagadorn Loomis (Jill Clayburgh) play off each other as they are politically polarized—though not necessarily on the left versus right—over several subjects. While bantering, they come to realize they have more in common personally than differences. The story shows how they learn from each other and cope with adversity. We have fun in the meantime, watching their interaction. Be sure to look for bluebirds and cherry blossoms. You may notice that we are also introduced to a large selection of Handel's Water Music. Walter Matthau often chooses many classical pieces of music for his movies. This music was also played at the Charles and Camilla religious blessing.