The First Deadly Sin
| The First Deadly Sin | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Brian G. Hutton |
| Produced by |
Frank Sinatra Elliott Kastner George Pappas Mark Shanker |
| Screenplay by | Mann Rubin |
| Based on |
The First Deadly Sin by Lawrence Sanders |
| Starring |
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| Music by | Gordon Jenkins |
| Cinematography | Jack Priestley |
| Distributed by | Filmways Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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112 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The First Deadly Sin is a 1980 American film produced by and starring Frank Sinatra. The film also features Faye Dunaway, David Dukes, Brenda Vaccaro, James Whitmore, Martin Gabel in his final role and Bruce Willis in his film debut. The movie is based on the 1973 novel of the same name written by Lawrence Sanders.
The First Deadly Sin was based on the first of a series of popular novels by Lawrence Sanders. The screenplay, which was adapted from Sanders' work, was written by Mann Rubin. The film was originally slated to be directed by Roman Polanski, who was dropped by Columbia Pictures after statutory rape charges were brought against him. Director Brian G. Hutton took over the production after Polanski fled to France.
The last of nine films produced by Sinatra, and his final starring role, he plays a troubled New York City homicide cop, Captain Edward X. Delaney. In a small role, Dunaway is the detective's ailing wife, hospitalized during the entire story with a rare kidney affliction. A then-unknown Willis has a bit part, virtually unrecognizable as a hat covers most of his face.
The First Deadly Sin was the third production by Sinatra's Artanis production company and was shot on location in New York City. It premiered on October 23, 1980 at Loew's State Theatre in Times Square as part of a benefit for the Mother Cabrini Medical Center. The musical score was by composer and arranger Gordon Jenkins, who had first worked with Sinatra on the 1957 album "Where Are You?"
The film opens outside Mount Pleasant Baptist Church on West 81st Street in Manhattan. A man is viciously attacked by another man wielding an ice axe. The attack is intercut with graphic closeups of a woman undergoing surgery. The NYPD arrive to process the scene. The coroner, Dr. Ferguson (Whitmore), shows Detective Edward Delaney (Sinatra) that the fatal wound on the skull was made with a round object.
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Wikipedia