The Jericho Mile

• Director: Michael Mann
• AMG Rating:
• Genre: Drama
• Movie Type: Sports Drama
• Main Cast: Peter Strauss
• Release Year: 1979
• Country: US
• Run Time: 97 minutes

Plot

Director Michael Mann co-wrote the teleplay for The Jericho Mile with Patrick J. Nolan. Peter Strauss stars as "Rain" Murphy, serving a life sentence in Folsom Prison for first-degree murder. To break up the boredom of prison life, Murphy begins running laps around the prison recreation track. Prison officials take notice when Murphy runs a mile in less than four minutes. They lobby to enter Murphy into the Olympics, an act of largesse that not only pulls Murphy out of his misanthropy but also helps to unify his racially divided fellow prisoners. Originally telecast March 18, 1979, The Jericho Mile was filmed on location at Folsom Prison, with several inmates playing small roles--and talking the talk of prisoners, never mind the TV censors. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cast

Billy Green Bush - Earl Gulliver; Brian Dennehy - Dr. D.; Ed Lauter - Jerry Beloit; Richard Lawson - R.C. Stiles; Geoffrey Lewis - Dr. Bill Janowski; Richard Moll; Roger E. Mosley - "Cotton"; Miguel Piñero - Rubio; William Prince; Peter Strauss - Larry "Rain" Murphy; Beverly Todd

Credit

Michael Mann - Director, James Di Pasquale - Composer (Music Score), Jimmie Haskell - Composer (Music Score), Stephen Myles Berger - Production Designer, Rexford Metz - Cinematographer, Tim Zinnemann - Producer, Michael Mann - Screenwriter

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