vincentlynch-moonoi Let's see. We need to cast a justice of the United States Supreme Court. Who would be good? I can't say that Walter Matthau would come to my mind very readily. And yet, as I sat there watching this film again after 34 years, it occurred to me that perhaps, this was Matthau's best performance because it is not at all type casting. And his repartee with Jill Clayburgh when they were discussing pornography is just brilliant.Of course, today this film seems dated. We have more than one female justice of the Supreme Court, and indeed, one was selected right about when this film came out.There is one big problem with this film from my perspective. The ending leaves everything up in the air. So much more could have been done with the conclusion of the film.Beyond that, it's a very nice production (and for film buffs, one of the producers was actress Martha Scott). Other than the interiors of the Supreme Court, much was shot on location.The cast was excellent. As I already indicated, Walter Matthau was superb here in his role as a liberal curmudgeon on the Supreme Court. And, there's great chemistry with Jill Clayburgh, who played the first female member of the Supreme Court. Barnard Hughes was just right for the role of Chief Justice. Jan Sterling had a minor role as Matthau's wife. James Stephens was a young actor who sort of disappeared after a while, but I always thought he was excellent, as he is here.While not a perfect film, it's darned good, and I rather admire it. A strong "7".

bkoganbing Though First Monday In October didn't last too long on Broadway, the Jerome Lawrence-Robert E. Lee play made one fine sparkling movie for Walter Matthau and Jill Clayburgh taking over the roles that Henry Fonda and Jill Alexander did on the stage.In 1978 when this was on stage, the iconoclastic William O. Douglas had been gone three years from the Supreme Court and the idea of a woman justice was yet untried. So imagine the serendipitous joy with the producers when Ronald Reagan added Sandra Day O'Connor to the court. You couldn't buy better publicity.Matthau is clearly based on William O. Douglas who was a far seeing advocate for social justice and change on the bench. Matthau if you can believe is a kinder, gentler version of Douglas. In real life Douglas was not a nice guy, in fact personally he was a swine. The banter with which you see him engage his law clerk James Stephens would never happen, he went through law clerks like he did wives. Ditto with Jan Sterling playing Mrs. Matthau. The first Mrs. Douglas had taken a hike years earlier and Douglas was on wife number 4 in her twenties at this time. He died in 1980.O'Connor replaced Potter Stewart in 1981 on the bench so in real life these two never served. Still First Monday In October you'd like to think would be how they got along with even a little romance thrown in once the two got to know each other. Douglas never got along with colleagues, especially those who had a different point of view.Still Matthau is one of his patented curmudgeons and Clayburgh do have a good cinema chemistry which makes First Monday In October a pleasant piece of viewing.

JerryWeaver This is filmed theater and does not cut it as a movie. It just does not come across with any realism or vibrancy.The point is not that a film must have action. Indeed, one of my all-time favorite movies is "My Dinner with Andre", which consists entirely of a dinner conversation between two old friends. But "First Monday in October" just doesn't have any spark.3/10

Mr. Whispy You have to hand it to Walter Matthau, the older he gets, the more feisty his characters become!!This is a sorely underappreciated minor gem with two brilliant performances from Matthau and Clayburgh. Their chemistry is wonderful. All in all the film is clever, funny, original, and down right fun!!!If you happen to find this film at your local video store, check it out...its well worth discovering!