I consider it a real treat anytime I get to watch a movie with the late, great Walter Matthau. This week was especially good as I’ve gotten to see two that I hadn’t seen in years. The first one is Paramount’s 1981 comedy, “First Monday in October.” It was based on the play by Jerome Lawrence, presenting us with a story of the first woman to be appointed to the Supreme Court. Oddly enough, it came out the same year that Sandra Day O’Connor was officially appointed to the Supreme Court. Shades of art imitating life, or the other way around? In “First Monday in October,” Jill Clayburgh stars as Ruth Loomis, an ultra-conservative who becomes the aforementioned first female Supreme Court Justice. Needless to say, her views don’t sit well with Judge Dan Snow (Walter Matthau), who is both a liberal and a bit of a curmudgeon. As you might guess they go head to head against almost every issue, until a personal situation arises that might compromise Loomis’ new position.

Though this is certainly far from Matthau’s best work, the banter between he and Clayburgh have moments that are classic. If there is anything that somewhat undermines the overall story, it’s… well, the overall story. It was bit too predictable, all the way up through Loomis’ crisis to its ultimate resolution. I’m actually quite curious to read or see the original Broadway play by Lawrence so I might find out how it differs from the screenplay.

Once again, Parmount has done a great job in releasing an older and perhaps lesser film and making sure that the final product looks and sounds as good as possible. However, also again there are no extra features to speak of, which admittedly might not have been necessary. I would have been interested to know if O’Connor ever made any public comments about the film, which is often mistaken by some to be biographical in nature.

“First Monday in October,” in spite of some of its contrived plotting, is still a pretty entertaining movie.

Directed by: Ronald Neame
Starring: Walter Matthau, Jill Clayburgh, Barnard Hughes, Jan Sterling, James Stephens
Extras: None
Specifications: Widescreen, Dolby Digital
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: 7/6/2004
Region 1
MPAA Rating: R
Website

We'll give First Monday In October a B-.