First Monday in October (1981)

Ever get the feeling Walter Matthau plays the same character in every movie? Oscar Madison? Buttermaker? Dan Snow? Yup, it's no mirage. But give him credit - no one does the grumpy routine better than Matthau. This film - conceived, written, produced and prepared before Sandra Day O'Connor was appointed to the Supreme Court - deals with the relationship between Matthau (his character is based loosely on William O. Douglas, I suspect) and Clayburgh and their differing legal perspectives. It's actually a charming look at a serious subject, the basic dilemma between morality and legality. Unfortunately, there is some gratuitous gender humor and nudity, which really has no place in this film. Clayburgh is likable enough, but her role is ridiculous, assuming the character really is a prominent woman - if you can overlook the tasteless gender jokes, the film is worth viewing.

Lighthearted and fluffy, "First Monday In October" tackles the issue of the first woman appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court. The film was topical when released in 1981, but now seems terribly dated. Grumpy but witty Justice Dan Snow (Walter Matthau), a liberal, spars with the new justice: Ruth Loomis (Jill Clayburgh), a conservative.The plot is slow and a bit cloistered, no doubt the result of the film's origin as a play. The plot does advance, but not until near the end. Most of the "action", especially in the middle Act, consists of witty dialogue among the various justices, especially between Snow and Loomis. The dialogue is so witty that it seems unnatural. Each character immediately responds with some clever come-back line. The script could easily have been converted to an episodic TV sitcom of the early eighties. Mercifully, it wasn't.The story has no real substance, apart from the rather obvious theme that any argument requires opposing points of view. And so, Justice Snow makes his point about a dinner menu. And Justice Loomis makes a counterpoint, showing how a reasoned debate can be applied even to life's most trivial moments.The film does have very good production values. And the performances of Matthau and Clayburgh are certainly credible. Viewers who like these two actors will no doubt like this film.My reasoned judgment of "First Monday In October" is that it is not a bad film. It's just very dated, and a tad fatuous.

Walter Matthau will always be one of my favorites from the sleazy bar-owner in King Creole to Hopscotch(another unusual pairing with Glenda Jackson)to countless other films he has appeared in... His droll comments and quick wit are hilarious.... and Jill Clayburgh does stand up to the occasion of matching him in legal argument(although scripted).... Of all the Matthau pieces, I think this is well worth the time, though I think the title(refers to the first sitting each year of the Supreme Court Judges)could have been a little more enticing to the general public... I think as a result of the title this movie has been largely overlooked... It is a funny, believable piece, well worth catching if you can!

I don´t know why this movie had such a low rating!!!In fact, I would give it at least an 8. The plot is good, the acting is better, but comedy ain´t the best. Anyway this is a really good romantic movie, perhaps a little off reality, but it is still well developed. We should really raise this rating. And I mean it!!