The First Deadly Sin

The First Deadly Sin is a book written by Lawrence trap the killer, all while the condition of the policemans
Sanders in 1973 and a 1980 movie produced by and star- wife deteriorates by the hour.
ring Frank Sinatra. The lm also features Faye Dunaway,
David Dukes, Brenda Vaccaro, James Whitmore, Martin
Gabel in his nal acting role and Bruce Willis in his lm 2 Cast
debut.
The First Deadly Sin was based on the rst of a series of
popular novels by Sanders. The screenplay, which was
adapted from Sanders work, was written by Mann Rubin.[1] The lm 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 ed to France.

Frank Sinatra as Edward X. Delaney

The last of nine lms produced by Sinatra, and his nal

starring role, he plays a troubled New York City homicide cop, Captain Edward X. Delaney. In a small role,
Dunaway is the detectives ailing wife, hospitalized during the entire story with a rare kidney aiction. A thenunknown Willis has a bit part, virtually unrecognizable as
a hat covers most of his face.

Martin Gabel as Christopher Langley

Faye Dunaway as Barbara Delaney

David Dukes as Daniel Blank
George Coe as Dr. Bernardi
Brenda Vaccaro as Monica Gilbert

Bruce Willis as Man Entering Diner (uncredited)

3 Critical reception
The First Deadly Sin failed to make much of an impression at the box oce, while some critics were left cold by
a slow-burning picture that tried to focus more on character and plot without succumbing to action scenes and
shootouts.

The First Deadly Sin was the third production by Sinatras

Artanis production company and was shot on location in
New York City. It premiered on October 23, 1980 at
Loews State Theatre in Times Square as part of a benet for the Mother Cabrini Medical Center. The musical score was by composer and arranger Gordon Jenkins, who had rst worked with Sinatra on the 1957 album
Where Are You?"

The ending was changed from the novel in which the killer
Daniel Blank retreated to a blu called Devils Needle in
upstate New York where he died of dehydration before
Delaney and the State Troopers were able to bring him
down. Here, a more subtle approach allowed the ending
1 Plot
to be more in tune with the rest of the lm. Critics Roger
Ebert and Leonard Maltin both praised Sinatras perforNew York police Captain Edward X. Delaney is at the mance as one of his best, while daughter Nancy Sinatra
scene of a brutal murder when news comes that his hos- commented in her book Sinatra: An American Legend
pitalized wifes kidney illness has worsened after an op- that this was a lm her father was very excited about.
eration. Approaching retirement, with a growing depres- Who would have thought, in all honesty, that Frank Sinasion in the face of his wifes condition, Delaney throws tra still had this performance in him?" wrote Roger Ebert
himself into the murder case. He is fascinated by a crime in the Chicago Sun-Times. The movie is one of the seacommitted with what seems to be a very unusual weapon. sons pleasant surprises. Leonard Maltin wrote: Sinatra
Delaney tries to cross-reference the recent killing with in good form in one of his better serious vehicles.
other murders in various parts of the city, looking for a
common link. A lack of solid leads leaves Delaney at
loose ends until he recruits assistance from an enthusias- 4 Accolades
tic museum curator, a coroner, and the victims wife.
Nominated: Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy &
Horror Films, USA Best Supporting Actor, Martin
Gabel

The investigation leads Delaney to a man named Blank,

a seemingly normal businessman who is leading a secret
life. Delaney uses psychological warfare in an attempt to
1

6
Nominated: Edgar Allan Poe Awards, The Edgar
Award for Best Picture
1st Golden Raspberry Award
Nominated: Worst Actress (Faye Dunaway)

References

[1] Dagan, Carmel (2013-10-17). Mann Rubin, Screenwriter of First Deadly Sin, Dies at 85. Variety (magazine). Retrieved 2013-11-03.

External links
Roger Eberts Review
The First Deadly Sin at the Internet Movie Database
The First Deadly Sin at AllMovie

EXTERNAL LINKS

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

7.1

Text

The First Deadly Sin Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%20First%20Deadly%20Sin?oldid=637967890 Contributors: Wwoods,

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7.2

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7.3

Content license

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