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The First Deadly Sin

Play trailer Poster for The First Deadly Sin R 1980 1h 52m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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63% Tomatometer 8 Reviews 32% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
A New York police detective with a bedridden wife hunts a killer who uses a mountaineer's ice ax.
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The First Deadly Sin

Critics Reviews

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Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times 10/23/2004
3/4
Who would have thought, in all honesty, that Frank Sinatra had this performance still left in him? Go to Full Review
Eddie Harrison film-authority.com 04/15/2023
3/5
…while not the grand send-off Sinatra was looking for, it’s an ernest, worthwhile movie for fans of the star… Go to Full Review
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 12/17/2015
B-
The film is decent enough, and Sinatra is easy to believe and to take in the cliched role. Go to Full Review
Steve Crum Dispatch-Tribune Newspapers 06/08/2006
2/5
Forgettable Sinatra vehicle, beneath the Chairman's talents. Go to Full Review
Pablo Villaça Cinema em Cena 05/29/2006
4/5
A ateno com os detalhes e a preocupao com o realismo, ao lado da atuao sbria de Sinatra, colocam o filme acima de outros exemplares do gnero (mesmo trazendo um assassino desinteressante). Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 10/01/2005
2/5
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Audience Reviews

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Dana H Nov 23 This film came out in 1980. At the time most films were very much geared towards action and comedy. I saw this film and loved it. Others, at the time, didn’t like the slow pace. I liked it because it showed several really good actors at their best. Sinatra and Dunaway were in top form in this film and the secondary cast was full of perfect performance character studies. It showed life full of people trying to do their best at a time when the world was rapidly changing. Movie goers were looking for loud, in your face, performances at that time. Not the subtle message and character studies this film gave. The weariness of age and fighting evil quietly, while the world was going through profound changes. Not so different from 2025 for me. Only watch if you want a slow burning character driven film to enjoy on a rainy afternoon or late at night when you can’t sleep. I dare you to pick out a non credited Bruce Willis in his no lines film debut as just one brief moment in the New York crowd, walking past Frank Sinatra. See more Steve D 08/17/2023 slow moving and joyless. See more 06/19/2021 Good movie that should have been better, but Sinatra's honest performance makes it well worth watching... See more 10/04/2020 It's a sin to kill but this movie deals with a killer committing several of them Starting the legendary Frank Sinatra and Faye Dunaway Delaney is nearing the end of his career as a New York City homicide detective. But, before he can retire, he picks up a case involving multiple brutal murders, the victims of which have nothing in common. A museum curator (Martin Gabel), they both start to piece together the few clues left behind. As if that wasn't enough to worry about his wife diagnosed with a serious disease. One of her kidneys is surgically removed and it's unsure what will happen to her. This whole thing feels more like those 1940s murder mysteries of old. Not a lot happens. Too much talking and so many slow moments. I think older audiences will get more out of it. See more 11/06/2019 Solid and gritty cop movie that also touches on personal life struggles with its characters, including Frank Sinatra's who has struggles with finding a serial killer and dealing with his wife's sever illness. Perhaps Sinatra's best work. Also great acting from the supporting cast including Martin Gabel, Brenda Vaccaro, Anthony Zerbe, and the great character actor Joe Spinell. See more 10/20/2019 Frank Sinatra gave the performance of his life. My husband & I throughly enjoyed this movie. See more Read all reviews
The First Deadly Sin

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Movie Info

Synopsis A New York police detective with a bedridden wife hunts a killer who uses a mountaineer's ice ax.
Director
Brian G. Hutton
Producer
George Pappas, Mark Shanker
Screenwriter
Mann Rubin
Distributor
Filmways Pictures
Production Co
Artanis Productions Inc., Cinema VII
Rating
R
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 3, 1980, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 18, 2010
Runtime
1h 52m
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