User:Raprescott/The Jericho Mile (Film)

The Jericho Mile is a 1979 television drama film written by Patrick J. Nolan and directed by Michael Mann. The film stars Peter Strauss as Larry 'Rain' Murphy.

The film portrays Murphy, as an inmate of Folsom State Prison who runs in the prison's exercise yard to temporarily escape the walls and isolation of prison. The film was nominated for several awards, winning an 1980 ACE, a 1980 Directors Guild of America Award and 3 1979 Emmy's after being nominated for 4. The film was available on VHS and a DVD release has not been found.

Plot
Larry 'Rain' Murphy an inmate of Folsom State Prison is serving a life term for the murder of his father. Murphy freely admits to the crime and states that he is where he belongs. Murphy chooses to serve his time by isolating himself from fellow inmates. His only enjoyment, or escape is long distance running in the prison recreation yard, specifically the mile. He has only one friend R.C Stiles (Richard Lawson) who is his cell neigbor and running partner.

Murphy's running has gained the interest of the prison phsychiatrist, Dr. Bill Janowski (Geoffrey Lewis) and asks the prison sports writer to time Murphy as he does circuits of the prison yards baseball field. The reporter reports back to Dr. Janowski the Murphy is running four minute miles. The doctor takes the information to the Warden Earl Gulliver (Billy Green Bush) who immediatly contacts the Sacromento State running coach Jerry Beloit (Ed Lauter).

Meanwhile Murphy's friend Stiles is obsessed with getting his conjugal visit from his wife pushed up sooner then the three months time he currently has to wait. To expidite the process Stiles strikes a deal with Dr. D the leader of the lucrative blackmarket operations within the prison and the white inmates. Dr. D agrees to arrange the movement of Stiles visit in exhange for a favor at a later date. Murphy warns Stiles that it is a bad idea to get involved with Dr. D and his crew. Stiles chooses to ignore the advice.

While Stiles goes to meet his wife for his conjugal visit, Murphy is encouraged to demonstrate his running abilities the Jerry Beloit who has brought some of his team members to the prison to run against Murphy. Murphy turns in an outstanding time and Jerry Beloit asks when he can start training Murphy for the upcoming olympic trials. Murphy feels set up by the warden and Dr. Janowski and declines the offer to be trained. At the same time Stiles is waiting for his wife and is surprised by a mule sent in to pose as Stiles wife by Dr. D. He has been setup and the mule informs him to act like that she is his wife and to take two balloons of heroin back into the prison. Stiles refuses and leaves to retune to the cell block. The interaction attracts the attention of the guards and the mule is arrested n her attempt to leave the yard.

When Stiles returns to his cell he informs Murphy of what happend. Murphy tells Stiles he must immediately get into solitary to protect himself from retribution from Dr. D and his gang. When the cell doors are about to opne to release the inmates for exercise time, Murphy's cell is bolted by a member of Dr. D's crew. Stiles hustles out of his cell, while Murphy frantically warns him to wait. Murphy finally extricates himself from his cell and while he races to catch up to Stiles; Stiles is attacked and stabbed to death by members of Dr. D's gang.

An angry and distraught Murphy goes to Dr. Janowski and tell him he will train with Jerry Beloit on one condiion; five minutes alone in the machine shop, an area of the prison controlled by Dr. D. Murphy enters the machine shop and the guards inform the workers to leave. Murphy begins to tear up the area, hurling boxes and parts everywhere. He discovers Dr. D's cash stash and when prison yard time comes he marches into the center of the baseball field and burns the money in front of Dr. D. Dr. D infuriated yells to Murphy he is a dead man.

The African American inmates lead by Cotton Crown (Roger E. Mosely) is determined to find out.

Rain Murphy is a man sentenced to life in prison, choosing to do his time in near-isolation, and engages in distance running when given the opportunity for free-time. While his form and speed capture the attention of prison officials who believe he could be competitive for the Olympics, Murphy expresses disinterest. But when the one man he has befriended is taken advantage of by political groups within the prison, Murphy decides to pursue the opportunity presented to him in his memory. This action not only has profound changes on him, but also on the atmosphere of the inmates in the prison and their outlook on the accomplishments he can make.