The First Deadly Sin (1980)

The First Deadly Sin is a book written by Lawrence Sanders in 1973 and a 1980 movie produced by and starring Frank Sinatra. The film also features Faye Dunaway, David Dukes, Brenda Vaccaro, James Whitmore, Martin Gabel in his final role and Bruce Willis in his film debut.

The First Deadly Sin was based on the first of a series of popular novels by Sanders. The screenplay, which was adapted from Sanders' work, was written by Mann Rubin. The film 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 fled to France.

The last of nine films produced by Sinatra, and his final starring role, he plays a troubled New York City homicide cop, Captain Edward X. Delaney. In a small role, Dunaway is the detective's ailing wife, hospitalized during the entire story with a rare kidney affliction. A then-unknown Willis has a bit part, virtually unrecognizable as a hat covers most of his face.

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

Synopsis

New York police Captain Edward X. Delaney is at the scene of a brutal murder when news comes that his hospitalized wife's kidney illness has worsened after an operation. Approaching retirement, with a growing depression in the face of his wife's condition, Delaney throws himself into the murder case. He is fascinated by a crime committed with what seems to be a very unusual weapon.

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