First Monday In October

Grumpy and old, but liberal, Supreme Court Justice Dan Snow (Walter Matthau) resists the appointment of the first lady justice, Ruth Loomis (Jill Clayburgh), to his august company in this sometimes entertaining comedy. Their exchanges, at first mildly amusing, grow tiresome after the first half hour. The film bogs down into an investigation by both judges into the shady dealings of Ruth's deceased tycoon husband. It's all meant to recall the great Tracy-Hepburn films, but the film doesn't even approach the wit and wonder of those marvelous movies. Ronald Neame's direction is slow-paced and even lazy in spots, Matthau loafs about like a cracker-barrel philosopher wh...