The Jericho Mile is an Emmy-winning 1979 made for television movie that stars Peter Strauss and is directed by Michael Mann. Originally airing on March 18, 1979 on ABC, the film features Strauss as Larry "Rain" Murphy, a man who is serving a life sentence for murdering his father-in-law. While behing bars, Murphy takes up running, and his speed and form are seen as being Olympic-caliber. However, his status as a convict threaten to end his dreams of qualifying for the Summer Games.
The film, which also starred Brian Dennehy and Roger E. Mosley, was shot on location at Folsom Prison outside of Sacramento, California. It was highly acclaimed and was nominated for four Emmys. It won three, including one for Strauss for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series.