The Vitaphone Corporation
Warner Bros. Pictures
Not part of a collection.
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
Six sticks of dynamite that blasted his way to freedom … and awoke America’s conscience!
A World War I veteran’s dreams of becoming a master architect evaporate in the cold light of economic realities. Things get even worse when he’s falsely convicted of a crime and sent to work on a chain gang.
- Original title
- I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
- Language
- EN
- Country
- US
- Budget
- $195,845
- Revenue
- —
John Chard
Feb 11, 2020 · via TMDB
Masterpiece that keeps influencing as much as it enthrals. Being a man who has a very unhealthy penchant for any film that deals with incarceration, it is with great elation that I can proudly proclaim this to be one of the greatest films of the genre. I had to finally give way and import the film on Region 1 to see what I was missing, boy was it joyous to see how this film has influenced some of my favourite film's of all time. This is one tough movie, it pulls no punches and the only surprise is that it was made in 1932, that the film is a grizzled masterpiece is down to the astute direction of Mervyn LeRoy and a quite brilliant performance from Paul Muni in the lead role of James Allen. Based on the real life writings of Robert Elliot Burns, the film is a harsh kick in the guts about the brutal penal system that existed when most of us were mere glints in our Father's eyes. It is part of a Warner Brothers controversial classic's box set that is available on Region 1, and its place on any controversial classic list is worthy. The film had major impact on reviews of the penal system, it caused uproar in Georgia (the film never mentions Georgia, but they knew it was about them), law suits followed and Robert Elliot Burns himself was constantly pursued by the authorities despite the state being privy to the actual facts of his case. I wont be boorish with the details as it is well documented across the net and those who haven't seen the film really need to address that issue. This picture strips it down to a primal story that begs a viewing from anyone interested in the genre - or actually for those interested in brilliant cinema from a golden era - period! 10/10
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Paul Muni
James Allen
Glenda Farrell
Marie Woods
Helen Vinson
Helen
Noel Francis
Linda
Preston Foster
Pete
Allen Jenkins
Barney Sykes
Berton Churchill
The Judge
Edward Ellis
Bomber Wells
David Landau
The Warden
Hale Hamilton
Rev. Allen
Sally Blane
Alice
Louise Carter
Mother
Everett Brown
Sebastian T. Yale - Strong Prisoner
Willard Robertson
Prison Board Chairman
Robert McWade
F.E. Ramsey
Robert Warwick
Fuller
Charles Middleton
Train Conductor (uncredited)
Dennis O'Keefe
Café Chateau Dancer (uncredited)
Wallis Clark
Chicago Lawyer (uncredited)
Erville Alderson
Police Chief (uncredited)
Irving Bacon
Bill - Barber (uncredited)
Reginald Barlow
Mr. Parker (uncredited)
James Bell
Red (uncredited)
Charles McAvoy
Cop (uncredited)
Eddy Chandler
Job Foreman (uncredited)
G. Pat Collins
Wilson (uncredited)
George Cooper
Vaudevillian (uncredited)
Harry Woods
Prison Guard (uncredited)
John Marston
Prison Commissioner (uncredited)
Douglass Dumbrille
District Attorney (uncredited)
J. Frank Glendon
Arresting Officer (uncredited)
Lee Shumway
Arresting Officer (uncredited)
Lew Kelly
Diner Cook (uncredited)
Jack La Rue
Ackerman (uncredited)
Edward LeSaint
Chamber of Commerce Chairman (uncredited)
Walter Long
Blacksmith (uncredited)
Edward McNamara
Second Warden (uncredited)
William Pawley
Doggy (uncredited)
Charles Sellon
Hot Dog Stand Owner (uncredited)
William H. Strauss
Pawnbroker (uncredited)
Sheila Terry
Allen's Secretary (uncredited)
Fred 'Snowflake' Toones
Marine on Ship (uncredited)
John Wray
Nordine (uncredited)
Orry-Kelly
Costume Design
Mervyn LeRoy
Director
Hal B. Wallis
Producer
Howard J. Green
Screenplay
City of God
M
The Lives of Others
A Taxi Driver
Downfall
All the President's Men
The Last Samurai
The Big Sleep
The Last Emperor
Apollo 13
The Experiment
Scarface
Pickpocket
Dead Man Walking
The Docks of New York
Wag the Dog
The Fortress
Wild Things
Shangrao Concentration Camp
Untitled Chico Mendes Biopic
The Great Escape
White Heat
Sing Sing
Brute Force
Fast Five
Dog Pound
The Outsiders
Riot in Cell Block 11
Creed III
Kiss of Death
The Way Back
Rescue Dawn
Mr. Majestyk
A Call to Spy
Cry of the City
Let Him Have It
I Walk Alone
Citizen Vigilante
Knock on Any Door
Levity
Nov 9, 1932
Washington, D.C.
Nov 19, 1932
