Film Snail

7.8

I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang

NR·1932·92m

Drama

Crime

Drama

Crime

Summary

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.

Cast

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

William Le Maire

A Texan

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)

Frederick Burton

Southern Prison Official (uncredited)

A.S. Byron

Cop in Barber Shop (uncredited)

Charles McAvoy

Cop (uncredited)

Eddy Chandler

Job Foreman (uncredited)

G. Pat Collins

Wilson (uncredited)

George Cooper

Vaudevillian (uncredited)

Jack Curtis

Prison Guard (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)

Jack Low

Big Prisoner (uncredited)

Edward McNamara

Second Warden (uncredited)

William Pawley

Doggy (uncredited)

Charles Sellon

Hot Dog Stand Owner (uncredited)

Allen D. Sewall

Train Station Guard (uncredited)

William H. Strauss

Pawnbroker (uncredited)

Sheila Terry

Allen's Secretary (uncredited)

Fred 'Snowflake' Toones

Marine on Ship (uncredited)

Jack Wise

Tailor (uncredited)

John Wray

Nordine (uncredited)

Crew

Director

Mervyn LeRoy

Screenplay

Howard J. Green

Screenplay

Sheridan Gibney

Screenplay

Brown Holmes

Story

Robert E. Burns

Reviews

John Chard

February 11, 2020

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