I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)
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.
- Mervyn LeRoy
- Al Alleborn
- Brown Holmes
- Sheridan Gibney
- Howard J. Green
- Robert E. Burns
Rating: 7.8/10 by 207 users
Alternative Title:
Soy un fugitivo - AR
Ik, een vluchteling - BE
Jeg er en flygtning - DK
Olen vainottu kahlekarkuri - FI
Je suis un évadé - FR
Eimai enas drapetis - GR
Szökevény vagyok - HU
Eu Sou um Evadido - PT
Я – беглый каторжник - RU
Ben bir pranga kaçagiyim - TR
Večiti begunac - RS
Jagd auf James A. - DE
Побег с каторги - SU
仮面の米国 - JP
Είμαι ένας δραπέτης - GR
亡命者 - CN
Country:
United States of America
Language:
English
Runtime: 01 hour 32 minutes
Budget: $195,845
Revenue: $0
Plot Keyword: prison, war veteran, blackmail, hamburger, based on true story, chain gang, fugitive, pre-code, escaped prisoner, reverend, tradesman, prison system, prison brutality, prison life, prison reform, innocent in jail, reformed criminal, escapee, forced labor
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
