Majorthebys Charming and brutal

Stoutor It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

Allison Davies The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Phillipa Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

Scott LeBrun The autobiographical writings of Robert E. Burns, a real life chain gang escapee, form the basis for this stark, believable and effective picture. It's one of the finest examples, on film, of a case where the "justice" system would seek to make an example out of somebody, and that somebody turned out to be innocent.James Allen (Paul Muni) comes home from WWI with a change of heart. He no longer is willing to go into a safe, secure gig at a shoe factory, but wishes to make his name in construction instead. But he finds that job prospects are virtually nil. Making the acquaintance of a lowlife named Pete (Preston Foster), he is forced into participating in a robbery. This earns him 10 years of hard labor. Doing time on a chain gang, he finds that he can't tolerate the drudgery of this existence, and escapes the first chance that he gets. However, after some great success in the construction business in a different state, he'll find that his former captors have long memories - and want revenge.Not only is this an extremely well told, riveting yarn, but it stirred up some controversy in its day, leading to actual penal reforms. It's directed with some real style by Mervyn LeRoy, and scripted with heart by Howard J. Green & Brown Holmes. It's impossible to not sympathize with Allens' plight. You feel for him every step of the way. You feel his rage and frustration, conveyed so brilliantly by Muni that he doesn't have to say anything. His expression says it all.The supporting cast is mostly quite good. Glenda Farrell, as the woman who blackmails Allen into marrying her, and Edward Ellis, as the long term convict Bomber Wells, come off extremely well. But make no mistake, this is Munis' show. He delivers an impassioned performance that lingers in the memory."I am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang" has moments of great tension and excitement, and it is true: the finale has a haunting quality. But the fortunate real life post script is that Burns, while still on the lam at the time of production, ultimately had his sentence commuted.10 out of 10.

e-derubertis I love movies and TV shows that have to do with run away criminals and jail. I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932) really satisfied my interests in that. As one of the earlier films with sound, it was done very well. I think the explosions that James Allen hears from the factory were well done in a sense that after he hears it, he looks so disappointed and the audience can see how much he rather work on bridges than be at the shoe factory. My favorite scene was when he was running away and had to hide underneath the pond water while the guards were standing in the water looking around for him. In that scene the movie did a great job with the sound by having it be silent when they showed James under the water and then having it be noisy when they switched to showing the guards looking for him, it successfully created an intense moment for the viewers. At the end of the movie when he escapes for a second time and runs into his wife Linda, the lighting when they show James' face when he tells his wife that he is going to steal to survive, really shows how his character changed from being a good person to a bad person.

smcguirk-88356 Overall I enjoyed this movie. From the important message it portrayed to the plot twists throughout the movie. I liked the portrayal of James throughout the movie from showing his struggles and triumphs. From James being sentenced to 10 years on the chain gang for being at the wrong place at the wrong time and the conditions that he was kept in caused him to break the law again and escape from his captivity. The irony of this is that he ends up living a successful and honest life and ends up being tricked by the justice system and then re sentenced to the chain gang for the rest of his life. I enjoyed the aspects of how sound is used throughout the film from the dogs barking during his first escape to the calender and hammer strikes corresponding.

j-goslin This film does an incredible job of shining a light on a serious issue facing the United States at the time. The cinematography and talent of all actors and actresses involved really helped to solidify the point that this film was trying to make (exposing the fraud happening without the country's knowledge in the chain gang system). Paul Muni does a fantastic job as James Allen. When watching him play this major role, I had trouble remembering that he was only an actor and was not actually in this situation. I also found the special effects, especially when it comes to the mistreatment of chain gang workers, to be an incredible asset to the film.