I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
1932  NR  DRAMA  1h 33min
CAST— Paul Muni, Glenda Farrell, Helen Vincent, Preston Foster, Edward Ellis, Allen Jenkins
MUSIC— Bernhard Kaun  DIRECTOR— Mervyn LeRoy  BASED ON— I Am a Fugitive from a Georgia Chain Gang! (book), by Robert Elliott Burns

     Intense and emotional account of one man’s extraordinary burden through years of plight and plenty. Paul Muni is a small town war hero, recently decorated and returned safe and sound from his tour of duty. Instead of resuming his life of monotony he plans to make his way in the world. This proves to be a road to nowhere and before long his stomach is as empty as his pockets. Meeting a fellow traveler who promises a bite to eat he follows along only to be an unwilling accessory to a hold-up. Before he knows it he’s serving time in a prison work camp, slaving for “the Man”. After some time he decides that enough is enough and decides to hit the road. Surprisingly, once he manages to escape he becomes a model citizen, even achieving a position of some stature in the community. But his past is a shadow always pervading his thoughts. Unexpectedly effective film dealing with tough and gritty subject matter. Entertaining, yes, but also a scary kinda PSA, the message crystal clear: don’t go to prison. Deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the United States Library of Congress National Film Registry.
OUR RATING— *** ½