I am a fugitive from a chain gang is a powerful dramatic adventure film which takes a bravely critical look at the harsh penal practices common in the prison system of the southern states of america, particularly georgia, just after ww1. Released november 19th, 1932, i am a fugitive from a chain gang stars paul muni, glenda farrell, helen vinson, preston foster the movie has a runtime of about 1. I am a fugitive from a chain gang is one of the most influential films of 1932. Its gritty, uncompromising, critical, and combative look at the unjust and barbaric treatment of criminals in a southern states prison system. I am a fugitive from a chain gang 1932 region 2 paul muni. I am a fugitive from a chain gang 1932 is a precode, early talkie a film with synchronized sound, as opposed to the silent films of the pre1927 era that continues to resonate with cinephiles today. Muni gives a brilliant performance as a regular guy wrongly convicted of murder and subjected to the hardships and beatings of a. I am a fugitive from a chain gang hollywoods social. I am a fugitive from a chain gang 1932 jaded world war i veteran james allen paul muni dreams of creating a new life, but those dreams are shattered when he is. It awoke social interest in and helped bring an end to the widespread use of chain gangs in the american south. Paul muni plays world war i veteran james allen, whose. Source for information on i am a fugitive from a chain gang.
I am a fugitive from a chain gang heads up warners sevendisc dvd collection controversial classics, a brief history of movies that have been considered unamerican for one reason or another, and an incidental survey of evolving hollywood style. Six sticks of dynamite that blasted his way to freedom. I am a fugitive from a chain gang alternate ending. Newyork historical society i am a fugitive from a chain. I am a fugitive from a chain gang film, prison film. I am a fugitive from a chain gangusa, 1932 director. He soon made a daring escape, dodging shotgun blasts, racing through swamps, and eluding bloodhounds on his way north, where for. Arguments could be put forth that would have been uncomfortably radical just a couple of years later, and i am a fugitive was rigorous enough in its indictment of the brutal system of the chain gang to make leroy persona non grata in georgia where the true story of robert elliott burns, whose autobiography inspired the film, took place for. To use this banner, please refer to the documentation. I am a fugitive from a chain gang 1932 is a gritty, uncompromising, critical, and combative look at the unjust and barbaric treatment of criminals in a southern states prison system following world war i. Many of the film social messages feel just as apt today particularly. His older brother, a protestant minister, advises him to go back to his old job as a clerk in the local shoe factory, but allen has other plans. James is a construction worker but when times are hard hes caught up in a robbery. On the prospect of writing cinema history from below journal for.
The film reflected the terrible effects of the great depression on the common man in its story. Credits and cast of i am a fugitive from a chain gang 143 appendix b. A scene from the 1932 film i am a fugitive from a chain gang with noel francis and paul muni. Muni plays sergeant james allen, who on his return home from world war i knows he is now a changed man, and leaves home to go work in construction. Seven negro laments of the chain gang sung by joshua white and his carolinians from liner notes. Returning war veteran james allen descends into darkness when his architectural aspirations dissolve and. Paul muni onset of the film, the life of emile zola, 1937 djc8h5 from alamys library of millions of high resolution stock photos. It grips with its stark realism and packs lots of punch.
This gem of precode cinema does everything it needs to in order to keep the viewer occupied, and does so in a succinct 90ish minute package. I am a fugitive from a chain gang is a picture with guts. I am a fugitive from a chain gang 1932 writers without. I am a fugitive from a chain gang 1932 rotten tomatoes. Controversial classicsi am a fugitive from a chain gang. It might be a little slow for todays audience and less rough than whats out there today but it wasnt at all for its time. I am a fugitive from a chain gang awards and nominations. I am a fugitive from a chain gang mervyn leroys 1932 indictment of the chaingang system marked a transition between the prison cycle of the early. Wrongly convicted james allen serves in the intolerable conditions of a southern chain gang, which later comes back to haunt him. The movie is generally faithful to its sources although for various reasons georgia is never mentioned, with some melodramatic flourishes added. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. I am a fugitive, i am a fugitive from the chain gang. Burns, who recounts his adventures with the prison system in georgia and his two escapes from the chain gangs.
Allen was hoping for a free handout, a hamburgerhe was starving when a third man botched a fivedollar robbery from the cafe. I am a fugitive from a chain gang 1932 when a wwi vet is falsely convicted of robbery, he is forced to endure the brutal realities of the chaingang system in the south. I am a fugitive from a chain gang old hollywood films. A world war i veterans dreams of becoming a master architect evaporate in the cold light of economic realities. Rent i am a fugitive from a chain gang 1932 on dvd and. This article is within the scope of wikiproject film. I am a fugitive from a chain gang begins with sergeant james allen, played by the seminal american actor paul muni, returning to his hometown from the western front of the first world war. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see lists of open tasks and regional and topical task forces. Leroys direction of i am a fugitive from a chain gang is greatly advanced, a cinematic achievement considered so powerful and persuasive in its daygraphically exposing the brutal conditions of prison lifethat the resultant audience uproar helped pave the way for penal reform in several states. With paul muni, glenda farrell, helen vinson, noel francis. The prison scenes are blatantly manipulativeand effectivebut fugitive really takes off during an intense escape sequence. Preston foster, helen vinson, glenda farrell, paul muni. I am a fugitive from a chain gang 1932 movie moviefone. Things get even worse when hes falsely convicted of a crime and sent to work on a chain gang.
I am a fugitive from a chain gang 1932 posters the. The harsh and grim melodramatic film was one of the first of warner bros. I am a fugitive from a chain gang is an american precode crimedrama film directed by mervyn leroy and starring paul muni as a wrongfully convicted convict on a chain gang who escapes to chicago. This imported dvd from italy was purchased at a bargain. Its a sympathetic, unbiased cinematic transposition of the robert e. I am a fugitive from a chain gang is a dark, gritty melodrama that maintains a relevant social conscious, even nearly 90 years after its release. Director mervyn leroy chronicles the first day for jim paul muni, the wronglyconvicted wouldbe engineer, on a southern chain gang, a scene noted for its accuracy, comments from bomber edward ellis, in i am a fugitive from a chain gang, 1932. Watch i am a fugitive from a chain gang prime video. Media in category i am a fugitive from a chain gang film the following 2 files are in this category, out of 2 total. I am a fugitive from a chain gang 1932 directed by. I am a fugitive from a chain gang is a political movie, as well as a great character study, of james allen paul muni condemned to hard labor for an indeterminate time for looming at a hamburger. I am a fugitive of a chain gang was one of the most influential films of the early twentieth century. Director mervyn leroys saga of life in a southern prison made star paul muni one of the top actors of the 1930s and established the fastpaced, ripped from the headlines style of warners social problem movies.
Burns was a shellshocked and penniless veteran who found himself at the mercy of georgias barbaric penal system when he fell in with a gang of petty thieves. I am a fugitive from a chain gang is based on a book by robert e. I am a fugitive from a chain gang is a classic in the prison genre and the most influential of all time. Published in 1932, it recounts the dramatic story of the authors imprisonment in georgia and his two successful escapes, eight years apart, with seven years of freedom, business success, and emotional intrigue in between. Hailed as one of the most influential films of the 20th century, i am a fugitive from a chain gang is a 1932 dramacrime film released by warner bros. Paul muni, glenda farrell, helen vinson, noel francis, preston foster, allen jenkins, berton churchill. Burns was shackled to a chain gang for his part in petty robbery. C this article has been rated as cclass on the projects quality. I am a fugitive from a chain gang film by leroy 1932. I am a fugitive from a chain gang 1932, paul muni cinema film. Rent i am a fugitive from a chain gang 1932 starring paul muni and glenda farrell on dvd and bluray. Theres a world of difference between chain gang and otto premingers 1962 political melodrama advise and consent. To improve this article, please refer to the guidelines.
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