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I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang

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I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang

Released Nov 19, 1932

1h 33m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

96%

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28 Reviews

91%

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2,500+ Ratings

Jaded World War I veteran James Allen (Paul Muni) dreams of creating a new life, but those dreams are shattered when he is implicated in a robbery and sentenced to 10 years on a chain gang. The brutal prison conditions compel James to break out and flee to Chicago, where he assumes a new identity and, over time, becomes a successful businessman. His freedom and happiness are threatened, however, when his scheming landlady (Glenda Farrell) discovers his secret and threatens to blackmail him.

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Don Druker

Chicago Reader

Based on a true story, its style is simple, direct, forceful -- even after more than six decades.

Feb 10, 2012

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang is a picture with guts. It grips with its stark realism and packs lots of punch.

Oct 18, 2008

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Kim Newman

Empire Magazine

Suprisingly no-holds-barred portrait of institutional bullying for such an early film.

Rated: 4/5

Jun 2, 2006

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Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

Its material of social denouncement about the injustices of the penal system is powerful and moving to me due to the caliber performance of Paul Muni. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 7/10

Sep 8, 2022

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Harry Alan Potamkin

Close Up

For all its insufficiencies, I am a Fugitive is an advance in American film-content and to that extent its form is shaped.

May 26, 2021

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...mostly captivating...

Rated: 3/4

May 5, 2021

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jacob c

A candidly powerful and tragic drama propelled by an excellent performance from Paul Muni.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/18/25

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ChrisCSH H

I am a fugitive from a chain Gang is a most captivating picture. The brilliant acting of Paul Muni Provides the gripping and unbelievable tension that you get throughout the film of the absolute injustice that the main character receives. The film provides spectacular editing, and great direction to bring the captivating prison scene to life, The realism for an early take on the countries penal system is quite sad and also incredibly alarming.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/24/25

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Teddy B

A spellbinding exercise in cruelty that is deliciously out of place with the majority of American pictures at the time.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/01/25

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David F

A gritty story about the Southern prison system. Based on a true story, this is a bleak and sad story about incarceration which shows that the myriad problems with it are nothing new.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/04/24

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Isaiah Y

One of Paul Muni's best performances

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

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william d

Apparently this film led to some prison system reforms. I'm not sure if chain gangs were as bad as depicted, but this was still a pretty good movie, although the ending seemed a little abrupt to me,

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Mervyn LeRoy

Director

Paul Muni

James Allen

Glenda Farrell

Marie Woods

Helen Vinson

Helen

Preston Foster

Pete

Edward Ellis

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Synopsis

Jaded World War I veteran James Allen (Paul Muni) dreams of creating a new life, but those dreams are shattered when he is implicated in a robbery and sentenced to 10 years on a chain gang. The brutal prison conditions compel James to break out and flee to Chicago, where he assumes a new identity and, over time, becomes a successful businessman. His freedom and happiness are threatened, however, when his scheming landlady (Glenda Farrell) discovers his secret and threatens to blackmail him.

Director: Mervyn LeRoy
Producer: Hal B. Wallis
Screenwriter: Robert E. Burns, Howard J. Green, Brown Holmes
Distributor: Warner Bros., Key Video, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: Warner Brothers, The Vitaphone Corporation
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 19, 1932, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Runtime: 1h 33m
Sound Mix: Mono

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