I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang

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1h 33m

Drama

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96%

Tomatometer

28 Reviews

91%

Audience Score

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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Fandango at Home

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Rent I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...mostly captivating...

Rated: 3/4

May 5, 2021

Full Review

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Isaiah Y

One of Paul Muni's best performances

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Not a great movie, but rather a great story. While there are a lot of problems with our legal system today, an ongoing issue is of fair treatment to prisoners versus letting them run the insane asylum (video gaming and what not). I was unaware, as I'm sure many people are that in some cases prisoners are still shackled to other prisoners. This movie makes an excellent case why this is unethical, based on the horrific true story of the same title book that the film is based off of. You can't make this stuff up! Robert Burns true life story is as crazy as this film is. Anyways, the film lacked in acting and awkward filmmaking (which was common for the time period due to poor editing/special effects, crappy scripts, etc...). However, it is worthwhile for the true fascinating story, drama, some of the characters, and the grittiness. Part of the reason and I'm glad I didn't vote to reelect Sheriff Arpaio (poor tx of prisoners including chain gangs).

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

Full Review

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

deke p

1932! TALKIES only a few years beginning. A classic!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

If this film is an accurate portrayal of conditions in these prison camps, it should have rankled people. 1932 was a great year for Paul Muni with two hits Scarface and this movie. What struck me about this movie is how stagey the performances were. There were lots of speeches and they are given in measured cadences. The values of this movie are unparalleled: participation in national debate, alternation of excitement and hard work; and of course the final great shot.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Chain gangs were another form of slavery in the early 1900s. This films does an excellent job of detailing the brutal, inhumane conditions of chain gangs, but leaves out the fact that most of the prisoners were African-Americans. Nonetheless, almost 100 years after its release the film still packs a punch.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

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

Bomber Wells

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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
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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