I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)'s comments

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Forrester

Incredible movie that's entertaining and thought-provoking. It also stood the test of time really well. The film shows how horrific it was to be in a chain gang and it raises many questions about justice. It also contains many suspenseful scenes, like the escape attempts. The film is very fast-paced, Paul Muni's acting is great, and there are some neat editing tricks. The ending will probably haunt me for a long time. I really enjoyed this film and I was glued to the screen the entire time.

12 years 11 months ago

monty

Terrific film with a most haunting ending.

13 years 1 month ago

punjab551

"There are no "must"s in my life, I'm free, white and 21!"

11 years 9 months ago

meerkate

Excellent film. Muni is absolutely sublime.

11 years 2 months ago

Siskoid

The title of I Am a Fugitive from the Chain Gang is a massive spoiler and it's not until halfway through the film that we leave its road map behind and escape (ha ha) its promise. That said, there's absolutely nothing wrong with the Depression-era prison movie stuff of the first act. From the escape, however, we're in less charted waters and the story becomes more interesting. Ending on a fabulous punchline, the film is a powerful indictment of the chain gang system in particular, and of harsh punitive sentencing in general, questioning the power of the penal system's ability to reform. And then there's the direction. Mervyn LeRoy has lots of ideas for transitions to mark time, place, and mood, which gives the picture an inventive liveliness. And historically, it did what its characters try to do and helped put an end to this brand of inhumane treatment and got a pardon for the man it was based on. Indeed, the state of Georgia felt targeted and reacted in much the same way as the State did in the movie (only with more lawsuits). A great piece of naturalistic social commentary from the pre-Code Depression era.

5 years 10 months ago

iCheckFilms

Paul Muni was sublime in this brilliant movie.

12 years 10 months ago

72aicm

That car chase is by far the best and most thrilling I've ever seen. Exceptional editing!

7 years 10 months ago

Forzelius

Excellent and infuriating

5 years 11 months ago

jacktrewin

masterpiece of acting and storytelling

8 years 10 months ago

Panunzio

It's easy to see how this film managed to drum up so much opposition to the chain gang system. It's horrifying to think of how many others may have been caught up in a similar situation, but did not have the opportunity to have their story told. A real indictment of the prison-industrial complex.

3 years 3 months ago