Review of I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932) by Scott S — 03 Jul 2013

I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang (1932) -- [8.0] -- A man is wrongly convicted and sentenced to a brutal chain gang in this gripping tragedy from Mervyn LeRoy. Paul Muni ("Scarface," "Life of Emile Zola") stars as the innocent man who succeeds in a daring escape and becomes a well-respected member of society before the law catches up with him.

State extradition laws offer him some sanctuary, but Muni is tricked into voluntarily returning to the labor camp with the hope of wiping his record clean. Once there, all hope of a promised pardon vanishes and he's forced to plot his second deadly escape.

"I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang" plays it deadly serious rather than indulging in any melodrama, honoring the true life story on which it's based. Muni, one of the greatest actors form the '30s, is terrific here.

Glenda Farrell is also good as his conniving wife who blackmails him for all he's worth, and so is Edward Ellis as one of Muni's fellow prisoners. Aside from being a well-told story, the film also directly led to the abolishing of the chain gang system and the pardoning of Robert Burns, the man Muni's character is based on.