Wednesday, September 28, 2011

64. I Am a Fugitive From the Chain Gang

I Am a Fugitive From the Chain Gang
1932

I recently watched the movie I Love You Phillip Morris.  It was kind of along the same lines of escaping, then returning to prison.  I only saw it because my boyfriend, Ewan McGregor, was in it.  The point I am badly making is that I watch a lot of prison movies.  This was the first, so it was interesting to see the birth of the genre that would eventually give me The Shawshank Redemption.

The title kind of gives away the plot of the movie.  It doesn't mention, however, how brutal the scenes about prison life are.  Hint: don't call a prison guard a skunk.

I feel the same way about this movie as I felt about Little Caesar.  So many cliches (that they invented) are packed into the film that is only semi-enjoyable.  I would have loved it if I say it when it came out, but now I am jaded.  There still is some interesting irony though.  Worth a watch.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

This movie was based on the life on Robert E. Burns.  He visited the set but then decided the risk was to great.  This film led to the pardon of Burns, who was still on the lam when the film was released.

2 comments:

  1. I liked this one very much. It is not template and goes in unexpected directions. Also Muni was never better.

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    1. Yeah I thought from the title that this movie might lack subtlety but it was actually quite good.

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