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I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang

I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang

Drama · Crime · 1932

A World War I veteran’s dreams of becoming a master architect evaporate in the cold light of economic realities. Things get even worse when he’s falsely convicted of a crime and sent to work on a chain gang.

Movie details

I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang

“Six sticks of dynamite that blasted his way to freedom … and awoke America’s conscience!”

1932 Drama · Crime 1h 32m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.8 / 10

Community rating

A World War I veteran’s dreams of becoming a master architect evaporate in the cold light of economic realities. Things get even worse when he’s falsely convicted of a crime and sent to work on a chain gang.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Mervyn LeRoy

Written by

Robert E. Burns · Howard J. Green · Brown Holmes · Sheridan Gibney

Paul Muni

Paul Muni

James Allen

Glenda Farrell

Glenda Farrell

Marie Woods

Helen Vinson

Helen Vinson

Helen

Noel Francis

Noel Francis

Linda

Preston Foster

Preston Foster

Pete

Allen Jenkins

Allen Jenkins

Barney Sykes

Berton Churchill

Berton Churchill

The Judge

Court is in session

Put I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.