MartinHafer Back in the mid-1930s, Warner Brothers came out with a shockingly brutal and absorbing drama about the evils of chain gangs. Paul Muni's performance and the script for "I Was a Fugitive From a Chain Gang" were superb and the film has held up great over the years. Because of this, films like "Blackmail" seem incredibly bland and pale in comparison. When this MGM film begins, John Ingram (Edward G. Robinson) is a successful and well respected man whose job it is to put out oil fires. Unfortunately, he's also a fugitive from some Southern chain gang-- an innocent man who couldn't prove this but managed to escape. Since then, assuming a new identity, he's gone on to make a productive life and a nice family. However, when a scumbag (Gene Lockhart) comes to town, Ingram is in trouble. While he's just asking for a job, this guy is a crook and is the guy who is actually responsible for the crime Ingram was arrested for years ago. So far, while the plot is hard to believe, it is worth seeing. What happens next, however, sure strains credibility way past the breaking point. The scum-bag EASILY convinces Ingram that he is willing to own up to his crime but only if he gets a huge payoff. In other words, he'll admit to the crime but escape--leaving evidence that will clear Ingram's name. Not at all surprisingly (since he IS a crook), he tricks Ingram and it's Ingram who is sent to prison. Duh.For the rest of the film, Robinson spends his time in prison. However, the chain gang is run by a bunch of brutes (though they are FAR less brutal than the guys in the earlier film) and eventually he realizes he must escape in order to ever see his family again.So why does this film earn a 5? Well, it is entertaining but it breaks absolutely no new ground and pretty much neuters the old plot. The chain gang, while unpleasant, doesn't seem all that bad and instead of this form of imprisonment being indicted, the film actually is all about capturing the real baddie and sending him to prison where he rightfully belongs. Amazingly poor considering the material.

LeonLouisRicci Here's to You Mr. Robinson. Even when Slightly Miscast and Upstaged by the Villain Edward G. managed to put Verve and Gusto in any Role. Here he goes from Family Man to a Rage Filled, Revenge Seeking Psycho Hell Bent on Saving His Family and Fortune from a Slimy and Totally Repugnant former "Friend".There are some Minor Cringe-Inducements mostly at the Beginning with some Comedy Relief and Smarmy Family Stuff, but Once the Blackmailer Shows Up Things Kick into Overdrive and there are some Very Effective Chain Gang Scenes and a Suspenseful Escape.The Oil Fires are Realistic and this is one of the Few Times that MGM tried to be Gritty and Deliver a Message. They were Aping Warner Brothers and did a Pretty Good Imitation.

vincentlynch-moonoi I think this film -- MGM instead of Warner Bros. (I assume he was out on loan?) is one of Edward G. Robinson's better films, although definitely not one of his best. Frankly, as much as I liked Robinson, the Warner pics of this genre began to meld together after a while. MGM gave this film a slightly different feel, and for me, it worked.As I child traveling in the south, I remember seeing chain gangs, but I never realized how depressing their lives were. This film shows you that.Some feel this film has an unreal story line. Yes, it does. Just about as unreal as most of the Warner-type gangster films. But here it's done up with slightly better production values and some decent acting. Edward G. Robinson is fine as the wrongfully convicted oil man. Ruth Hussey, an often underestimated actress, is fine here as the wife. Gene Lockhart is surprisingly effective as the blackmailing villain. Thank god...we got through one film with child actor Bobs Watkins WITHOUT a crying scene (but I kept waiting for it). I never saw the attraction to sidekick Guinn Williams...and still don't.Some have criticized the ending. I thought it was satisfactory...perhaps could have been handled a bit better...but was as plausible as most Hollywood endings of the day.A rather satisfying film. Perhaps not quite a "A" picture, but better than your typical "B" picture.

nycritic Edward G. Robinson departs from his more notorious bad-guy roles to play the wronged man in BLACKMAIL, a film that is something of a distant relative of what would come to be THE FUGITIVE which would star Harrison Ford more than sixty years later.John Ingram is a man who is trying to support his wife (played by Ruth Hussey right before her second-tier stardom) until his past comes in the form of William Rainey (Gene Lockhart) who not only is aware of Ingram's past in a chain-gang from which he escaped, but was also the man responsible for getting him there in the first place. He comes with a proposal to "clear Ingram's name" but this in turn lands Ingram back in the chain-gang with one motive: escape and revenge.A simple story, one which never tries to go beyond it's apparent B-movie status despite the actors involved in it, BLACKMAIL does not seem like an MGM product but more Warner Bros. The sparse scenes, the unglamorous vibe throughout, the grittiness that pervades throughout add to its credence. Though some plot inconsistencies are present, it's a quick moving story and gets to the point pretty fast without asking too much analysis.