Gavin O. I'm a sucker for prison movies - "Shawshank Redemption" would most likely rank #1 on my list of all-time favorite films, and "Down By Law" wouldn't be too far behind it. Now, "I Am A Fugitive" is on that list too.Paul Muni really carries this movie. While the other actors in this movie are by no means bad, Muni - playing the wrongly imprisoned James Allen - has the best performance of any of them. His chilling line in the ending - "I steal!" - is one that I'll remember for years to come.Another thing that stood out in "Fugitive" was it's use of sound - notably in the first escape scene. Allen is hiding underwater to try and lose the guards (and their dogs). Above water, you hear the chaos of the dogs barking, but underwater... dead silence. It adds a load of suspense to the scene and (to me) seems very artistic for it being made so long ago; in fact, despite the film's age, it still holds up very well today. Unlike many old movies, there are few poorly-done special effects or outdated techniques to distract from the movie in the ending, but even that looked better than most movies from that time period that I've seen.All in all, if you're a fan of prison movies or just classic cinema, this is definitely a film you need to see - and the fact that it was based on a true story should be all the more reason to watch it.

e-derubertis I love movies and TV shows that have to do with run away criminals and jail. I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932) really satisfied my interests in that. As one of the earlier films with sound, it was done very well. I think the explosions that James Allen hears from the factory were well done in a sense that after he hears it, he looks so disappointed and the audience can see how much he rather work on bridges than be at the shoe factory. My favorite scene was when he was running away and had to hide underneath the pond water while the guards were standing in the water looking around for him. In that scene the movie did a great job with the sound by having it be silent when they showed James under the water and then having it be noisy when they switched to showing the guards looking for him, it successfully created an intense moment for the viewers. At the end of the movie when he escapes for a second time and runs into his wife Linda, the lighting when they show James' face when he tells his wife that he is going to steal to survive, really shows how his character changed from being a good person to a bad person.

CriticalViewing The use of sound is greatly used in this film, off-screen sound is impactful, and all notable sound in this film is symbolic or significant, for either audience feeling or for meaning. These sounds include bells, sounds of metal clanking, belts, etc. And the use of close-ups are also masterfully used. These close-ups are indicative of character feeling at crucial moments, keeping the viewer emotionally connected. And the use of music, adding to the overall feeling of each frame. This film was powerful enough to prompt mass social outrage, from feelings of sadness, disgust, and true anger...the emotive impact on social views and action in 1932 was enough to push legislation, and it isn't hard to see why. LeRoy couldn't have done better in the direction of this film, nor could Paul Muni have done a better job of acting in it.

indoor_kid Mervyn LeRoy's use of sound, in what may be the best film of the early sound era, is profound as well as haunting. During his time on the chain gang James Allen, played by Paul Muni, is brought into a back room and whipped for being discourteous to the guards. The loud crack of the whip followed by absolute silence by Allen elicit an enormous emotional response from viewers. Alternating shots of hammers hitting spikes and pages being ripped off of a calendar, each producing their own distinct sounds, are used as an inventive new way to show the passing of time. While the acting may come across as campy to viewers not used to pre-method acting, Muni puts on a master class. The film was also used to restructure the harsh penal system of the 1930's.