I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang

by Howard J. Green

    Since its release in 1932, I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang had earned a reputation as one of the few Hollywood products that can be associated directly with social change. Film historians attribute the reform of the southern chain gang system to the public outrage generated by this movie, which depicts a true story.
    In addition to being an important social document, the film remains a gripping experience for filmgoers today because of its unusual dramatic conception, its hauntingly inconclusive ending, and Paul Muni's performance as the good boy forced to go wrong.
This book includes the complete screenplay.

Hardcover

First published November 15, 1981

Reviews

[Michael Patton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of an excellent series of old Warner Bros. screenplays published by University of Wisconsin Press. Kudos to them. Each one begins with a production history of the movie. As I recall, these histories often tell of a screenplay watered down to create a diluted product. But that's not true of "I Am a Fugitive". The movie holds up--in part because of the foundation of a good screenplay.