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.

My review does contain a spoiler.If a man broke out of prison by striking a guard and risking the lives of others, wouldn't he be tried for that infraction when caught even if he was found to be innocent of the original crime? I think a better and more credible scenario would be for the main character to be inadvertently set free by some accidents in the prison such as a fire or storm or a train wreck during as prison transfer...A number of prisoners broke free in the accident so the police would be looking for quite a few escapees and not just one man, making it a bit easier for Ingram to get through. Also, later on he would not be in trouble for planning and initiating the escape and attacking a guard.

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.

Edward G. Robinson is rather implausibly cast as an oil-field firefighter named John Ingram who is even more implausibly married to beautiful Ruth Hussey. Turns out Eddie G. has a big secret in his past: he's a fugitive from a chain gang. Slimy Gene Lockhart shows up and tries to blackmail him. When that doesn't work, Lockhart cooks up a plan to steal Eddie's business and send him back to the chain gang.Excellent work by Gene Lockhart. I've seen him in lots of movies, usually playing very similar roles in a very similar manner. But here he's playing a hobo shakedown artist -- with an accent, no less! He gives the best performance in the film, though Eddie Robinson is solid, as usual. Ruth Hussey is lovely and plays the courageous wife well. Guinn Williams plays Robinson's annoying friend. Some nice footage of the oil firefighters. The chain gang parts are a little reminiscent of a certain classic Paul Muni film. Diminutive Robinson's escape scene is lots of fun to watch, though. Look at him go! An enjoyable movie that fans of Robinson will enjoy. It's not one of his best but it's good entertainment.