I am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (Warner Bros.) (1932)

—is magnificent. The 3rd day of run 3 Girls Take Their Toll of Chain Gang ‘Fugitive’ in Film Besides the thrilling depiction of the horrors of a chain gang, and the stirring adventures of one of its convicts both during incarceration and subsequent escape, there is in ‘‘T Am A Fugitive From A Chain Gang,’’ the Warner Bros. current hit at the Le heen Theatre, three sweeping love affairs between Paul Muni, the hounded fugitive, and Glenda Farrell, Helen Vinson and Noel Francis. These three girls portray very important parts in the sensational escapades of the fleeing fugitive. Fresh from eluding baying blood-hounds and armed posses, Muni, the convict, is befriended by Noel Francis, and helped to a new start in life. But, as he was helped by the first, he is betrayed by Glenda Farrell, who having forced him to marry her because she has learned his secret, sends him back to cruel confinement in a fit of jealousy. Helen Vinson is the girl with whom he falls in love, but because of his past can never hope to marry. While she waits for his return, he skulks from place to place, always a step ahead of the law, to be forever a homeless, friendless hunted thing on earth. As the hounded fugitive Paul Muni picture is heralded as the greatest success of this sterling Broadway favorite, who left his present stage success, ‘Counsellor At Law’’ long enough to fly to the Warner Bros. studio in Hollywood to make this expose of prison life, and then fly back to resume his part before the footlights The dramatic scope of the story, which has an authentie background, and the direction of Mervyn LeRoy in developing an atmosphere of realism has resulted in ‘‘I Am A Fugitive From A Chain Gang’’ being hailed by the crowds attending the wees Snes Theatre as one of the outstanding pictures of recent years. rs) pe th ea wi pare — — | able to daily stories. | ‘PAUL MUNI LEARNS WHAT 10 EXPECT THE FIRST DAY INTHE CHAIN GANG » DO mp Ear ae ~ So impressed’ was HERALD’S | Staff with the dramatic portrayals of Paul Muni and the east in “I Am a Fugitive Gang,” which opened last night to an unusually crowded Strand Theatre, that these from a Chain sketches resulted. the artist Ath day of run Tremendous Cast in ‘‘| Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang”’ With Paul Muni in the title role, Glenda Farrell, Helen Vinson, Shelia Terry, David Landau, Noel Francis, Preston Foster, and Edward J. MeNamara in supporting parts, 32 ‘‘hit?? players, and more than 2,000 extras, the spectacular Warner Bros. picture ‘‘I Am A Fugitive From A Chain Gang’’ now current at the Cee es Theatre, has one of the largest casts assembled in years. Only with such a large cast could the gigantic power and scope of this expose of prison chain gang conditions be presented. The stirring escapes of Muni, as the fugitive, and the important parts which women played in his subsequent rise and fall, demanded stellar support. This cast, together with the performance of Muni, the ‘‘Scarface’’ of the screen, and the magnificent direction of Mervyn LeRoy, who numbers such hits as “Tittle Caesar’’ and ‘‘Five Star Final’’ among his successes, has made the-present <2 a See Theatre attraction one of the most talked about pictures shown in ................06. in many months. To saturate the picture with realism, Director LeRoy hired many exconvicts for the prison sequences. These men aided materially in the technicalities of the production and the authenticity of the chain gang conditions is attributed to them, as well as to a technical advisor, who gained his knowledge first-hand as a member of a prison camp chain gang. 6 5th day of run Paul Muni Learns How Chain Gang Convicts Dress a tr vysusl@ Working In a prison camp sequence of ‘‘I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang,’’ a Warner Bros. pic festivals. ture which is now showing at the pe Safe ote ee Theatre, Paul Muni, the star, and other actors expressed their disbelief that convicts could remove their trousers while their legs were chained together. Jack Miller, who acted as technical edvisor to Director Mervyn LeRoy, assured the ‘‘actor prisoners’’ that it not only was possible but they must learn how to do it. Miller who had been a prisoner in a chain gang, declared the leg shackles never were removed yet the convicts took off their trousers every night. He proceeded to demonstrate by pulling off one leg of his trousers by turning it wrong side out and slipping it up over the other leg. They were then slipped off the other leg underneath the shackle. The trousers are put back on in the same way. Miller also demonstrated that he could take off his shirt with handcuffs on. The picture, which is taken from the autobiographical novel by Robert E. Burns, is a realistic story of the terrors of life on a chain gang, and the untold hardships undergone by prisoners who escape. Burns, the author, who is himself still a fugitive, declares the story depicts his actual experiences. It was adapted for the screen by Sheridan Gibney and Brown Holmes. The leading players, in one of the biggest casts ever assembled, include Paul Muni, Glenda Farrell, Helen Vinson, Preston Foster, Edward J. McNamara, Shelia Terry, David Landau and Sally Blane. Two thousand ‘extras are used for the intensely dramatic spectacle. = 6th day of run Mme.Schumann-Heink Protege Has Role in Chain Gang Drama Edward J. McNamara, recently reeruited Broadway stage star, who has a strong supporting role to Paul Muni in the gripping Warner Bros. picture ‘‘ I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang,’’ now playing at the Se, a cy Soe Theatr> has one great weakness, He can’t There is, however, a very good reason why this six foot, 200 pound actor, should have a very soft spot (Special Publicity Art) Herald Artist’s Impressions of Strand’s Dramatic Hit ‘“T AM A FUGITIVE FROM A CHAIN GANG” THE FUGITIVE — A HUNTED, HOMELESS, STARVING FRIENDLESS CREATURE — — ~aes THE FUGITIVE AND LINDA (NOEL FRANCIS) Bor BEYOND Societys PALE, ENDOY ASMOKE TOGETHERK — & WINE ELD C1ECEF amunity _ in his heart for these gatherings, for it was while singing at one in a small New Jersey town that Mme. Schuman-Heink heard him, Detecting rare promise in his extraordinary voice, she immediately adopted him as a protege. Encouraged by the operatic star, McNamara gave up his job as a policeman and devoted his entire attention to singing. He vindi¢ated his sponsor’s faith in him by progressing until he toured with the golden-voiced Caruso. The stage claimed him in time, and he turned in some noteworthy successes on Broadway until Warner Bros. placed him under contract for picture work. MeNamara is but one of 37 outstanding performers who lend important support to Muni, not to mention the 2,000 atmosphere extras, in this picture hailed by the patrons of thee Theatre as one of the most exciting in recent years. @ Te day of run Tremendous Crowds Keep Chain Gang Epic Second Week Owing to the tremendous attendance’ that ‘‘I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang,’’ has been drawing, the Strand has announced that the picture will be held over another week in order that the thousands who have been unable to get into the theatre during the past week, may enjoy the opportunity of seeing it. Not since ‘‘The Birth of a Nation,’’ has motion picture created the wide-spread discussion as has this Warner Bros.’ hit which picturizes in a most dramatic tale, the true story of a man who twice escaped from a Southern State Chain Gang and who is even today, still a fugitive—homeless—friendless—a hunted thing on earth. Paul Muni, the celebrated Broadway star, actually lives the role of the fugitive which he portrays. So great is his portrayal, that despite _the -~imness of the storv, men_and women have walked out of the theatre ~ after seeing the picture, deeply touched and in complete sympathy with the fugitive. Rarely does a movie offer the many exciting episodes that “J Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang” affords. And still more rarely is there so in romance. telligent an intermingling of To Mervyn LeRoy, director of such outstanding photoplays as “Little Caesar” and “Five Star Final,” goes the credit for the direction of this new Warner Bros. hit. GLENDA FARRELL AS MARIE GLOATINGLY TAUNTS THE B FUGITIVE AND THREATENS a HIM WITH EXPOSURE WE TRIES TO LEAVE HER FOR THE WOMAN HE LOVES” Ve THE FUGITIVE (PAUL MUNI) FINDS HELEN (HELEN VINSON) OFFERS SOMETHING ELSE N LIFE EXCEPT WORK AND FEAR. — Cut No. 15 Cut 60ce Mat 20¢ Page Thirteen