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Warner Bros.' hard-hitting chain-gang movie was a faithful adaptation of the similarly titled autobiography of Robert Elliot Burns. Paul Muni plays World War I veteran James Allen, whose plans of becoming a master architect evaporate in the cold light of economic realities. Times get really tough when he's falsely convicted of a crime and forced to work on a chain gang.

Six sticks of dynamite that blasted his way to freedom... and awoke America's conscience!

Genres: Crime, Drama

Starring: Paul Muni, Glenda Farrell, Helen Vinson

Released: November 19, 1932

Runtime: 93.0

Popularity Rating: 8.742

Warner Bros.

United States of America

James Allen Paul Muni
Marie Woods Glenda Farrell
Helen Helen Vinson
Linda Noel Francis
Pete Preston Foster
Barney Sykes Allen Jenkins
The Judge Berton Churchill
Bomber Wells Edward Ellis
The Warden David Landau
Rev. Allen Hale Hamilton
Alice Sally Blane
Mother Louise Carter
Strong Prisoner Everett Brown
Prison Board Chairman Willard Robertson
F.E. Ramsey Robert McWade
Fuller Robert Warwick
A Texan William Le Maire
Train Conductor (uncredited) Charles Middleton
Cafe Chateau Dancer (uncredited) Dennis O'Keefe
Chicago Lawyer (uncredited) Wallis Clark
Police Chief (uncredited) Erville Alderson
Bill - Barber (uncredited) Irving Bacon
Mr. Parker (uncredited) Reginald Barlow
Red (uncredited) James Bell
Southern Prison Official (uncredited) Frederick Burton
Cop in Barber Shop (uncredited) A.S. Byron
Cop (uncredited) Charles McAvoy
Job Foreman (uncredited) Eddy Chandler
Wilson (uncredited) G. Pat Collins
Vaudevillian (uncredited) George Cooper
Prison Guard (uncredited) Jack Curtis
Prison Guard (uncredited) Harry Woods
Prison Commissioner (uncredited) John Marston
District Attorney (uncredited) Douglass Dumbrille
Arresting Officer (uncredited) J. Frank Glendon
Arresting Officer (uncredited) Lee Shumway
Diner Cook (uncredited) Lew Kelly
Ackerman (uncredited) Jack La Rue
Chamber of Commerce Chairman (uncredited) Edward LeSaint
Blacksmith (uncredited) Walter Long
Big Prisoner (uncredited) Jack Low
Second Warden (uncredited) Edward McNamara
Doggy (uncredited) William Pawley
Hot Dog Stand Owner (uncredited) Charles Sellon
Train Station Guard (uncredited) Allen D. Sewall
Pawnbroker (uncredited) William H. Strauss
Allen's Secretary (uncredited) Sheila Terry
Marine on Ship (uncredited) Fred 'Snowflake' Toones
Tailor (uncredited) Jack Wise
Nordine (uncredited) John Wray

Art — Art Direction: Jack Okey
Camera — Director of Photography: Sol Polito
Costume & Make-Up — Costume Design: Eugene Joseff
Costume & Make-Up — Costume Design: Orry-Kelly
Directing — Assistant Director: Al Alleborn
Directing — Director: Mervyn LeRoy
Editing — Editor: William Holmes
Production — Producer: Hal B. Wallis
Sound — Original Music Composer: Bernhard Kaun
Sound — Original Music Composer: Leo F. Forbstein
Writing — Screenplay: Brown Holmes
Writing — Screenplay: Howard J. Green
Writing — Screenplay: Sheridan Gibney
Writing — Story: Robert E. Burns