MovieChat Forums > I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932) Discussion > I heard this was based on a true story.

I heard this was based on a true story.

posted 19 years ago by mrgregorykitt
8 replies | jump to latest

Who was the man Allen portrayed in real life, and does anyone know who any of the other characters who were in power in real life?

[–] junkholder-1 19 years ago

I think the story was based on a man named Robert E. Burns. Don't know much else though.

[–] mathew74craig 19 years ago

It was based on Robert Burns. I just watched the story of him on the History channel

[–] mikeoak840 18 years ago

The tip-off would be that at the top of the main page, Robert Burns is listed as the author and it's flagged as autobiography. Click that for a link to a little more info on Burns.

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] offyourrockers 18 years ago

Here's a fairly thorough biography on Robert Burns:

http://www.trouparchives.org/burns.html/

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Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd.
(Just leave Johnny Depp out of it!)
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[–] Shemarz7772 18 years ago

Yeah, there was a special on it on the History Channel. It was cool.

[–] csu16387 18 years ago

Read his book entitled, I Am a Fugitive From a Georgia Chain Gang. I read it a year ago, and it's very good. If I'm not mistaken, there's a follow-up to 'Fugitive' called The Man Who Broke a Thousand Chains. I don't think Robert Burns wrote that book.

"Dry your eyes baby, it's out of character."

[–] leroykevin 17 years ago

The Man Who Broke a Thousand Chains, was written by Robert's brother, Vincent.
It tells a good detail of what happened up until Robert's death
It was later made into a movie for HBO or SHOWTIME. The movie was okay but, it was more a remake than a sequel, with a text explaining the aftermath.
READ THE BOOK I highly recommend it.