This is a film by director Mervin Leroy from the fledgling years of sound back in the early 30's. It has been referred to as a "bio-pic". The story line was riveting, so much so that I despised the ending even though it delivered the most powerful and appropriate message for this movie.
The movie begins below deck of a states-bound ship from WWI. James Allen, (played by Paul Muni) appeared a bit rushed and unnatural in delivering his lines as did all the characters at first. Time leveled this out and there was a better flow of acting as the film progressed. Muni began to resemble an early "rebel without a cause" character in the dinner scene when he voiced his dissatisfaction with his brother's and mother's plan for his career. It must have seemed very defiant to the audiences of that day as was the provocative dialogue between he and his landlady/first wife. Her come-ons were considered aggressive even by today's standards. I enjoyed the cinematography of this film especially the use of shadow.
I also admired the message portrayed by Leroy when he showed James Allen to be a man willing to pursue his dream and passion despite the cost. The cost was the wrongful charge and unfair punishment of hard labor for stealing. The message of irony in the end that demonstrated how the legal system accomplished the exact opposite of what its designed for was brilliant. The court system, hard labor camp, and cold society made a thief out of an innocent man with a dream. This was successful in eliciting emotion in the audience. I identified with Muni's character in that I wanted to see more of his story: how he evaded the police, wrote/published his book, and secured a position as a Hollywood script consultant. The abrupt "I steal!" ending was very meaningful but I left the screening wanting more.
The movie begins below deck of a states-bound ship from WWI. James Allen, (played by Paul Muni) appeared a bit rushed and unnatural in delivering his lines as did all the characters at first. Time leveled this out and there was a better flow of acting as the film progressed. Muni began to resemble an early "rebel without a cause" character in the dinner scene when he voiced his dissatisfaction with his brother's and mother's plan for his career. It must have seemed very defiant to the audiences of that day as was the provocative dialogue between he and his landlady/first wife. Her come-ons were considered aggressive even by today's standards. I enjoyed the cinematography of this film especially the use of shadow.
I also admired the message portrayed by Leroy when he showed James Allen to be a man willing to pursue his dream and passion despite the cost. The cost was the wrongful charge and unfair punishment of hard labor for stealing. The message of irony in the end that demonstrated how the legal system accomplished the exact opposite of what its designed for was brilliant. The court system, hard labor camp, and cold society made a thief out of an innocent man with a dream. This was successful in eliciting emotion in the audience. I identified with Muni's character in that I wanted to see more of his story: how he evaded the police, wrote/published his book, and secured a position as a Hollywood script consultant. The abrupt "I steal!" ending was very meaningful but I left the screening wanting more.