While Donald Woods doesn't end up a fugitive from a chain gang in this similar "B" follow-up to the classic 1932 Paul Muni drama, he does fight injustice with the same fervor, in this case a powerful man who happens to be the stepfather of the woman he loves. Going against the grain of Henry Neill's desire for political power, Woods ends up being accused of grand larceny, and just as he is being put into prison, an escape attempt erupts and Woods and pal Carlyle Moore Jr. are forced into it against their will. This couldn't please O'Neill more and fake defense by the attorney he hires for them puts them on a chain gang, first on the rock pile, and later for Woods the darkened confinement of a mine which he is warned means certain death. Supportive prisoners and the determination of girlfriend Kay Linaker to get him off results in a confrontation between the prison officials under O'Neill's thumb and the men trapped in the mines with teargas surrounding them.Certainly not in the class of the earlier "A" film which was considered by some to be one of the first film noir, "Road Gang" is still pretty gripping considering its low budget and lack of "A" list stars. Woods never looks like he's been working on a chain gang, always with hair perfectly shaped and certainly no dirt on his face. There's a frightening scene of an escape attempt that results in a horrific death, and a funeral sequence of the victim repeats "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot", earlier heard being sung by unseen black members of the gang, obviously segregated from the white prisoners. So while this might not be as gripping as the film that obviously inspired it and the string of other Warner Brothers films bemoaning the fate of those forgotten men during the depression, it has some moments that are still pretty intriguing. Other than O'Neill, the villains seem pretty black and white, however, without the shades of gray that make them seem more human and thus much more realistic.

This film was made by the B-movie unit at First National/Warner Brothers. Because it's a B, it only lasts about an hour and stars a relative unknown, Donald Woods. However, although many folks normally assume that a B-movie is synonymous with a 'bad movie', this is DEFINITELY not the case with this movie. Thanks to exceptional writing and direction, the film sure satisfies.This film is from the social reform era in Hollywood. Many films were made by this studio which questioned the penal system--such as "I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang", "Mayor of Hell", "20,000 Years in Sing Sing" and "Angels With Dirty Faces". In this same tradition is "Road Gang"--a film not just about government corruption but corruption in the chain gang system.A crusading reporter has gotten on the wrong side of a bunch of crooked politicians. They try to bribe him to keep his mouth shut but he vows to bring down the corrupt officials. So, shortly after this meeting with the crooks, this reporter (Woods) is convicted on trumped up charges along with his friend. They are sent to a brutal chain gang--one that is run by people working for the same crooked machine. The plan is to work the two to death so that they never can have a chance to publish anything. And, when the newspaper man tries to smuggle out a story about the brutality, he's sent to an even worse place--a place where they have no intention of allowing anyone to see him again. What's next? See the film.This film works on so many levels. The dialog is great, the plot works very well and the film really gets its point across. On top of that, it has a really good ending. This film has it all--and is better than you'd ever expect from a tiny-budgeted movie.

Framed for crimes they did not commit, two young men are sentenced to five years at hard labor on a Southern prison's brutal ROAD GANG.Here is a fine example of the type of crime film which Warner Bros. produced so well. Although there are no big stars in the film, the acting is generally good, the stifling atmosphere is well maintained and the production values - especially in the prison camp/mine sequences - are of a high standard.Donald Woods makes a sturdy, stalwart hero; made to endure various humiliations & punishments, he never wavers in his fight for justice. This is quite typical of the fine performances Woods gave during his career. Kay Linaker is enjoyable as his courageous fiancée.The film is sparked by a handful of noteworthy performances among the large cast: Carlyle Moore Jr. as Woods faithful, tragic buddy; Henry O'Neill as a slick, utterly corrupt politician; Edward Van Sloan as a shyster lawyer; Olin Howlin as the lethargic prison doctor; and Charles Middleton as the Blackfoot Mine's vile warden.ROAD GANG was a partial re-make of Warner's' hit film from four years earlier, I AM A FUGITIVE FROM A CHAIN GANG (1932), starring Paul Muni. In the days of the studio factory system, when churning out one picture after another in an almost endless supply was vitally important, it was not at all unusual to recycle the plots of successful A movies. The B pictures department would change elements here & there (ROAD GANG has a much happier ending than the Muni film), and release an entirely new picture, hoping for another winner. This was the first film scripted by the young Dalton Trumbo, destined to be famous for more than just his celebrated screenwriting abilities.

This is one of those "B" films that doesn't get much airplay but show up periodically to my delight as an avid aficionado of "B" movies. A solid cast of second leads and character actors....Donald Woods, Henry O'Neil, Charles Middleton and a very young Marc Lawrence. It mirrors "I Was A Fugitive From a Chain Gang", the Paul Muni "A" list movie of that time in that it deals with the conditions of southern prisons in the 20's and 30's An interesting sidelight to this movie which was mentioned by the preceding reviewer....the post-dubbing of the character Moett's name. In the film,it is obviously "Metcalf" but has been post-dubbed to "Moett". I have searched extensively for the reason but can't find out why this was done. I would recommend it to anyone who loves the "B" movies....low budget, hackneyed dialogue and last minute reprieves....it's the stuff "B"'s were made of!