Glimmerubro
It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.
Tobias Burrows
It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.
Logan
By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.
Tad Pole
. . . is that there are tons and tons of movies and TV episodes with this title, and the 1939 MGM offering with Edward G. Robinson is NOT the one directed by "Fred Hitchcock" (as NORTH BY NORTHWEST actress Eva Marie Saint referred to "Hitch" during "THE OSCARS 2018"). Ms. Saint was NOT in Hitchcock's 1929 Blackmail, at which time she would have been extremely early in her career. I have a colleague who wrote an exceptionally cogent concise explication of THIS version of BLACKMAIL, from 1939, making full use of his many college degrees. I happened to be on hand to lend my street smarts to the exhausting proof-reading process through which all of my associate's musings are subjected. Trust me, the final product was so moving it probably made more than one angel weep. However, the bots running the show here put whatever High and Mighty criteria under which they operate ahead of the public good, denying you the wonderful insights offered therein. Since they never specify or give any clue or inkling as to what goes into their decision-making process (if any), I have not shared a single one of these cogent observations in this space (no one dares make the same mistake twice). However, our coast-to-coast network of film pundits with be distributing (at our great expense) individual printed copies of the original 1939 BLACKMAIL review at EVERY Major League Baseball park Opening Day, 2018, to all of the fans (that is, to each and every one) who has an interest in this film.
MartinHafer
Back in the mid-1930s, Warner Brothers came out with a shockingly brutal and absorbing drama about the evils of chain gangs. Paul Muni's performance and the script for "I Was a Fugitive From a Chain Gang" were superb and the film has held up great over the years. Because of this, films like "Blackmail" seem incredibly bland and pale in comparison. When this MGM film begins, John Ingram (Edward G. Robinson) is a successful and well respected man whose job it is to put out oil fires. Unfortunately, he's also a fugitive from some Southern chain gang-- an innocent man who couldn't prove this but managed to escape. Since then, assuming a new identity, he's gone on to make a productive life and a nice family. However, when a scumbag (Gene Lockhart) comes to town, Ingram is in trouble. While he's just asking for a job, this guy is a crook and is the guy who is actually responsible for the crime Ingram was arrested for years ago. So far, while the plot is hard to believe, it is worth seeing. What happens next, however, sure strains credibility way past the breaking point. The scum-bag EASILY convinces Ingram that he is willing to own up to his crime but only if he gets a huge payoff. In other words, he'll admit to the crime but escape--leaving evidence that will clear Ingram's name. Not at all surprisingly (since he IS a crook), he tricks Ingram and it's Ingram who is sent to prison. Duh.For the rest of the film, Robinson spends his time in prison. However, the chain gang is run by a bunch of brutes (though they are FAR less brutal than the guys in the earlier film) and eventually he realizes he must escape in order to ever see his family again.So why does this film earn a 5? Well, it is entertaining but it breaks absolutely no new ground and pretty much neuters the old plot. The chain gang, while unpleasant, doesn't seem all that bad and instead of this form of imprisonment being indicted, the film actually is all about capturing the real baddie and sending him to prison where he rightfully belongs. Amazingly poor considering the material.
vincentlynch-moonoi
I think this film -- MGM instead of Warner Bros. (I assume he was out on loan?) is one of Edward G. Robinson's better films, although definitely not one of his best. Frankly, as much as I liked Robinson, the Warner pics of this genre began to meld together after a while. MGM gave this film a slightly different feel, and for me, it worked.As I child traveling in the south, I remember seeing chain gangs, but I never realized how depressing their lives were. This film shows you that.Some feel this film has an unreal story line. Yes, it does. Just about as unreal as most of the Warner-type gangster films. But here it's done up with slightly better production values and some decent acting. Edward G. Robinson is fine as the wrongfully convicted oil man. Ruth Hussey, an often underestimated actress, is fine here as the wife. Gene Lockhart is surprisingly effective as the blackmailing villain. Thank god...we got through one film with child actor Bobs Watkins WITHOUT a crying scene (but I kept waiting for it). I never saw the attraction to sidekick Guinn Williams...and still don't.Some have criticized the ending. I thought it was satisfactory...perhaps could have been handled a bit better...but was as plausible as most Hollywood endings of the day.A rather satisfying film. Perhaps not quite a "A" picture, but better than your typical "B" picture.
whpratt1
This was a great film in 1939 because the audiences loved Edward G. Robinson who was a great actor and will be admired for many many generations to come. In this picture, Robinson plays John R. Ingram, who has a past that he is trying to hide from along with his wife, Ruth Hussey. John Ingram is a very successful troubleshooter for fires at Oil Rigs and has become very famous, wealthy and happy with his wife and young son. Everything seems to fall apart when Gene Lockhart, (Bill Ramey) knocks on the kitchen door and asks for a sandwich and starts a real storm in the Ingram household. Ingram decides to drill for his own oil and at the same time gets deeply involved with Bill Ramey. If you never knew what a chain gang is, this picture will show you what happened years ago on a chain gang. Enjoy a great classic film starring Edward G. Robinson, who was accepted into the hearts and homes of America and even put on a United States Postage Stamp.
