The Man Who Broke 1,000 Chains (1987) (TV)

Director:

Daniel Mann

Writers:

Robert E. Burns (book)
Michael Campus (writer)

Release Date:

31 October 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Plot:

The true story of Robert Elliot Burns, the prisoner who, after being sentenced to a Georgia chain gang, attempted two daring escapes.

Plot Keywords:

Chain Gang | Hung Upside Down | Whipping | Bare Chested Male Bondage | Remake

Awards:

1 win & 7 nominations

Cast

Val Kilmer	...	Robert Eliot Burns / Eliot Roberts
Charles Durning	...	Warden Hardy
Sonia Braga	...	Emily Del Pino Pacheco
Kyra Sedgwick	...	Lillian Salo
James Keach	...	Father Vincent Godfrey Burns
Elisha Cook Jr.	...	Pappy Glue
Clancy Brown	...	Flagg
William Sanderson	...	Trump
Taj Mahal	...	Bones
Taylor Presnell	...	George Seales
Paul Benjamin	...	Big Sam
Bill Bolender	...	Rayford
Esther Benson	...	Mother Burns
Burt Conway	...	Father Burns
Charles Carroll	...	Hobo #1

Also Known As:

Unchained (Europe)

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Jefferson, Texas, USA

Company:

Home Box Office (HBO)

Movie Connections:

Features I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)

A great television film, with superb acting by Kilmer

Like many TV movies, "The Man Who Broke 1,000 Chains" has suffered an unfortunate fading into obscurity through no fault of its own. Truly, this film is every bit as good as the Paul Muni original, if only a bit less for being the second go-around.

Director Daniel Mann gives the film a real edge, a surprising sense of desperation from a director who spent a career filming melodramas like "The Rose Tattoo" (1955). In fact, it was his last film before passing away at the age of 78 in 1991. He gives the film real claustrophobia and suspense.

This is one of Val Kilmer's best roles, and he makes you believe he's really experiencing all of this. As the warden, Charles Durning is very menacing, digging his heels into every ounce of hatefulness he can drag out his character. It's an excellent performance. The female roles are well-played within their limits, but the other real standout performance is from James Keach. I always felt that James was every bit as good an actor as brother Stacy, and was quite disappointed when he quit acting for a rather mediocre directing career (save for the stunning "The Stars Fell on Henrietta").

The script is very dark, providing few moments of light. Even in civilian life, Eliot Burns finds his life constantly unraveling. I began to believe that Burns got into trouble more through his lack of foresight than his lack of luck. Overall, it's a very good picture, and an excellent historical document of the chain gang life - nearly as good as "Cool Hand Luke" (1967).

RATING: 7.6 out of 10