20,000 Cheers for the Chain Gang

In this bizarre little variety short, four convicts on the chain gang escape and disrupt a chorus line singing about soda pop; they escape in the confusion. In the meantime, the warden, facing a blue ribbon committee, liberalizes the penal operation, allowing the prisoners to go shooting, and hiring chorines to dance at the daily steak dinners.

Since it's from Warner Brothers, we take a look at I WAS A PRISONER FROM THE CHAIN GANG, based on a real story, and realize this is an attack on the state from whom the man escaped; it was Georgia. They claimed their chain gangs were run with the utmost humanity. So this burlesques that.

Unfortunately, it's too over the top. Nowadays, we may look at it without the context of the moment. You can't really do that.

Of all the ludicrous places to set a musical short, some very kooky people at Vitaphone thought it would be a great idea to have it be on a chain gang!! Yes, when I think of song and dance, I often think of chain gangs!!

When the film starts, the chain gang is singing up a storm and having an awfully good time, or so it seems. Some of these guys actually DO want to escape and they soon bolt towards freedom. Go figure...as it looked awfully amusing on the chain gang! Soon the law goes chasing after these fellows and the escapees wander upon a swell dance party...and everyone runs away when they see these guys in striped uniforms. Little do the escapees know that they SHOULD have stayed with the gang. This is because in the meantime, a committee is coming to inspect the barracks and the health of the chain gang. Because of this the boss decides to make a few 'small changes' to impress the committee. This actually is VERY funny...and you just have to see it for yourself. And what does happen to these five escapees? Just see it for yourself...you won't regret it.

This movie manages to work for one reason...it is completely ludicrous and silly. Anthing else would have been in bad taste and stupid....and while this one is very stupid, it's stupid in a GOOD way! Very cute and surprisingly funny...and a nice counterpoint to Warner's big hit from the year before, "I Was a Fugitive From a Chain Gang".

A wonderful and often funny look at the life in a chain gang. Worth checking out if you could find it anywhere. It was well acted, nicely directed, and pretty interesting in its humorous look at Chain Gang farm under inspection.

Five prisoners escape from a chain gang work crew. The prison system is being investigated by a blue ribbon commission which orders a series of lavish changes. Upon hearing about the changes, the escapees all gather to return to the prison.

It's all a little surreal from the very start. The dogs are just comedically silly. I almost like this for its silliness. This is a strange little short. I don't know any of these performers and it's not like the performances are so great. The coke bottle picnic dance is cringe. They seem like second tier talents being given something to do. This is a bit of nothingness.

20,000 Cheers for the Chain Gang (1933)

** (out of 4)

During the 1930s Warner was known for their hard-hitting social dramas and I AM A FUGITIVE FROM A CHAIN GANG was one of their greatest. This two-reeler is a spoof of that film and centers on a group of chain gang workers who grow tired of the horrid conditions so they decide to escape. Soon afterwards they get word that the prison has made some terrific changes so the men decided they want to break back in. 20,000 CHEERS FROM A CHAIN GANG has a pretty good title but that's about the only good thing going for it. It wasn't rare for Warner to spoof their features in their short films so this here certainly isn't anything new but at the same time very little is done with it. There are a few funny moments scattered throughout the film including one bit where the men are being chased by the dogs but the dogs turn out to be poodles and other non-threatening breeds. Another funny moment happens when the men try to break their chains but have a few issues. With that said, there are several moments that simply aren't funny and at times the film just comes across very boring and flat. This includes the entire second half of the picture where we see all the "changes" that were made but I assure you none of them will add any entertainment value.