The chain-gang prison film (e.g.,I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang (1932)) has a long history in American films, and this one also provided entertaining performances, especially with Paul Newman in one of his best roles as masochistic Luke, after playing similar anti-heroes inThe Hustler (1961)andHud (1963).Many well-known actresses ested for the part of the young woman - Loretta Young, Margaret Sullavan, Anne Baxter and Vivien Leigh (her role inGone With the Wind (1939)made her participation impossible), and Ronald Colman was also considered for the male lead role.You haven""t got anything to worry about.I""m not gonna let you down because I can""t afford to." During a soliloquy, he obsessed, tyrannical director looks out the office window toward an unseen street, counting on the success of his last show to take care of him through retirement with a respectable income...And he swallowed it.He looked in his heart and he thought, in all humility, how he""d like to try and change things.He was just a country boy who thought that even the plainest, poorest man can be governor if his fellow citizens find that he""s got the stuff for the job.