Whitman: The Fugitive

In Andrew Davis’s The Fugitive Dr.Robert Kimble (Ford) is an innocent man accused of murdering his wife. However technically from the beginning we can’t be sure that Kimble didn’t kill his wife. Having seen plenty of films with plot twists as an audience we know not to immediately trust flashbacks as they may be some augmented reality in Kimble’s head that didn’t actually happen. Pfieffer explains that audiences are already “used to rooting for Ford in any number of other films, instantly feels a sympathy for his character.” The film has to capture “Kimble’s frustration, fears, and anguish so that his final triumph is all the more satisfying” (Pfeiffer 212). As the film progresses Kimble demonstrates his innocence through selfless acts.

After to being convicted and sentenced to death Kimble is being moved between prisons when two prisoners attempt to escape and crash the bus on the train tracks. This is when Kimble first starts to demonstrate his innocence. He attempts to rescue the injured guard. Not only does the other prisoner leave but so does the injured guards own partner in fear of their own lives. This is one of the more significant moments of the film because Kimble risks his life for another instead of running and attempting to escape. This selfless action is the first piece of evidence showing the audience that Kimble may in fact be innocent.

While navigating a sewer system to escape Detective Gerard, Kimble again demonstrates his innocence. While chasing Kimble, Gerard slips and drops his weapon which Kimble picks up. Instead of shooting Gerard as he easily could have done he runs letting him live. If Kimble were truly guilty of murder he would have no respect for human life. 

One of the bigger moments of the film comes when Kimble is sneaking around the hospital stealing records of people with prosthetic limbs. While in the hospital he is enlisted by a doctor to move an injured child to a different part of the hospital. Upon reviewing the child's sheet he sees the doctors have diagnosed him wrong under in their frantic attempt to help the injured school bus of children. Kimble ignores the doctor’s original orders and brings the child to surgery. Later the other doctor explains the situation to Gerard revealing that Kimble saved the child’s life. Kimble risked his own freedom and potentially his life to yet again save another. This is a key scene because not only is the audience convinced of Kimble’s innocence but Gerard as well begins to see it despite his initial response to Kimble’s self professed innocence: “I don’t care”

Before Kimble finds the house of the one armed man who murdered his wife the audience already knows Kimble is innocent. It is just the cherry on top. He can find the true murderer and find justice for his wife.