@wjstix posted:The movie is (at least loosely) based on a book called "From Coast to Coast with Jack London" by Leon Ray Livingston, who was a real hobo who used the moniker "A-Number-1" and wrote a number of stories and books about his journeys. The book was set in the 1890s, not 1930s like the movie. "Cigarette" is based on the teenaged Jack London.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_Ray_Livingston
BTW, did you notice none of the characters have actual names? The hoboes all have their 'monikers' ("A-No.1", "Cigarette") and the railroaders all are referred to by their job ("Hogger" for the engineer, "Black" for the fireman, "Shack" for the conductor, "Yardlet" for the yard switchman, etc.)
@wjstix
Thank you for this reference. I found it very interesting. 👍