The Chase (1966)

Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

Absolutely Fantastic

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

You must see this just to see how such talented people, from the A-list all-star cast, both veterans and newcomers, a solid director and reputable writers can turn out such a mind-bogglingly God-awful mess. it just defies description so I won't bother with the plot, but if you're curious to see one of those things that sounds great and on paper and then ends, at which you point say to anyone watching "What the hell was THAT? Was it me, or ....?" No, it wasn't just me. Wowee!

I think that "The Chase" has been sort of loss in the shuffle of time. To see it now it's not only chilling but profound. I don't think it should be much of a surprise considering the people involved. Horton Foote (Trip To Bountiful) wrote the play, Lillian Hellman (The Little Foxes) wrote the screenplay and Arthur Penn (Bonnie and Clyde) directed and I haven't even started with the cast yet. Marlon Brando giving one of his best, adult, performances. His walking the thin line between duty and loyalty is powerful and profoundly moving. Robert Redford, Jane Fonda, Robert Duvall, James Fox, Angie Dickinson, Janice Rule, E G Marshall even Miriam Hopkins. Gene Milford's editing, and Joseph LaShelle's spectacular cinematography all wrapped up in a phenomenal score by John Barry. A must.

What starts as a simple prison break turns into an incredibly tense emotional thriller in The Chase. With an all-star cast and a perfectly eerie tone set by director Arthur Penn, you'll be kept on the edge of your seat from start to finish.Robert Redford and his cellmate break out of prison, but when his cellmate kills a man and flees the scene, everyone thinks Robert Redford is the murderer! He tries to make his way back to town to see his wife, but when the town residents get wind of his plan, they all panic. E.G. Marshall, a very important figure, is worried about his son's safety, since he's having an affair with Redford's wife, Jane Fonda. Robert Duvall, whose wife is having an affair with Richard Bradford, is worried because he knows a secret about Redford's crime. Redford's parents, Miriam Hopkins and Malcom Atterbury, feel guilty about not hiring him a lawyer before. Ken Renard knows where he is, and knows he'll get harassed because of it. And finally, Marlon Brando, the sheriff, tries in vain to keep the peace.Lillian Hellman's script, based on Horton Foote's play, is very well-written, with plenty of characters to root for and against. Marlon Brando's character is by far the most interesting and likable, and even though he isn't usually cast in peace-keeper roles, he's very convincing as he's pulled by all sides and still tries to maintain law and order. This is a pretty heavy movie, so be prepared. There's infidelity, violence, and racial harassment. But if you tend to like dramatic films from the 1960s, rather than the fluffy ones, you'll probably enjoy The Chase.

"The Chase" is one of the better films during this rather lean period in the career of Marlon Brando. He is given dialogue which is above average, he has a character to play and he gives the best performance. Brando is well supported by Angie Dickinson, Miriam Hopkins, E.G Marshall and Richard Bradford (just a short time away from making his name in his show of "Man in a Suitcase). The narrative is all over the place though. There are far too many irrelevant characters who have little to do. James Fox, Jane Fonda and Robert Redford are rather wasted. Redford in particular as he is meant to be a main factor in the story. He plays a convict who has escaped from prison and is heading toward his home town. However, he is absent from the film for long periods of time. He doesn't reach his home town until near the end! Jane Fonda having an affair with James Fox is completely pointless and irksome. How she gets billed second is anyone's guess. At the said town, Brando as the local sheriff has a lot to deal with - racial prejudice and feelings of anger about Redford being amongst his problems. Brando hates where he is stationed and dislikes most of the locals with their bigoted ways. He is trying not to cave in under pressure from the local bigwigs in how to deal with the escaped convict but he receives little support. Only his wife (Dickinson) stands by him. Robert Duvall is cast against type here. Usually, he played unsympathetic people but in "The Chase," he is actually more intelligent and peaceful. His performance is good. Richard Bradford takes the honours as a racist thug who likes to take the law into his own hands. The film does work itself up to a good and gritty climax. Arthur Penn's direction is good but his best work was yet to come. The scene where Brando gets savagely beaten is graphic by 1966 standards and I can imagine that both the American and British Film Censors weren't too happy about the violence. Altogether, a rather depressing film that wallows in its own world of despair and hopelessness.