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The Chase (1966)

Rate: 3
Viewed: 3/08

Chase1
3/08: I spotted a DVD copy of The Chase in the bargain bin for five bucks and looked at the names of the cast: Marlon Brando, Jane Fonda, Robert Redford, Angie Dickinson, and Robert Duvall.

Looking up the director, it said Arthur Penn of Bonnie and Clyde and The Miracle Worker. Peering a bit further, Sam Spiegel was the producer. I thought to myself, "Wow, what a find." I proceeded to watch the film but fell asleep not long after. By the time I was done, I couldn't believe how boring and disconnected the whole thing was. For all it could offer, I pinpointed a major problem: too much star power.

In other words, The Chase should've been Marlon Brando's picture, and he's darned capable of carrying the cast. Instead, he's reduced to a tool, following a routine that's akin to what he did in On the Waterfront but, this time, with no sense of purpose.

The cast looks dazzling, but who are we kidding here? It's obvious Robert Redford is a pretty boy whose acting abilities have the depth of a shot glass. Jane Fonda has never been a good actress to start with, having ridden on the coattails of her famous father ever since she was born. Before carving fame in his own way years later, Robert Duvall is too young to make an impact.

I'm not sure if I should be disappointed with Arthur Penn, but consider the facts, the film was made in 1966 which is one year before Bonnie and Clyde and four years after The Miracle Worker. In short, he made a masterpiece, a dud, and a masterpiece in that order. Marlon Brando thought the fight scenes between his character and several residents were filmed too quickly. So, he instructed Arthur Penn to slow down the speed to make them look beautiful. It was eventually applied for Bonnie and Clyde.

The Chase isn't entertaining and should be ninety minutes long with a reworked plot. All it does is force me to wait and wait for something to happen. When it does, there's no impact. I predicted Robert Redford's character would be killed, and...he was. The most laughable scene is the fight with many shadow punches thrown.

All in all, The Chase is a dud, and it won't stop there because Arthur Penn went on to direct The Missouri Breaks starring Marlon Brando.