Movie: The Chase
Director: Arthur Penn
Cast: Marlon Brando, Robert Redford, Robert Duvall, Jane Fonda and Angie Dickinson
Rating: ***1/2
One of the most underrated classics I have ever come across is “The Chase”, based on the play by Horton Foote. A helluva an explosive story about racial tolerance and hypocrisy of the elite class, “The Chase” is a testament to what happens when everybody wants to take law & order in their hands. Powered by stellar performances by Brando, Redford, Duvall and Fonda, it surprises me why this film hasn’t received the reputation it deserves. God knows what could be the reasons, but whatever they are, that doesn’t make this film any less brilliant.
When local baddie Charlie ‘Bubber’ Reeves breaks out of prison, it sends chills up the spines of two persons – Sheriff Calder (Brando) and the son of oil-man Val Rogers, Jake Rogers.
While the Sheriff is not actually worried but concerned for Bubber whose safety is at stake in the town that fears him for unknown reasons, Val is worried about his life because he has been having an affair with Anna, Bubber’s girlfriend since he has been away.
Sheriff Calder has two jobs at hand. Firstly, to take Bubber in alive, unharmed and secondly, to settle scores with Val Rogers, who is under the assumption that Calder is his bitch. However, the arrival of Charlie only aggravates the situation in the town. Calder wants to take him in safely, but the townsfolk want to kill him.
What follows is a powerful, emotional and ruthless depiction of a system versus mob violence that results in an unexpected climax.
“The Chase” is undoubtedly disturbing but it is equally relevant to what happens in a town divided by race, class and power. With a sluggish first half, the film picks up momentum and builds tension in the second. Some of the best minutes of the film are towards the climax where almost every character in the film crosses paths. However, what appears to be a rather meandering opening section of the film, serves as a riveting study of life in a small town, its fundamental tensions and conflicts.
Most scenes in the film are perfectly shouldered by the cast. Be it the Roger’s party or the town party-lynching at the junkyard, every actor in the film rises up to the occasion and delivers an impeccable performance. One of the best scenes has to be the one where Brando gets beaten up in his office. Approximately, this scene lasts for about ten minutes and never during the course of the fight, do we get to see Brando’s face. But, as he rises heroically, finally, you see his disfigured face and can’t stop feeling sorry for him.
The film paints a beautiful analogy between the character played by Redford and the townsfolk. While the people in the town fear the arrival of ‘Bubber’ and, therefore, wish to kill him, he comes back only to meet his girlfriend. This is proof to the fact that there are many more malicious characters in the film than Charlie himself. And it helps us understand that your past does not make you bad, but it’s what you do in present that decides your fate.
“The Chase” is a film that you can’t miss at any cost. I agree it doesn’t entertain as much as any other film in the same genre, but it leaves you in awe with some raw action and unadulterated performances.
