The Chase main backdrop
The Chase main poster

The Chase

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7.1/10 • 304

1966-02-182h 15m

CrimeDrama

A breathless explosive story of today!

The escape of Bubber Reeves from prison affects the inhabitants of a small Southern town.

Directors
Arthur Penn
Editors
Gene Milford

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Marlon Brando

    Marlon Brando

    Sheriff Calder

  2. Jane Fonda

    Jane Fonda

    Anna Reeves

  3. Robert Redford

    Robert Redford

    Charlie 'Bubber' Reeves

  4. E.G. Marshall

    E.G. Marshall

    Val Rogers

  5. Angie Dickinson

    Angie Dickinson

    Ruby Calder

  6. Janice Rule

    Janice Rule

    Emily Stewart

  7. Miriam Hopkins

    Miriam Hopkins

    Mrs. Reeves

  8. Martha Hyer

    Martha Hyer

    Mary Fuller

  9. Robert Duvall

    Robert Duvall

    Edwin Stewart

Reviews1

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Wuchak Avatar

Wuchak

Aug 16, 2025

6/10

A Southern town given to drunken revelry & vigilantism with Brando as the voice of reason Bubber Reeves (Robert Redford) escapes from prison and this affects the populace of an East Texas town. Marlon plays the sheriff who tries to track down Bubber's whereabouts while Angie Dickinson is on hand as his supportive wife. Jane Fonda plays Bubber's ex-girlfriend and James Fox her secret beau. Janice Rule appears as a drunken woman of dubious morality, Robert Duvall her hubby, and Richard Bradford one of the men with whom she cheats. "The Chase" is mid-60's Southern Gothic in the manner of "The Fugitive Kind" (1960), "In the Heat of the Night" (1967), "Cape Fear" (1962), "This Property Is Condemned" (1966) and "The Long, Hot Summer" (1958). It's arguably on par with most of these, but is significantly superior to the last one. The first act is weak as it establishes the characters, but the story becomes captivating starting with the second act and the surreal drunken party at the mogul's mansion (and the teens in a neighboring abode). Imagine if "Village of the Giants" (1965) was shot as a serious melodrama, minus the giants, and that's the general vibe. The movie addresses elements of hedonism, racism, sexual revolution (with several of the players involved in affairs), political corruption (the sheriff is wrongly thought to be bought by the town mogul), and vigilante non-justice. The most iconic scene is when the sole voice of reason is viciously beaten by the mogul (E.G. Bradford), along with his buds. Marlon later cited this as an example of his renowned Method approach. The wild last act in an auto graveyard is also notable. Despite the picture's many strengths, it's too meandering and unfocused to be wholly effective as Arthur Penn's great "Bonnie and Clyde" (1967). But you can't beat the cast, especially Brando. Look for a young Paul Williams as one of the partying teens. It runs 2 hours, 13 minutes, and was shot in California (Calabasas, Chico, Agoura & Burbank studios). GRADE: B/B- (6.5/10)

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
$2,300,000.00
Keywords
prisonsheriffescaped convicthouse partyman huntjump from traincriminalalcohol abusehatredgetawaylynch moboil barondrunkenness