reiher@ucla-cs.UUCP (12/07/84)
Quick, now, without consulting your reference books, what film starred
Marlon Brando, Robert Redford, Jane Fonda, and Robert Duvall? Here's a
hint: screenplay by Lillian Hellman. Here's another: directed by Arthur
Penn.
Give up? It was "The Chase", made in 1966. It also featured E.G. Marshall,
Miriam Hopkins, Angie Dickinson, James Fox, and an extremely young, extremely
chubby, extremely obnoxious Paul Williams (fortunately in a part that mostly
called for standing around in a group of kids). I was based on a novel by
Horton Foote, and has music by John Barry.
I just saw this film at the LA County Museum of Art. I was extremely
impressed. This is one good film. It failed on its release, being slightly
ahead of its time. Brando was in his career slump, Fonda was perceived as
a sex kitten, Redford hadn't made "Butch Cassidy" yet, and Duvall was just
another talented character actor. Penn was a promising director, but wouldn't
make it big until "Bonnie and Clyde", the next year. Moreover, the film's
themes, corruption and intolerance, were about 1 or two years too early, as
was its occasional brutal, but appropriate, violence.
The story concerns an escaped convict (Redford) who makes his way back to his
Southern home town. The sheriff (Brando) wants to get him out alive and safe,
but there are many others who aren't so concerned. Fonda plays his wife, who
is actually in love with his best friend (Fox), who, in turn, is the son of
the town boss (Marshall). The plot is complicated, and rather slow and
confused in the first half, probably due to its novelistic origins. The second
half, though, is dazzling, and the acting is superb throughout. Brando is in
top form, Fonda gives the first great performance of her career, Redford is
excellent, Marshall and Fox are both fine, Miriam Hopkins caps her career with
an excellent performance as Redford's mother, and Angie Dickinson gives the
best performance of her career. Duvall is in a supporting role which is
definitely subsidiary, but is good none the less.
"The Chase" is a hard film to see. This is the first time I recollect it
being shown in a theater in Los Angeles in six years. It does show up
on television occasionally, but it would be better to see it on the screen,
as Penn makes fine use of the wide screen. If you get a chance to see it
in a theater, don't pass it up.
--
Peter Reiher
reiher@ucla-cs.arpa
{...ihnp4,ucbvax,sdcrdcf}!ucla-cs!reiher