MovieChat Forums > The Chase (1966) Discussion > Horribly unrealistic

Horribly unrealistic

posted 13 years ago by rtd3ws
16 replies | jump to latest

This movie portrayed people in a totally and thoroughly implausible way. I find it impossible to believe that teenagers would torch off a wrecking yard the way they did, with flares. When I was young (around the era portrayed), wrecking yards were veritable gold mines of good parts I could use to keep my heap running. And that the total breakdown of law and order would take place the way the movie portrayed in a predominantly white community is absurd in the extreme.

This movie is so typical of the '60s decade, where a lot of the stuff produced ended depressingly and badly. I've actually gotten to the point where, with few exceptions, I avoid watching anything made in the sixties. I wish I'd stuck to that policy before I watched "The Chase".

Good acting, but totally wasted on this script.

[–] RobbieCalifornia 13 years ago

The script was just awful. Written by Lillian Hellman, she must have just banged it out for the money. This film was a complete waste of time, and it's a real shame with such a wonderful cast. Brando! Unbelievable.

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Squeeth2 13 years ago

It's a bit of a dog's dinner but there's enough there to keep me interested (and not just under Angie Dickinson's shirtfront). Douglas Sirk does Dallas.

Marlon, Claudia and Dimby the cats 1989-2005, 2007 and 2010.

[–] geoffrey-jackson 12 years ago

I see what you mean. The fury and the tension and the tragedy could have come across more coherently.

According to the trivia for this film, the director (Penn) is not to blame. He went onto bigger and better things but, fortunately, this was the beginning of the end for the producer. Here's a quote from Penn's bio page:

A society would be wise to pay attention to the people who do not belong if it wants to find out ... where it's failing.

All in all, it's difficult for me to give this film any more than 7/10.

[–] MrBlondNYC 12 years ago

I'm surprised that it's rated so highly on here. I found it terribly boring. Brando didn't make one good movie in the 60's except Burn.

George Carlin: It's all bullsh-t and it's bad for ya.

[–] marbleann 12 years ago

And I agree about the Brando comment. I will go so far as to saying that after James Dean died he skated along.

[–] WarpedRecord 11 years ago

I'm not even sure Brando was skating (or even coasting) here. Sleepwalking, perhaps?

This is a pretty run-of-the-mill Southern potboiler with overwrought plot twists and histrionic performances – except from Brando, who couldn't be bothered to care. It's a two-plus-hour movie that feels more like four hours. It's a treat to see Robert Redford and Jane Fonda early in their careers – and Angie Dickinson and Robert Duvall well into theirs – but the material here is weak. I'll be generous and give this 6/10 stars, then forget about it forever.

[–] marbleann 11 years ago

Seeing him in the 50's was like looking at different actor. But this movie is entertaining . But you are right it is like he is sleepwalking through the movie.

[–] WarpedRecord 11 years ago

Indeed. Marlon Brando seemed to have two phases to his career: as a superb actor ("A Streetcar Named Desire," "On the Waterfront") and as a mediocre one (pretty much everything from the '60s and beyond). I wasn't even that impressed with his performance in "The Godfather" (though the film itself is excellent).

[–] marbleann 11 years ago

I thought it was just me about the GodFather but he didn't think too much of it either because years later he does a parody of it in the Freshman. God and what about Apocalypse Now.

[–] WarpedRecord 11 years ago

I think "The Godfather" has such a mystique and strong cast that folks are easily distracted by the tedious performance at the core. Ditto for "Last Tango in Paris," which is a beautiful, fascinating and strange film — but none of this can be credited to Brando, who looks and acts bored there.

I recently rewatched "Apocalypse Now," and Brando's performance is an utter travesty in my book. The first three-fourths of the set film the bar very high, but it all comes crashing down in the last scene because Col. Kurtz is basically missing in action. It's pretty obvious Coppola had to work around Brando at that point and salvage what he could, which unfortunately wasn't much. Lots of quick cuts and shadows there.

[–] marbleann 11 years ago

What a mess. I am telling you his best performance was the comedy he did, the Freshman. The last halfway good movie he did was Burn! He was like a different person staring tin the 60's. I swear it was James Death. I guess he figured he was his main competition and did have to try anymore.

[–] WarpedRecord 11 years ago

I saw "The Freshman" shortly after it was released, and I found it hilarious. Matthew Broderick is always worth watching. I have an old VHS copy that I need to watch again one of these days.

Interesting observation about the timing of James Dean's death and the decline of Marlon Brando's career. He certainly seemed to start phoning it in about then, and I suspect you're right that the lack of a contemporary had a lot to do with it.

[–] marbleann 11 years ago

Oh I am not the only person who think that. It is a pretty common idea running around for years. Frankly I think the rest of his career rested on his laurels from the 50's.

[–] thepartydjz 10 years ago

Trashing Marlon Brando, how dare you, lol, you make some valid points, for comedy how about "Free Money" as Warden Sven 'The Swede' Sorenson

I thought his performance was superb in the Godfather

[–] franzkabuki 9 years ago

Suppose they were making a point; whether or not they did so successfully or accurately, is a different matter. Since when do films need to be all so terribly realistic?

"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan