The Chase

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The Chase

Released Feb 19, 1966

2h 15m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

73%

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11 Reviews

72%

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2,500+ Ratings

When "Bubber" Reeves (Robert Redford) escapes from prison, it upsets the folks in the nearby town of Tarl, Texas. Sheriff Calder (Marlon Brando) wants to capture Reeves alive, which puts him in opposition to many of the townspeople who have resorted to mob justice. Businessman Val Rogers (E.G. Marshall) wants Calder to apprehend Reeves quickly, through any means, since he fears the criminal will come after Val's son, Jake, who is sleeping with Reeves' wife (Jane Fonda).

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David Wilson

Sight & Sound

Hysterical, extravagant, preposterous... Yet through all the Wagnerian excesses of the film, one can't help remembering the real events of this summer in Texas.

Apr 2, 2020

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Brando, Fonda, and Redford are all miscast, conveying too much intelligence to be convincing as the rubes on display here (and in what universe would a redneck named Bubber look and talk like the WASPy Redford?).

Rated: 2.5/4

Mar 18, 2025

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Pauline Kael

McCall's

In The Chase, not only are the elaborate production values out of place, nobody seems to be in control of them.

Sep 20, 2023

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Nicholas Bell

IONCINEMA.com

Considering the sprawling cast of distinctive characters and personalities, The Chase remains a compact exercise in control.

Rated: 3.5/5

Sep 30, 2020

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Daniel Barnes

Dare Daniel

The "New Hollywood" of the 1960s and 70s produced a number of withering takes on American institutions, but no filmmaker was as consistently convinced of the venality at the heart of American society as Arthur Penn.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 25, 2020

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Antonio Lara

El Pais (Spain)

The assassinations of Kennedy and Oswald are allegorically present in Lilliam Hellman's magnificent script... This is a progressive and self-critical film. [Full Review in Spanish]

Jul 17, 2019

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Rami A

Although a little slow, the movie can be fun with all the stuff surrounding the main plot, rather than just focusing on one element, in this case the plot. The cast is great and the town that the film takes place in is a nice little setup. It definitely shows that the 60s were an interesting time to look back at.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/14/25

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Alain E

This is the equivalent of a Greek tragedy, taking place in southern United States. Do you accept that Gods lived on Mount Olympus and controlled the fate of men? If not, there is no point ever attending a play by Sophocles or Euripides. Same here. Redford plays a character that comes so close to live another day until fate determines differently. Marlon Brando’s sheriff realizes that he has to withdraw. There are forces at play, beyond the control of humans.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/15/25

Full Review

Jelisije J

A movie that slowly builds up the town, its main characters, its side characters until it ultimately blows up into a memorable classic film.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/19/24

Full Review

Bill T

Great movie with an excellent cast

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/17/24

Full Review

Timothy T

What a great movie that focuses on the escape of a prisoner. Brando was great. Loved the cast. Tim Treakle

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/17/24

Full Review

Cheryl B

Surely the actors had to think this film was the embarrassment of their careers, Could be the worst film I've ever seen.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

04/04/24

Full Review

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Arthur Penn

Director

Marlon Brando

Sheriff Calder

Jane Fonda

Anna Reeves

Robert Redford

Charlie "Bubber" Reeves

E.G. Marshall

Val Rogers

Angie Dickinson

Ruby Calder

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Synopsis

When "Bubber" Reeves (Robert Redford) escapes from prison, it upsets the folks in the nearby town of Tarl, Texas. Sheriff Calder (Marlon Brando) wants to capture Reeves alive, which puts him in opposition to many of the townspeople who have resorted to mob justice. Businessman Val Rogers (E.G. Marshall) wants Calder to apprehend Reeves quickly, through any means, since he fears the criminal will come after Val's son, Jake, who is sleeping with Reeves' wife (Jane Fonda).

Director: Arthur Penn
Producer: Sam Spiegel
Screenwriter: Lillian Hellman, Horton Foote
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Horizon Films, Lone Star, Columbia Pictures Corporation
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 19, 1966, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2010
Runtime: 2h 15m

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