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The Chairman

Play trailer Poster for The Chairman PG 1969 1h 42m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 4 Reviews 30% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
American scientist John Hathaway (Gregory Peck) goes to Communist China on a mission to steal a formula for an experimental agricultural enzyme with enormous practical benefits. Those in charge of the mission implant a microchip in his brain that will allow him to communicate with them. However, Hathaway is unaware that the device monitors his activities -- including playing ping-pong against the Chairman (Conrad Yama) -- and can be activated to kill him if his mission doesn't succeed.

Critics Reviews

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Judith Crist New York Magazine/Vulture 01/01/2020
Idiotic. Go to Full Review
Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times 11/18/2006
2/4
Gregory Peck bleeds with nobility, dignity, taste, restraint and all the things that are deadly to an action movie. Go to Full Review
Charles Johnson Sacramento Bee 03/10/2022
Pretty good, but a half hour after you have seen it you feel hungry for more adventure. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 08/17/2019
2.5/4
Not without interest, The Chairman is somewhat dry compared to the other three pictures Peck made with director J. Lee Thompson. Yet the central role is a good fit for the actor. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Scott R @ScottR Oct 5 I was watching TV while packing and it kept my interest given the subject matter of assassinating Chairman Mao. It was ridiculous at times and silly, but it initially had promise. It was on Movies! See more SICKS6SIX S 03/03/2024 29% by the public, OK not Pecks best film but it's an easy 65%, its a Sunday afternoon film, it is better than Walt Disney but it isn't a Hitchcock film, it is what it is, easy to follow, predictable and uneventfully, like moving wallpaper but not the test card. See more John P 01/11/2024 The utube version is hacked up but in its entirety i think this a great look at the world from a cold warrior perspective and what governments went through to defend themselves. There are bits of historical idealogy everywhere and if one views things in the context of a bigger setting this is really exceptional. It is not CGI or comic book tripe. Take it for what it is worth, a learning experience on several levels. See more Mark B 11/12/2023 The only interesting thing about this movie is the bomb implanted in Peck's skull was used in Escape from New York to much better effect. See more Steve D 07/29/2023 Kind of dry but fairly effective. See more deke p 09/25/2021 1969! Powerfully dramatizes Mao's CHINESE COMMUNIST totalitarianism, & the RED GUARDS mindless 'intolerance' of dissent. Reminds us of our own leftists 'CANCEL CULTURE' today. Good story, except for the unrealistic 'action' where Peck seems to almost fight of the Red Army to escape. Never saw it until now, 9.24.21, on TV. See more Read all reviews
The Chairman

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Movie Info

Synopsis American scientist John Hathaway (Gregory Peck) goes to Communist China on a mission to steal a formula for an experimental agricultural enzyme with enormous practical benefits. Those in charge of the mission implant a microchip in his brain that will allow him to communicate with them. However, Hathaway is unaware that the device monitors his activities -- including playing ping-pong against the Chairman (Conrad Yama) -- and can be activated to kill him if his mission doesn't succeed.
Director
J. Lee Thompson
Producer
Mort Abrahams
Screenwriter
Ben Maddow
Production Co
Twentieth Century Fox
Rating
PG
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (DVD)
Nov 7, 2006
Runtime
1h 42m