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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

View All (4) Critics Reviews
Judith Crist New York Magazine/Vulture Idiotic. Jan 1, 2020 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Gregory Peck bleeds with nobility, dignity, taste, restraint and all the things that are deadly to an action movie. Rated: 2/4 Nov 18, 2006 Full Review Charles Johnson Sacramento Bee Pretty good, but a half hour after you have seen it you feel hungry for more adventure. Mar 10, 2022 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 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. Rated: 2.5/4 Aug 17, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (16) audience reviews
SICKS6SIX S 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. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/03/24 Full Review John P 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. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/11/24 Full Review Mark B 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. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 11/12/23 Full Review Steve D Kind of dry but fairly effective. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 07/29/23 Full Review deke p 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. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review john m Maybe one of Gregory Peck's most unknown and forgettable films, and rightfully so. The plot is like a James Bond plot but even more absurd and taking itself too seriously. And there's absolutely no sense of escapism or splendor. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Chairman

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Cast & Crew

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
Screenwriter
Ben Maddow
Rating
PG
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (DVD)
Nov 7, 2006
Runtime
1h 42m