The Chase (1966)

★ 7.1 2h 15m IMDb

Drama Crime

The escape of Bubber Reeves from prison affects the inhabitants of a small Southern town.

Where to Watch

Checking 300+ streaming services for this title. Check back soon.

Rent / Buy

No rental or purchase options available yet.

Cast

Marlon Brando as Sheriff Calder Died 2004 · Omaha, Nebraska, USA Marlon Brando Jr. (April 3, 1924 – July 1, 2004) was an American actor. Considered one of the most influential actors of the 20th century, he received numerous accolades throughout his career which sp...

Jane Fonda as Anna Reeves Age 88 · New York City, New York, USA Jane Seymour Fonda (born December 21, 1937) is an American actress, activist, and former fashion model. She is the recipient of various accolades including two Academy Awards, two British Academy Film...

Robert Redford as Charlie 'Bubber' Reeves Died 2025 · Santa Monica, California, USA Charles Robert Redford Jr. (August 18, 1936 – September 16, 2025) was an American actor, director and activist. Throughout his career, he won several film awards, including the Academy Award for Best...

E.G. Marshall as Val Rogers Died 1998 · Owatonna, Minnesota, USA Everett Eugene Grunz (June 18, 1914 – August 24, 1998), known professionally as E. G. Marshall, was an American actor, best known for his television roles as the lawyer Lawrence Preston on The Defende...

Angie Dickinson as Ruby Calder Age 94 · Kulm, North Dakota, USA Angeline Dickinson (née Brown; September 30, 1931) is an American actress. She began her career on television, appearing in many anthology series during the 1950s, before landing her breakthrough role...

Director Arthur Penn

Cast Marlon Brando, Jane Fonda, Robert Redford, E.G. Marshall, Angie Dickinson, Janice Rule, Miriam Hopkins, Martha Hyer, Robert Duvall, Richard Bradford

Wuchak 6/10 Aug 16, 2025

**_A Southern town given to drunken revelry & vigilantism with Brando as the voice of reason_**

Bubber Reeves (Robert Redford) escapes from prison and this affects the populace of an East Texas town. Marlon plays the sheriff who tries to track down Bubber's whereabouts while Angie Dickinson is on hand as his supportive wife. Jane Fonda plays Bubber's ex-girlfriend and James Fox her secret beau. Janice Rule appears as a drunken woman of dubious morality, Robert Duvall her hubby, and Richard Bradford one of the men with whom she cheats.

"The Chase" is mid-60's Southern Gothic in the manner of "The Fugitive Kind" (1960), "In the Heat of the Night" (1967), "Cape Fear" (1962), "This Property Is Condemned" (1966) and "The Long, Hot Summer" (1958). It's arguably on par with most of these, but is significantly superior to the last one. The first act is weak as it establishes the characters, but the story becomes captivating starting with the second act and the surreal drunken party at the mogul's mansion (and the teens in a neighboring abode). Imagine if "Village of the Giants" (1965) was shot as a serious melodrama, minus the giants, and that's the general vibe.

The movie addresses elements of hedonism, racism, sexual revolution (with several of the players involved in affairs), political corruption (the sheriff is wrongly thought to be bought by the town mogul), and vigilante non-justice. The most iconic scene is when the sole voice of reason is viciously beaten by the mogul (E.G. Bradford), along with his buds. Marlon later cited this as an example of his renowned Method approach. The wild last act in an auto graveyard is also notable.

Despite the picture's many strengths, it's too meandering and unfocused to be wholly effective as Arthur Penn's great "Bonnie and Clyde" (1967). But you can't beat the cast, especially Brando. Look for a young Paul Williams as one of the partying teens.

It runs 2 hours, 13 minutes, and was shot in California (Calabasas, Chico, Agoura & Burbank studios).

GRADE: B/B- (6.5/10)