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The Chase (1946 film)
Encyclopedia
The Chase is an American film noir
, shot in black and white, directed by Arthur Ripley
. The screenplay (adapted by Philip Yordan
) is based on the Cornell Woolrich
novel The Black Path of Fear. This film is now in the public domain
and released by Alpha Video
.
), a World War II vet now a penniless drifter tormented by bizarre dreams, who takes a job as driver to Eddie Roman (Steve Cochran
), a vicious gangster. Roman tests his new driver, Scott, by assuming control of his car from the back seat. Unbeknownst to Scott, Roman has an accelerator installed in the rear passenger compartment so that he can "take over" the vehicle whenever he wants. This bizarre trick not only unnerves his new driver but also Roman's right-hand man, Gino (Peter Lorre
).
Scott passes the test and gets the job. But things get tough for Scott when he falls in love with the gangster's wife, Lorna (Michele Morgan
), who has attempted to kill herself because life has become unbearable with her sadistic husband. The two run off together to Cuba
and a bizarre chase begins wherein Scott is framed for a murder and must therefore avoid both Roman and the police.
Finally, at a point when Scott is able to clear his name, he is thrown back into the nightmare in a surprising twist.
excepted, The Chase is the best cinematic equivalent of the dark, oppressive atmosphere that characterizes most of Cornell Woolrich
's best fiction."
The film was entered into the 1947 Cannes Film Festival
.
Film noir
Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as extending from the early 1940s to the late 1950s...
, shot in black and white, directed by Arthur Ripley
Arthur Ripley
Arthur Ripley was a film screenwriter, editor, producer and director.-Biography:In 1923, he joined the Mack Sennett studio as a comedy writer. In the 1920s he worked closely with Frank Capra churning out screenplays for many movies...
. The screenplay (adapted by Philip Yordan
Philip Yordan
Philip Yordan was an American screenwriter of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s who also produced several films.He was also known as a highly regarded script doctor...
) is based on the Cornell Woolrich
Cornell Woolrich
Cornell George Hopley-Woolrich was an American novelist and short story writer who sometimes wrote under the pseudonyms William Irish and George Hopley....
novel The Black Path of Fear. This film is now in the public domain
Public domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
and released by Alpha Video
Alpha Video
Alpha Video is an entertainment company, based near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that specializes in the manufacturing and marketing of public domain movies and TV shows on DVD...
.
Plot
This dream-like film noir is about Chuck Scott (Robert CummingsRobert Cummings
Charles Clarence Robert Orville Cummings , mostly known professionally as Robert Cummings but sometimes as Bob Cummings, was an American film and television actor....
), a World War II vet now a penniless drifter tormented by bizarre dreams, who takes a job as driver to Eddie Roman (Steve Cochran
Steve Cochran
Steve Cochran was an American film, television, and stage actor, the son of a California lumberman. He graduated from the University of Wyoming in 1939...
), a vicious gangster. Roman tests his new driver, Scott, by assuming control of his car from the back seat. Unbeknownst to Scott, Roman has an accelerator installed in the rear passenger compartment so that he can "take over" the vehicle whenever he wants. This bizarre trick not only unnerves his new driver but also Roman's right-hand man, Gino (Peter Lorre
Peter Lorre
Peter Lorre was an Austrian-American actor frequently typecast as a sinister foreigner.He caused an international sensation in 1931 with his portrayal of a serial killer who preys on little girls in the German film M...
).
Scott passes the test and gets the job. But things get tough for Scott when he falls in love with the gangster's wife, Lorna (Michele Morgan
Michèle Morgan
Michèle Morgan is a French film actress, who was a leading lady for three decades.- Career :Morgan was born Simone Renée Roussel in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, a western suburb of Paris....
), who has attempted to kill herself because life has become unbearable with her sadistic husband. The two run off together to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and a bizarre chase begins wherein Scott is framed for a murder and must therefore avoid both Roman and the police.
Finally, at a point when Scott is able to clear his name, he is thrown back into the nightmare in a surprising twist.
Cast
- Robert CummingsRobert CummingsCharles Clarence Robert Orville Cummings , mostly known professionally as Robert Cummings but sometimes as Bob Cummings, was an American film and television actor....
as Chuck Scott - Michèle MorganMichèle MorganMichèle Morgan is a French film actress, who was a leading lady for three decades.- Career :Morgan was born Simone Renée Roussel in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, a western suburb of Paris....
as Lorna Roman - Steve CochranSteve CochranSteve Cochran was an American film, television, and stage actor, the son of a California lumberman. He graduated from the University of Wyoming in 1939...
as Eddie Roman - Lloyd CorriganLloyd CorriganLloyd Corrigan was an American film actor, producer, screenwriter and director who began working in films in the 1920s...
as Emmerich Johnson - Jack HoltJack Holt (actor)Jack Holt was an American motion picture actor. He was a leading man of silent and sound films, and was known for his many roles in Westerns.-Early life:...
as Cmdr. Davidson - Peter LorrePeter LorrePeter Lorre was an Austrian-American actor frequently typecast as a sinister foreigner.He caused an international sensation in 1931 with his portrayal of a serial killer who preys on little girls in the German film M...
as Gino
Critical reception
Film Noir: An Encyclopedic Reference to the American Style by Alain Silver and Elizabeth Ward notes: "Phantom LadyPhantom Lady (1944 film)
Phantom Lady is a 1944 film noir directed by Robert Siodmak, his first Hollywood noir. It was also a first for producer Joan Harrison, Universal Pictures' first female executive and Alfred Hitchcock's former screenwriter...
excepted, The Chase is the best cinematic equivalent of the dark, oppressive atmosphere that characterizes most of Cornell Woolrich
Cornell Woolrich
Cornell George Hopley-Woolrich was an American novelist and short story writer who sometimes wrote under the pseudonyms William Irish and George Hopley....
's best fiction."
The film was entered into the 1947 Cannes Film Festival
1947 Cannes Film Festival
- Jury :The entire jury at this festival were French.*Georges Huisman *Raymond Borderie *Georges Carriere *Chosson *Joseph Dotti *Escoute *Jean Grémillon...
.