The Chase (1946)

Chuck Scott gets a job as chauffeur to tough guy Eddie Roman; but Chuck's involvement with Eddie's fearful wife becomes a nightmare.

Director:

Arthur Ripley

Writers:

Philip Yordan (written for the screen by), Cornell Woolrich (book)

Stars:

Robert Cummings, Michèle Morgan, Steve Cochran

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Robert Cummings	...	Chuck Scott
Michèle Morgan	...	Lorna Roman (as Michele Morgan)
Steve Cochran	...	Eddie Roman
Lloyd Corrigan	...	Emmerrich Johnson
Jack Holt	...	Cmdr. Davidson
Don Wilson	...	Fats
Alexis Minotis	...	Lt. Acosta
Nina Koshetz	...	Madame Chin (as Nina Koschetz)
Yolanda Lacca	...	Midnight
James Westerfield	...	Job the Butler
Jimmy Ames	...	The Killer
Shirley O'Hara	...	Manicurist
Peter Lorre	...	Gino

Storyline

Returning a lost wallet gains unemployed veteran Chuck Scott a job as chauffeur to Eddie Roman, a seeming gangster whose enemies have a way of meeting violent ends. The job proves nerve-wracking, and soon Chuck finds himself pledged to help Eddie's lovely, fearful, prisoner-wife Lorna to escape. The result leaves Chuck caught like a rat in a trap, vainly seeking a way out through dark streets. But the real chase begins when the strange plot virtually starts all over again...

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Plot Keywords:

chauffeur | wallet | hallucination | speedometer | dog attack | 

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Genres:

Film-Noir

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

16 November 1946 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Senda do Temor

Company Credits

Production Co:

Nero Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"The Hedda Hopper Show - This Is Hollywood" broadcast a 30 minute radio adaptation of the movie on November 9, 1946 with Robert Cummings and Michèle Morgan reprising their film roles.

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Quotes

Emmerrich Johnson: You've been to Havana, haven't you, Mrs. Roman?
Lorna Roman: No, I've never been there.
Eddie Roman: Lorna doesn't travel much.
Emmerrich Johnson: Doctor's orders?
Eddie Roman: No, mine!

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Connections

Edited into Terror in the Pharaoh's Tomb (2007)

User Reviews

Terrific Villains in Fractured Plot

Great cinematography. Excellent acting. Taut direction. But the plot is bizarre. Everything rolls along nicely until suddenly -- without any warning -- the plot morphs into something else. Same characters and location but completely different storyline. Weird and confusing as people who were killed in the previous section show up alive again...

Nevertheless, the movie contains some terrific villains. Steve Cochran delivers a mesmerizing performance as a sadistic mobster and Peter Lorre is in top form as his cold-blooded, sinister sidekick. Michele Morgan is an edgy femme fatale and Bob Cummings delivers a convincing performance as the troubled hero.

The cinematography is classic noir with beautifully composed shots in dark settings full of intrigue and menace. A particularly memorable scene is where the cops burst into a room in search of Cummings only to find a woman sobbing uncontrollably at a table. There is some sharp dialog and lush romantic music although the sound track is scratchy. The movie is flawed by the fractured plot but worth adding to your collection.