Film Notes: The Chase (1946) directed by Arthur Ripley

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USA / 86 minutes / BW / United Artists Dir: Arthur D. Ripley. Pr: Seymour Nebenzal and Eugene Frenke (associate) Scr: Philip Yordan Story: based on the Cornell Woolrich novel The Black Path of Fear Cine: Frank (Franz) F. Planer Mus: Michel Michelet Cast: Robert Cummings (Chuck Scott), Michéle Morgan (Lorna Roman), Steve Cochran (Eddie Roman), Peter Lorre (Gino), Jack Holt (Commander Davidson), Lloyd Corrigan (Emmerick Johnson), Alex Minotis (Lieutenant Acosta), James Westerfield (Job), Yolanda Lacca (Midnight), Nina Koshetz (Madame Chin) Release Date: 16 November 1946 (USA)

Summary Plot: When veteran Chuck Scott finds a wallet in front of a Miami diner, he uses some of the money inside to buy himself breakfast and a cigar before returning the wallet to its owner, Eddie Roman. The wealthy and sadistic Roman is astonished by Chuck’s honesty and rewards him with a chauffeur’s job. Roman viciously punishes those who cross him, murdering a competitor when the latter refuses to sell him a pair of ships. He also keeps a tight reign on his wife Lorna, who obtains some solace on long drives with Chuck. One night, after spending hours looking at the ocean, Lorna offers Chuck one thousand dollars if he will take her to Havana. The next day, Chuck buys two tickets to Havana and, together with Lorna, plots their escape. After landing in Havana, they take a tour in a horse-drawn carriage and the driver forces them to leave the carriage in front of a bar. Trying to make the best of it, they go inside for a drink. There, Lorna is stabbed to death and Chuck is accused of her murder. Chuck tries to convince the police of his innocence, but every clue he turns up seems to prove his guilt. (Read full summary at American Film Institute here)

The Chase is based on the 1944 novel by Cornell Woolrich The Black Path of Fear, which is in turn an expanded version of his short story, Havana Night. The film has some excellent qualities that are worth mentioning, above all a great cinematography by Franz Planer that provides the right atmosphere for a dark and dreamlike film. However, it has seemed to me that the film has not aged well and, probably for that reason, has remained unfairly forgotten. Not a superb film, but still, it can be seeing.

Notas de cine: Acosados (1946) dirigida por Arthur Ripley

Argumento: Chuck Scoutt (Robert Cummings) es un veterano de guerra sin empleo. Un día encuentra un billetero perdido y decide ir a buscar a su propietario, quien resulta ser un gángster llamado Eddie Roman (Steve Cochran). Eddie, agradecido, decide contratar a Chuck como chófer, quien se adentra en el peligroso mundo del hampa. Cumpliendo con su nuevo trabajo, Chuck conocerá poco a poco a Lorna (Michèle Morgan), la mujer de Eddie, hasta llegar a enamorarse. Al descubrir que Lorna es una prisionera de Eddie y que este le ha privado de libertad decide ayudarla, buscando en vano una salida por oscuras calles y poniendo en peligro su propia vida. (Filmaffinity)

Acosados (The Chase) está basada en la novela de 1944 de Cornell Woolrich The Black Path of Fear, que a su vez es una versión ampliada de su historia corta, Havana Night. La película tiene excelentes cualidades que vale la pena mencionar, sobre todo, una gran fotografía de Franz Planer que proporciona el ambiente adecuado a una película oscura y onírica. Sin embargo, me ha parecido que la película no ha envejecido bien y, probablemente por esa razón, se ha mantenido injustamente olvidada. No es una película excelente, pero aún así, se puede ver.