"The Chase" (1946) Film Noir by Arthur Ripley

Michèle Morgan and Robert Cummings in The Chase (1946) directed by Arthur Ripley


The Chase (1946) Part 1 of 10 Directed by Arthur Ripley, screenplay by Phillip Yordan based on the novel by Cornell Woolrich with Robert Cummings, Steve Cochran, Michèle Morgan, Lloyd Corrigan, Peter Lorre, Jack Holt, Don Wilson, Alex Minotis, Nina Koshetz, Yolanda Lacca, James Westerfield, Jimmy Ames and Shirley O'Hara

Based on a Cornell Woolrich novel, The Chase (1946) begins with standard noir elements: a down on his luck man takes a job with a gangster type, falls in with a dangerous femme fatale and puts his life on the line for her. The film preys on Americans' post-war fears and insecurities with its main character, Chuck Scott (Robert Cummings). He meets and falls for Eddie's girl, the mysterious Lorna (Michele Morgan), who asks him to help her escape to Cuba. He does and he's immediately blamed for a murder he didn't commit. Written by Philip Yordan (Johnny Guitar) and directed by Arthur Ripley (Thunder Road), the film has two strange angles. First, very few noirs were effectively set in warm, exotic climates, but Ripley makes the most of the Havana sets. Second, the film turns on a bizarre dream sequence that suddenly wrenches any expected ending away from the viewer. Source: www.combustiblecelluloid.com