PaulusLoZebra

Arthur Penn's The Chase from 1966 seems to be the archetypical melodrama ("a sensational dramatic piece with exaggerated characters and exciting events intended to appeal to the emotions"). The story is grotesque and full of odious people, but the film is overall more believable than other more successful, more manipulative, and overrated melodramas such as American Beauty and No Country for Old Men. It doesn't rely on any gimmicks or AI to create its exaggeration, only on the endless list of timeless human foibles, including infidelity, sexuality, class envy, bullying, mob violence and injustice.

This is also outstanding moviemaking, starting with a great story, screenwriter, cinematographer and cast. Perhaps the film's outstanding feature is that many of its characters demonstrate realistic moral nuances amidst the sea of dysfunction that is inevitably and predictably carrying them all towards peril. These characters include Jane Fonda's wife/girlfriend, James Fox's son/husband/lover, EG Marshall's father, Malcom Atterbury's father, and most of all Marlon Brando's sheriff. He is the film's moral compass. There are many fine performances but special kudos to Jane Finda and especially to a great, even magnificent Marlon Brando.

André De Toth's Man on a String is a well made film despite its modest budget. The story is based on a real person and is mostly believeable, except perhaps for some of the derring-do in the finale, which I doubt happened. It conveys the tense vibe of the Cold War before the Berlin Wall was erected. The careful and meticulous espionage here, and the manipulation of individuals on both sides, is convincing. The photography is excellent and I didn't mind at all the many process shots of Moscow, as filming on location there was not possible for this subject matter ! Ernest Borgnine gives a fine performance.