THE LAST CHASE
US, 1981, 101 minutes, Colour.
Lee Majors, Chris Makepeace, Burgess Meredith, Alexandra Stewart.
Directed by Martyn Burke.
The Last Chase is a Canadian set future world fable. It is set in a totalitarian regime at the beginning of the 21st. century. It is interesting to note that the cause of collapse is not nuclear but the oil shortage. It presents an urban totalitarian society (with groups hiding in forests) with no cars. The pace of society and movement has slowed down. However, there is still the control via the development of computer technology. Big Brother and Sister are still watching.
The film is one of those rugged individualists defying the system - this time Lee Majors as an ageing ex-car racer who assembles his own car, escapes the city to join rebels in California, assisted by his young equivalent (played by Chris Makepeace). On the way there are adventures, encounters - and the final chase which enables ex-Vietnam veteran pilot, played with relish by Burgess Meredith, to pursue the two in the car.
The film was written and directed by Martyn Burke, who also wrote and directed the Peter O'Toole vehicle Power Play - a more military vision of a future world. The films are only of average merit despite their interesting plot outlines and values.
1. A fable about the future? Audiences' interest in the future, the conventions of the future world thriller?
2. The quality of this Canadian production - American setting and locations? Computer world? The world of the racing car, the Sabre Jet? Stunt work and special effects? Musical score?
3. The title and its indication of a heroic life and death struggle? Rebellion against the totalitarian government? As played out as action drama?
4. The vision of the early 21st. century: the end of oil supplies in the United States, a less mobile society, the world as we know it - but slowed down, with bike-riding people? The contrast with the developments in computer technology, laser weapons, mind and behaviour control? Schools and the totalitarian behaviour? Bureaucracy, control of thinking - and fear of cars and mobility? The use of violence and weaponry to achieve ends? Rebels in the forest - but able to be attacked by the military? The rebels in California with their free radio? How well established the future world?
5. The portrait of Frank hart - Lee Majors in the role. his memories of his past - success though loss of nerve, his memories of the illness and epidemic and the deaths of so many in riots, including his wife and child? His surviving the decades? His place in his society - building the car, seen on the television at the junkyard? His being called in for interrogation? His being offered the opportunity to lecture about the past - according to the mind of the state? His dangerous talk and Ring's response? His growing disillusionment? Memories and dreams? His decision to leave after hearing the broadcast? The encounter with Ring at the lecture, his visiting his home? Their setting out together, the journey, the dangers, the horseplay at the river? Their finding the commune? His relationship with Eudora? The military coming and killing? The decision to go ahead, loss of nerve, age? The clash with Williams, the manoeuvres on the road with the plane? The jamming of computers by Ring? Williams' death and their escape, defeating the bureaucracy, being welcomed by the tree community?
6. Ring as schoolboy. his ability with computers and jamming the central control, his applauding Frank, the hostility of his classmates? The schools of the future? The police chasing him, his going with Frank sharing his adventures, admiration, needing a father? Success?
7. Williams as the old veteran, his memories of Vietnam war and the hostile reception on his return, his being found by the bureaucracy, his love for the Sabre Jet, flying it, his delight, the game with Hart and the car, his warnings about the laser, his crashing into it and saving Hart?
8. The commune, Eudora, her son, friendship with Ring, the relationship with Hart, the temptation for Hart to stay?
9. The portrait of the bureaucrats - their room, video control, audio control, bureaucratic espionage - dissatisfaction with Hart, calling him in? His escape? The official from Washington? Getting Williams to attack Hart? Morley and his doing the contacts, the dirty work, setting up the laser, his change of reaction, cheering Hart's speeding? The woman and her control, interrogations, her reaction against the laser violence?
10. This kind of popular table for a wide audience to highlight questions on the nature of society, the nature of change, fuel shortages, the growth of totalitarian government - and the quality of society for the future?
