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The Chase
Vintage movie tie-in paperback
158 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1956
3 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
Horton Foote
125 books48 followersAlbert Horton Foote, Jr. was an American playwright and screenwriter, perhaps best known for his Academy Award-winning screenplays for the 1962 film To Kill a Mockingbird and the 1983 film Tender Mercies, and his notable live television dramas during the Golden Age of Television. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1995 for his play The Young Man From Atlanta.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 29, 2025
Another book that I learned of via the Neglected Books blog. I understand that this was originally a play written in 1952, which the author subsequently adapted into this prose novel version. The play and the novel are apparently quite different, which is typically the case in these scenarios, but I haven’t read the play so will have to take others’ word for that. They do have the same title though. As of the date of this review (August 2025) there are only 4 other reviews on GR, and at least two of them look as if they relate to the play rather than the novel. If anyone is inclined to read this, you might need to make sure you are getting the version you want.
There’s a bit of a “High Noon” vibe at the start. Sheriff Hawes (I don’t think we are ever told his first name) maintains law and order in the small town of Harrison, Texas. He gets news that a local man called “Bubba” Reeves has escaped from the State Farm. Reeves has a few scores to settle with people in Harrison, so the prospect of his return is alarming. I believe the movie High Noon was also released in 1952, so I couldn’t help wondering if the author had drawn some inspiration there. That apart, there’s no similarity between the plot of that movie and the plot of this book.
Like many small towns, Harrison has tensions hidden beneath an outwardly calm surface. The potential return of Bubba Reeves acts like a sort of fuse, causing a metaphorical explosion. The novel is in three parts, with the first two parts taking place within a single 24-hour period.
The Neglected Books blog described this novel as “fast-paced”. It’s a description I agree with and one I can’t really better. I found it a riveting read. One thing to be aware of is that some of the characters (generally the ones portrayed as unpleasant) have strong racial attitudes. The novel also features casual use of the n-word. I guess that’s just how it was in 1950s Texas.
I quite liked the way the author worked the ending.
It would be interesting to see the play, but I don’t imagine it is performed any more.
There’s a bit of a “High Noon” vibe at the start. Sheriff Hawes (I don’t think we are ever told his first name) maintains law and order in the small town of Harrison, Texas. He gets news that a local man called “Bubba” Reeves has escaped from the State Farm. Reeves has a few scores to settle with people in Harrison, so the prospect of his return is alarming. I believe the movie High Noon was also released in 1952, so I couldn’t help wondering if the author had drawn some inspiration there. That apart, there’s no similarity between the plot of that movie and the plot of this book.
Like many small towns, Harrison has tensions hidden beneath an outwardly calm surface. The potential return of Bubba Reeves acts like a sort of fuse, causing a metaphorical explosion. The novel is in three parts, with the first two parts taking place within a single 24-hour period.
The Neglected Books blog described this novel as “fast-paced”. It’s a description I agree with and one I can’t really better. I found it a riveting read. One thing to be aware of is that some of the characters (generally the ones portrayed as unpleasant) have strong racial attitudes. The novel also features casual use of the n-word. I guess that’s just how it was in 1950s Texas.
I quite liked the way the author worked the ending.
It would be interesting to see the play, but I don’t imagine it is performed any more.
February 25, 2015
Nunca había oído hablar de Horton Foote ni de La Jauría Humana (ni del libro ni de la película), simplemente me dejó el libro una amiga pensando que quizá me gustase. Y efectivamente, me ha gustado mucho el ritmo y la forma de tratar y mezclar las diferentes historias y los personajes, todos muy reales y con transfondos interesantes. El argumento es muy emocionante. Se nota que es autor de teatro (creo que esta es su única novela) por el marco temporal, la acción se desarrolla en un solo día. Hay ademanes de racismo que quiero creer que son para demostrar el ambiente en el que viven los protagonistas.
July 8, 2021
Such a gut-wrenching, empathy-evoking story. The play wrestles with the conflict between a sheriff and an escaped prisoner who vowed vengeance. The play doesn’t try to make the convict the villain, but neither does it make him the victim — he is a multi-faceted human being. It’s fascinating and infuriating that the true villains are “the good people” of the town.
Loved Horton Foote’s realistic and sincere characters. Just about every interaction between them was a powerfully memorable moment.
Loved Horton Foote’s realistic and sincere characters. Just about every interaction between them was a powerfully memorable moment.
June 26, 2025
The Chase by Horton Foote
8 out of 10
The chase is a play that has been adapted for the big screen, with a dream team as part of the cast – Marlon Brando as Sheriff Calder, Robert Redford Bubber Reeves, Jane Fonda as Anna Reeves, James Fox is James ‘Jake’ Rogers, Robert Duvall as Edwin Stewart and others, directed by the remarkable Arthur Penn…
However, the result was not cheered by critics, who have mostly dismissed it, disliked the performance of Marlon Brando – the giant said that he was not happy with the script, which did not give him more than just walking around, but it might well be a case of having too high expectations, the reverse worked for me
Reading that this was not satisfying enough, and expecting less than a knock out, The Chase turned out to be a pleasant surprise and a good film, if not a landmark, an overwhelming, dazzling experiment – Bubber Reeves escapes prison early, so we may think of The Shawshank Redemption, which stays at Number One
The Shawshank Redemption https://realini.blogspot.com/2018/07/... is the most popular movie ever, and an inspirational one at that, Andy would be the equivalent of Bubber, albeit there are some major differences, in The Shawshank exposes injustice, it offers hope
Andy may have been involved in a murder, we do not know for sure in the first part of the film – I could disclose more without being accused of spoiling it, since it is not about the story at hand, which is anyway unlikely to come your way any time soon, and then ‘you’ may not be a thing, as in nobody reads this far
Nonetheless, The Shawshank Redemption is exhilarating and so encouraging because we see the guards, the warden up to such nasty, brutal, vile things, they take on board Andy, because he is a financial wizard, and he saves them money on taxes, can keep the parallel accounting, but this is the climax, he takes them all down
On the other hand, in The Chase, the outcome looks gloomy – spoiler alert, if you are still around, then it might be time to leave this space, because it looks like I will express my feelings on what happens, towards and perhaps even at the end – Bubber says at one point that he could not stand jail anymore, and had to flee
Still, what waits for him outside is not Days of Wine and Roses https://realini.blogspot.com/2017/08/... his wife, Anna Reeves aka legendary, activist, outstanding Jane Fonda, has not been faithful, if that is a term we could use in the Woke Age
Anna has been ‘consoled’ by Jake, a friend of the prisoner, so that we have a menage a trois for some time – there is also a lot of talk about the sexual liberation, some fun-loving people talk about that, they want to dance, drink and be merry, one woman speaks about infidelity, and if it is to be punished, half the town will have to suffer
One important theme is racism, this narrative takes place in a period when there were many racists – they are still around, obviously, somehow, I see them as members of the Cult of Orange Jesus, with his attacks on ‘Mexican rapists, talk of shit hole countries in Africa and the like’, but the situation has improved
There is a group of white red necks that stop, harass and are ready to abuse a black man, willing to press him to say where Bubber is hiding, they accuse the innocent man that he was trying to assault a white woman, Sheriff Calder aka Marlon Brando happens to drive by and saves the victim, at least for the time being
The sheriff will lament on the situation, the disgusting situation they have to live in, a town where an innocent fellow has to be locked up, so that he does not get killed, for this is what he has to do, he takes the black man to his office and locks him in the cell, so that the racists do not get to him to harm him or worse
Alas, they will not be stopped: Val Rogers is the rich man in town, and as such, he controls much of what is happening, and wants to assert his will in the situation, especially after he finds that his son, Jake, is sleeping, philandering with the wife of the runaway, and there is a risk that he could get under fire, maybe even shot
So, this sort of MAGA man – I tend to associate the bad in the US with Orange Jesus, his crowd of fanatic apes, and even get back on the genealogical tree and say that loathsome characters, like the mob in this film aka play must be the ancestors, or parents of the morons that vote for the Orange Devil – walks into the sheriff’s office
Val Rogers wants to talk to the prisoner, to find where Bubber is, and then presumably to eliminate any danger for his son, but Sheriff Calder would have none of that, the latter is a just man, determined to see that the laws are respected, but he stands no chance against the villains, who have the numbers, the hero is alone, facing five or more
They beat him up, while the rich ghoul is in the cell, and while one group is bleeding the sheriff upstairs, this replica of Orange Jesus is attacking the victim in the cellar, so that they get the upper hand…meanwhile, Bubber is hoping for help from his spouse, who shows up with Jake, but there are small chances that all will be resolved
Now for my standard closing of the note with a question, and invitation – maybe you have a good idea on how we could make more than a million dollars with this http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/02/u... – as it is, this is a unique technique, which we could promote, sell, open the Oscars show with or something and then make lots of money together, if you have the how, I have the product, I just do not know how to get the befits from it, other than the exercise per se
There is also the small matter of working for AT&T – this huge company asked me to be its Representative for Romania and Bulgaria, on the Calling Card side, which meant sailing into the Black Sea wo meet the US Navy ships, travelling to Sofia, a lot of activity, using my mother’s two bedrooms flat as office and warehouse, all for the grand total of $250, raised after a lot of persuasion to the staggering $400…with retirement ahead, there are no benefits, nothing…it is a longer story, but if you can help get the mastodont to pay some dues, or have an idea how it can happen, let me know
As for my role in the Revolution that killed Ceausescu, a smaller Mao, there it is http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/03/r...
Some favorite quotes from To The Heritage and other works
‘Fiction is infinitely preferable to real life...As long as you avoid the books of Kafka or Beckett, the everlasting plot of fiction has fewer futile experiences than the careless plot of reality...Fiction's people are fuller, deeper, cleverer, more moving than those in real life…Its actions are more intricate, illuminating, noble, profound…There are many more dramas, climaxes, romantic fulfillment, twists, turns, gratified resolutions…Unlike reality, all of this you can experience without leaving the house or even getting out of bed…What's more, books are a form of intelligent human greatness, as stories are a higher order of sense…As random life is to destiny, so stories are to great authors, who provided us with some of the highest pleasures and the most wonderful mystifications we can find…Few stories are greater than Anna Karenina, that wise epic by an often foolish author…’
‚Parturiunt montes, nascetur ridiculus mus’
“From Monty Python - The Meaning of Life...Well, it's nothing very special...Try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations.”
8 out of 10
The chase is a play that has been adapted for the big screen, with a dream team as part of the cast – Marlon Brando as Sheriff Calder, Robert Redford Bubber Reeves, Jane Fonda as Anna Reeves, James Fox is James ‘Jake’ Rogers, Robert Duvall as Edwin Stewart and others, directed by the remarkable Arthur Penn…
However, the result was not cheered by critics, who have mostly dismissed it, disliked the performance of Marlon Brando – the giant said that he was not happy with the script, which did not give him more than just walking around, but it might well be a case of having too high expectations, the reverse worked for me
Reading that this was not satisfying enough, and expecting less than a knock out, The Chase turned out to be a pleasant surprise and a good film, if not a landmark, an overwhelming, dazzling experiment – Bubber Reeves escapes prison early, so we may think of The Shawshank Redemption, which stays at Number One
The Shawshank Redemption https://realini.blogspot.com/2018/07/... is the most popular movie ever, and an inspirational one at that, Andy would be the equivalent of Bubber, albeit there are some major differences, in The Shawshank exposes injustice, it offers hope
Andy may have been involved in a murder, we do not know for sure in the first part of the film – I could disclose more without being accused of spoiling it, since it is not about the story at hand, which is anyway unlikely to come your way any time soon, and then ‘you’ may not be a thing, as in nobody reads this far
Nonetheless, The Shawshank Redemption is exhilarating and so encouraging because we see the guards, the warden up to such nasty, brutal, vile things, they take on board Andy, because he is a financial wizard, and he saves them money on taxes, can keep the parallel accounting, but this is the climax, he takes them all down
On the other hand, in The Chase, the outcome looks gloomy – spoiler alert, if you are still around, then it might be time to leave this space, because it looks like I will express my feelings on what happens, towards and perhaps even at the end – Bubber says at one point that he could not stand jail anymore, and had to flee
Still, what waits for him outside is not Days of Wine and Roses https://realini.blogspot.com/2017/08/... his wife, Anna Reeves aka legendary, activist, outstanding Jane Fonda, has not been faithful, if that is a term we could use in the Woke Age
Anna has been ‘consoled’ by Jake, a friend of the prisoner, so that we have a menage a trois for some time – there is also a lot of talk about the sexual liberation, some fun-loving people talk about that, they want to dance, drink and be merry, one woman speaks about infidelity, and if it is to be punished, half the town will have to suffer
One important theme is racism, this narrative takes place in a period when there were many racists – they are still around, obviously, somehow, I see them as members of the Cult of Orange Jesus, with his attacks on ‘Mexican rapists, talk of shit hole countries in Africa and the like’, but the situation has improved
There is a group of white red necks that stop, harass and are ready to abuse a black man, willing to press him to say where Bubber is hiding, they accuse the innocent man that he was trying to assault a white woman, Sheriff Calder aka Marlon Brando happens to drive by and saves the victim, at least for the time being
The sheriff will lament on the situation, the disgusting situation they have to live in, a town where an innocent fellow has to be locked up, so that he does not get killed, for this is what he has to do, he takes the black man to his office and locks him in the cell, so that the racists do not get to him to harm him or worse
Alas, they will not be stopped: Val Rogers is the rich man in town, and as such, he controls much of what is happening, and wants to assert his will in the situation, especially after he finds that his son, Jake, is sleeping, philandering with the wife of the runaway, and there is a risk that he could get under fire, maybe even shot
So, this sort of MAGA man – I tend to associate the bad in the US with Orange Jesus, his crowd of fanatic apes, and even get back on the genealogical tree and say that loathsome characters, like the mob in this film aka play must be the ancestors, or parents of the morons that vote for the Orange Devil – walks into the sheriff’s office
Val Rogers wants to talk to the prisoner, to find where Bubber is, and then presumably to eliminate any danger for his son, but Sheriff Calder would have none of that, the latter is a just man, determined to see that the laws are respected, but he stands no chance against the villains, who have the numbers, the hero is alone, facing five or more
They beat him up, while the rich ghoul is in the cell, and while one group is bleeding the sheriff upstairs, this replica of Orange Jesus is attacking the victim in the cellar, so that they get the upper hand…meanwhile, Bubber is hoping for help from his spouse, who shows up with Jake, but there are small chances that all will be resolved
Now for my standard closing of the note with a question, and invitation – maybe you have a good idea on how we could make more than a million dollars with this http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/02/u... – as it is, this is a unique technique, which we could promote, sell, open the Oscars show with or something and then make lots of money together, if you have the how, I have the product, I just do not know how to get the befits from it, other than the exercise per se
There is also the small matter of working for AT&T – this huge company asked me to be its Representative for Romania and Bulgaria, on the Calling Card side, which meant sailing into the Black Sea wo meet the US Navy ships, travelling to Sofia, a lot of activity, using my mother’s two bedrooms flat as office and warehouse, all for the grand total of $250, raised after a lot of persuasion to the staggering $400…with retirement ahead, there are no benefits, nothing…it is a longer story, but if you can help get the mastodont to pay some dues, or have an idea how it can happen, let me know
As for my role in the Revolution that killed Ceausescu, a smaller Mao, there it is http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/03/r...
Some favorite quotes from To The Heritage and other works
‘Fiction is infinitely preferable to real life...As long as you avoid the books of Kafka or Beckett, the everlasting plot of fiction has fewer futile experiences than the careless plot of reality...Fiction's people are fuller, deeper, cleverer, more moving than those in real life…Its actions are more intricate, illuminating, noble, profound…There are many more dramas, climaxes, romantic fulfillment, twists, turns, gratified resolutions…Unlike reality, all of this you can experience without leaving the house or even getting out of bed…What's more, books are a form of intelligent human greatness, as stories are a higher order of sense…As random life is to destiny, so stories are to great authors, who provided us with some of the highest pleasures and the most wonderful mystifications we can find…Few stories are greater than Anna Karenina, that wise epic by an often foolish author…’
‚Parturiunt montes, nascetur ridiculus mus’
“From Monty Python - The Meaning of Life...Well, it's nothing very special...Try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations.”
December 31, 2025
Incluso el vínculo materno puede quedar paralizado por el miedo y la presión. El amor materno no desaparece, pero se ve atrapado entre el instinto de proteger y el terror a la comunidad.
La jauría humana se narra despacio, en capítulos cortos, contando la vida cotidiana de un territorio donde sus habitantes conviven con aparente tranquilidad. Sabremos lo que guardan en su interior cuando reciben la noticia de que Bubber Reeves ha huido de la cárcel donde cumple condena.
Los Reeves forman parte de esta vecindad y el hijo de ambos es el fugitivo. También en ellos se crea la alarma y preocupación al pensar que Bubber se dirige al pueblo donde creció con un objetivo que no puedo desvelar.
El comienzo de la lectura induce a pensar que Bubber es el personaje central, para descubrir después que Foote lo utiliza como detonante para revelar la degradación de toda una comunidad.
Esa inquietud general que se crea es indicador de que algo empieza a fraguarse entre los vecinos: el verdadero drama de que el pueblo empieza a devorarse a sí mismo. Y esto es quizá lo más perturbador. No hay nada peor que una jauría.
Es llamativo sentir cierto sosiego durante la lectura y al mismo tiempo notar como va creciendo la tensión entre la comunidad.
Se trata de una madre que quiere, por encima de todo, salvar la vida de su hijo; de un sheriff hastiado de su trabajo que pone en marcha a su equipo para encontrar al fugitivo y cumplir la ley. Y luego están los que convierten la búsqueda en una persecución: son la verdadera jauría, que no solo desean la muerte de Bubber, también se ponen en contra de la ley y desean hacer su justicia.
Este acontecimiento saca a la luz los peores aspectos de una comunidad de vecinos trastornada que ve en Bubber el objetivo ideal para expiar sus culpas. Ya sean frustraciones personales, sensaciones de impotencia, resentimientos sociales, incluso aburrimiento moral, lo convierten en el blanco ideal.
Es una novela excelente por su narrativa y, sobre todo, por la reflexión que plantea sobre la capacidad del ser humano para llevar a cabo tales acciones. La fuerza de la novela no reside en el final, sino en como Foote retrata el declive de una comunidad.
La jauría humana se narra despacio, en capítulos cortos, contando la vida cotidiana de un territorio donde sus habitantes conviven con aparente tranquilidad. Sabremos lo que guardan en su interior cuando reciben la noticia de que Bubber Reeves ha huido de la cárcel donde cumple condena.
Los Reeves forman parte de esta vecindad y el hijo de ambos es el fugitivo. También en ellos se crea la alarma y preocupación al pensar que Bubber se dirige al pueblo donde creció con un objetivo que no puedo desvelar.
El comienzo de la lectura induce a pensar que Bubber es el personaje central, para descubrir después que Foote lo utiliza como detonante para revelar la degradación de toda una comunidad.
Esa inquietud general que se crea es indicador de que algo empieza a fraguarse entre los vecinos: el verdadero drama de que el pueblo empieza a devorarse a sí mismo. Y esto es quizá lo más perturbador. No hay nada peor que una jauría.
Es llamativo sentir cierto sosiego durante la lectura y al mismo tiempo notar como va creciendo la tensión entre la comunidad.
Se trata de una madre que quiere, por encima de todo, salvar la vida de su hijo; de un sheriff hastiado de su trabajo que pone en marcha a su equipo para encontrar al fugitivo y cumplir la ley. Y luego están los que convierten la búsqueda en una persecución: son la verdadera jauría, que no solo desean la muerte de Bubber, también se ponen en contra de la ley y desean hacer su justicia.
Este acontecimiento saca a la luz los peores aspectos de una comunidad de vecinos trastornada que ve en Bubber el objetivo ideal para expiar sus culpas. Ya sean frustraciones personales, sensaciones de impotencia, resentimientos sociales, incluso aburrimiento moral, lo convierten en el blanco ideal.
Es una novela excelente por su narrativa y, sobre todo, por la reflexión que plantea sobre la capacidad del ser humano para llevar a cabo tales acciones. La fuerza de la novela no reside en el final, sino en como Foote retrata el declive de una comunidad.
February 13, 2024
It's okay, kind of predictable as much of Foote's writing is. Sheriff Hawes (called Hawes even by his wife) has to deal with hysterical townspeople after a killer, Bubber Reeves, has escaped from prison. Hawes wants to capture him and the townspeople want him dead. Hawes's wife is understanding, but looks forward to the day he'll no longer be responsible for making such life and death decisions. Hawes ends up killing Reeves, despite his best intentions, and realizes that these decisions come with the job.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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