Unfortunately, the film wastes its potential thanks to the inert direction by Sutton Roley (a TV-series vet whose big-screen assignments were almost nonexistent), a lackluster screenplay, and a drab assortment of characters who prove to be so lifeless and colorless, it's a wonder the bats can find any blood to drain from their veins. Call me charitable, but the plot for Chosen Survivors has always struck me as tasty enough to work as a savory slice of science fiction-cum-horror - a 10 Little Indians scenario with a bloodthirsty twist. But before long, they realize that they're sharing living quarters with thousands of vampire bats that have made their way into the complex from the surrounding caves. It's the end of the world as we know it, but just before the bombs drop, 10 people and a military supervisor are whisked into an underground lair, tasked with spending the next few years riding out the nuclear aftermath in anticipation of eventually reemerging and repopulating the planet. Briggs, and look for Paul Williams as one of the town youths.īlu-ray extras consist of audio commentary by film historians Lem Dobbs, Julie Kirgo and Nick Redman the theatrical trailer and an isolated track of John Barry's score.ĬHOSEN SURVIVORS (1974). That's Marlon's older sister, Jocelyn Brando, as Mrs. This leaves the more convincing turns to come from the other all-stars cited lower in the cast list, particularly Angie Dickinson as Calder's supportive wife and Robert Duvall as a weak-willed bank officer. Brando, Fonda and Redford are all miscast, conveying too much intelligence to be convincing as the rubes on display here (in what universe would a redneck named Bubber look and talk like the WASPy Redford?). This might be a case of too many gourmet cooks spoiling the broth, as the well-documented conflicts between producer Sam Spiegel, director Arthur Penn and screenwriter Lillian Hellman (adapting Horton Foote's play) doubtless had something to do with the haphazardness that plagues this interesting if erratic endeavor. Meanwhile, Bubber's wife (Jane Fonda) is having an affair with his best friend (James Fox), although she still cares enough for her husband that she'll do anything to aid him. The news that former resident Bubber Reeves (Robert Redford) has escaped from prison and possibly killed a man in the process stirs the yahoos into a vigilante rage, one that the decent Sheriff Calder (Marlon Brando) has trouble containing. THE CHASE (1966) Set in Texas (but of course), The Chase focuses on a small town in which practically all of the well-scrubbed, well-to-do characters turn out to be brutish, racist and adulterous gossipmongers who spend most hours getting drunk, getting laid - usually by someone else's spouse - and getting violent with the town's peaceful black citizens. Robert Redford in The Chase (Photo: Twilight Time)