The Great Chase (1962)

A cavalcade of the most hair-raising pursuits in silent films. From the earliest days of motion pictures, the chase has been an integral ingredient for thrills and comic delight. "The Great Chase" traces the development of turbulent action through the great silent film stars Buster Keaton, Lillian Gish and Douglas Fairbanks, Sr.

You'll need water after this 'chaser'

Mr. Frank Gallop narrates THE GREAT CHASE, a 1962 documentary that highlights action footage from such silent movie favorites as Buster Keaton's "The General" (1927), Pearl White in "The Perils of Pauline" (1914), Douglas Fairbanks in a swashbuckling "The Mark of Zorro" (1920), Edison's pioneering "The Great Train Robbery" (1903), William S. Hart's last film, "Tumbleweeds" (1925) and D.W. Griffith's unparalleled "Way Down East" (1920).

The music track features Larry Adler on harmonica. There's also sound effects that add nicely to the on-screen action.

The only DVD of THE GREAT CHASE is an IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT disc released in 1999. This long out-of-print collector's item sells used (when you can find it) for $60 to $100.


Two other silent-era documentaries are available on a single low-priced DVD: Genius Entertainment's FIRST KINGS OF COMEDY COLLECTION contains Robert Youngson's Oscar-winning "The Golden Age of Comedy" (1957) plus its sequel, "When Comedy Was King" (1960).


Parenthetical number preceding title is a 1 to 10 viewer poll rating found at a film resource website.

(7.5) The Great Chase (1962) - Archive footage of: Lillian Gish/Douglas Fairbanks/William S. Hart/Buster Keaton/Richard Barthelmess/Rod La Rocque/Marion Mack/Ruth Roland/Pearl White/Mack Sennett (Frank Gallop, narrator) August 30, 2008

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