The Last Chase
The Last Chase is a 1981 Canadian-American dystopian science fiction action film directed and produced by Martyn Burke, starring Lee Majors as Franklyn Hart, a former professional race car driver living under a totalitarian regime that has banned private automobiles amid widespread fossil fuel shortages.[1] Set in the year 2011, the story depicts Hart secretly rebuilding a Porsche 917 racing car in a society reliant on bicycles and mass transit, then fleeing eastward toward the independent "Free California" with the aid of a resourceful teenage boy, Chris Makepeace's character Charlie, while evading pursuit by federal agents, including a relentless Air Force captain portrayed by Burgess Meredith who deploys military jets in the chase.[2] The film explores themes of personal liberty versus government overreach, drawing on a screenplay co-written by Burke and Mark Rosati, with supporting roles filled by actors such as Alexandra Stewart and George Touliatos.[3] Produced on a modest budget by Argosy Films in association with the Canadian Film Development Corporation, it premiered to generally unfavorable critical reception, earning a 4.4/10 rating on IMDb from over 1,200 user votes and limited praise for its action sequences amid criticisms of wooden dialogue and implausible plotting.[1] Despite its commercial underperformance and B-movie status, The Last Chase has achieved niche cult appeal, notably through its feature in an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000, where its low-fi spectacle and prescient elements—like fuel scarcity and vehicular restrictions—have been riffed upon for entertainment value.[4]Synopsis
Plot Summary
In a dystopian future America ravaged by a plague that decimated much of the population and an ensuing energy crisis, the federal government has outlawed private automobile ownership, enforcing strict state control over all transportation via buses and trains.[3] Franklyn Hart, a former professional race car driver played by Lee Majors, secretly reassembles his confiscated Porsche 917/10 racing car in defiance of these regulations.[5] Seeking personal freedom, Hart embarks on a cross-country drive from Boston toward the independent "Free California" in the West, picking up a teenage runaway named Chris Ring (Chris Makepeace) who joins him after witnessing his escape.[2] The journey draws the attention of federal authorities led by the authoritarian Transportation Commissioner (Christopher Lee), who launches a nationwide manhunt involving ground patrols, helicopters, and eventually a military jet piloted by a grizzled veteran (Burgess Meredith).[5] Hart and Chris evade pursuers through high-speed chases, mechanical ingenuity, and aid from sympathetic locals, including a former soldier who provides temporary refuge and assistance.[3] Culminating in their arrival at the California border, the duo crosses into Free California, greeted by jubilant crowds in a region that has seceded from federal control, representing a society preserving individual liberties and private vehicle use.[2]Production
Development and Pre-Production
The screenplay for The Last Chase originated in the 1970s, with an initial version attributed to Christopher Crowe, as reported in trade publications; however, Crowe received no onscreen credit in the final film.[6] Gene Slott Productions acquired the property and announced plans for production as early as late 1977.[6] The project advanced under Argosy Films, with Herb Abramson as producer and Martyn Burke directing while co-producing alongside Fran Rosati.[6][3] The final screenplay was credited to Burke, Ray Moore, and C.R. O'Christopher, adapted from O'Christopher's original story.[3] Financing involved the Canadian Film Development Corporation, supporting a budget estimated at $5–6 million.[6] Pre-production preparations included scheduling principal photography to commence on October 8, 1979, with locations scouted in Toronto, Canada, for urban sequences and Arizona for desert chase scenes, including the closure of 21 miles of highway.[6] Lead actor Lee Majors trained at a driving school in northern California to handle the Porsche 917 race car central to the narrative.[6] Additional assets, such as three Sabre jet aircraft rented from a California firm and set construction by an MGM design team in the Arizona desert, were arranged to depict the film's dystopian pursuit elements.[6]Filming and Locations
Principal photography for The Last Chase occurred from October 9, 1979, to December 4, 1979.[7] The production, a Canadian-American co-venture involving Argosy Films and the Canadian Film Development Corporation, utilized locations in Canada and the United States to depict a dystopian future America.[1] Urban and interior scenes were primarily shot in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, which substituted for the film's fictional U.S. settings, including sites such as the Allen Expressway, 52 Division police station interiors, Dupont Station, Spadina Station, Yorkdale Station, First Canadian Place, and Scarborough Civic Centre.[8] [9] [10] Desert chase sequences and other exterior action footage were filmed in Arizona, USA, to capture arid landscapes essential to the plot's high-speed pursuits, with principal sites in Tucson, Flagstaff, and Scottsdale.[7] [9] These locations provided the visually striking desert terrain highlighted in reviews for its effective portrayal of the film's vehicular freedom theme.[11] The choice of Canadian urban proxies reflected cost efficiencies from local production support, while U.S. exteriors ensured authenticity for the story's American-centric narrative.[1]Technical Details and Vehicles
The film was produced using standard 35mm film stock typical of early 1980s cinema, resulting in a color presentation with a mono sound mix and a runtime of 101 minutes.[1] Cinematography emphasized practical effects for action sequences, including on-location driving stunts across rural Canadian landscapes to simulate dystopian American highways, without reliance on digital enhancements unavailable at the time.[6] Central to the narrative's chase elements is the protagonist Frank Hart's vehicle, a replica of the 1972 Porsche 917/10 Can-Am Spyder (numbered #6), sourced from Porsche dealer and collector parts in the Los Angeles area to enable high-speed sequences portraying forbidden automotive freedom.[12] This turbocharged racer, evoking real Can-Am prototypes with over 1,000 horsepower potential in period variants, contrasts sharply with the regime's enforced transport limitations.[13] Pursuit vehicles include multiple Davis 500 three-wheeled prototypes from the 1960s, repurposed as futuristic police cruisers to symbolize inefficient state control, featuring exposed rear-mounted engines and limited speed capabilities that heighten the Porsche's evasion realism.[14] Additional ground vehicles appear in supporting roles, such as a 1950 Chevrolet Bel Air for civilian depictions and a 1976 Ferrari 312 T2 in the opening racetrack prologue, underscoring pre-ban automotive culture.[14] Aerial chases incorporate military aircraft for dramatic escalation, notably a North American F-86 Sabre jet piloted by the antagonist to intercept the Porsche, alongside appearances of a Northrop F-89 Scorpion, Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando, Douglas DC-8, and Lockheed P2V-7 Neptune, filmed using stock footage and practical models to represent authoritarian overreach.[15] These elements prioritize tangible mechanics over effects, aligning with the era's stunt-driven action filmmaking.[16]Cast and Crew
Principal Cast
The Last Chase features Lee Majors in the lead role of Franklyn Hart, a former race car driver who defies a dystopian government's ban on private automobiles by embarking on a cross-country pursuit in his vintage Porsche.[1] Burgess Meredith portrays Captain J.G. Williams, a grizzled Air Force officer tasked with apprehending Hart using advanced military aircraft.[11] Chris Makepeace plays Ring, a resourceful teenage inventor and Hart's ally who provides technical expertise during the chase.[17]| Actor | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Lee Majors | Franklyn Hart | Protagonist and rebel driver seeking freedom beyond government control.[18] |
| Burgess Meredith | Captain J.G. Williams | Pursuing military commander employing aerial surveillance and attack.[19] |
| Chris Makepeace | Ring | Young sidekick aiding in evasion tactics and vehicle modifications.[17] |