A Lady Takes a Chance

 

 

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A Lady takes a Chance(released Aug/43)is a less than mediocre entry starring the Duke and the lovely Jean Arthur.That coupled with the abominable print presented here it makes this an easily passable film.
The plot involves our Jean in New York on her way to somewhere out west,in need of a break.She has three suitors,one being old Roach Taxi Boy Grady Sutton and Hans Conried,the future Dr Tewilliger of the 5,000 fingers of Dr T and his myriad appearances and voice over work on television in the 50s and 60s.Arthur gets on the bus and heads west,young lady.It's a frustrating ride with disruptions by bratty kids and the uncomfortable sleeping arrangements.She arrives in this very western style town to witness a rodeo,which is part of the tour she is on.At one point she gets smacked down after the Duke,riding after a steer,ends up on top of Arthur while she tries to take a snap shot of him.Arthur is immediately smitten by the tall,lean and sexy Duke.In a restaurant later while they are drinking together she asks to feel his arms.
Duke lives with his sidekick in the form of an old crusty Charles Winninger.The Duke is resistant to the whole romantic gig and the pair fall in and out with each other throughout the rest of the film.But you just know in these kinds of films that the girl always gets her man.Of course when she lands back in New York by herself we think all is lost,but in the good old fashioned spirit of such see through comedies,the Duke appears carrying Arthur back into the bus and into his life for good.
This is a very poor outing for Arthur.The script finds her in more than one compromising position throughout the film,as there IS quite the sexual tension created between the two;quite racy actually for a film of this time.Arthur is certainly after some action as her love life back home is boring with a capital "B".And it is even more impactful because the majority of the "push" is coming from Arthur herself.The rest of the plot is pretty see through stuff we've seen dozens of times before and done much better than this.The Duke has little to do but act like a macho galoot,which he does as he has alot of wells,maybes and I don't knows to say.Besides this there is little in the movie to recommend it.This is a film that has gone public domain I know,but one should seek Arthur's other mid 40s release The Devil and Miss Jones for a great and classic Arthur film.It too went domain and was last restored and released by the UCLA archives on VHS.
The technical side of this DVD is what is even more disappointing than the film itself.This DVD is like watching a bad VHS copy.It needs a total remastering as the film has many defects and the picture washes out very badly at times.This significantly drops the enjoyment factor by miles.I just recently reviewed TCM's release of Lon Chaney silent films and I can tell you unequivocally that those films are in far,far better shape than this one and they are 20s pictures.What a disappointment.
All in all,for little to non existent picture quality to a poor script,despite the box office potential of its stars,give this DVD a pass,period.It's not worth your hard earned money at any price.

An unusual wartime comedy-romance, starring the ever-delectable Jean Arthur as a big-city girl who takes a bus tour out West to see some of the world, and gets a real eyeful when she hooks up with John Wayne, a lanky, laconic cowboy who's rambling around on the rodeo circuit. The script is fairly minimal, and many scenes even seem improvised, but what's remarkable is the underlying sexual frankness of the film -- the two meet by accident, and are inexorably drawn together by sheer sexual chemistry. When they finally give in and go out on a real date, they have nothing to say to each other -- the attraction is purely physical. Certain scenes, such as when he invites her up to his hotel room, offers her a drink, and bed to bunk in, are surprisingly raw, at least for the time. Arthur and Wayne also seem to have chemistry together -- in fact, this is the only film in which I've seen him play opposite a gal when the sizzle seemed real... It's a funny film with an offbeat sense of humor, one that's worth seeing particularly if your a fan of Jean Arthur's work... She's about as cute as ever in this one!

A LADY TAKES A CHANCE stars Jean Arthur as Molly Truesdale, a young and hip Eastern American woman tired of all her suitors. To escape from them for a spell, she takes a bus-tour west to see America. While out west she literally bumps into Duke Hudkins (John Wayne) at a rodeo. They end up spending the rest of the day together and most of the evening and Molly ends up missing her bus. Duke takes her to the city where she can catch it for the ride home.

Though this is a pretty typical boy-meets-girl movie, there are a lot of elequant touches that make it stand out above the rest. Besides, it's enjoyable watching the Duke play a role so different from the ones he was to become famous for. Jean Arthur is just adorable and makes a grand lady that is at first pursued, but then becomes the pursuer. As a bonus, Phil Silvers has a small role as the bus tour guide. Not only will Wayne fans and oldies fans like this movie, but it makes for a great date picture.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Lassos, leather and laughs
Story of two fish out of water--a city girl in the West, and a cowboy in love. Arthur is, as always, funny, sexy and smart as the bored lady of the title who falls for Wayne, and... Read more

Published on Dec 31 2001 by charles curtis

5.0 out of 5 stars Arthur, Wayne Shine in Romantic Comedy!
Jean Arthur sparkles in this wartime comedy, as Molly Truesdale, a sweet, pretty salesgirl overwhelmed by 3 overzealous suitors. Read more

Published on Nov 29 2000 by Benjamin J Burgraff

5.0 out of 5 stars Arthur, Wayne Shine in Romantic Comedy!
Jean Arthur sparkles in this wartime comedy, as Molly Truesdale, a sweet, pretty salesgirl overwhelmed by 3 overzealous suitors! Read more

Published on Nov 17 2000 by Benjamin J Burgraff

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