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'''''A Lady Takes a Chance''''' is a 1943 American ] directed by ] and starring ] and ]. Written by ] and based on a story by Jo Swerling, the film is about a New York working girl who travels to the American West on a bus tour and meets and falls in love with a handsome rodeo cowboy. The film was produced for ] by ], who was Arthur's husband at the time.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite web|title=A Lady Takes a Chance (1943) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/28075/A-Lady-Takes-a-Chance/overview |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113061346/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/28075/A-Lady-Takes-a-Chance/overview |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 13, 2013 |department=Movies & TV Dept. |work=] |author=Hal Erickson |author-link=Hal Erickson (author) |date=2013 |access-date=October 21, 2013}}</ref> The supporting cast features flamboyant comedian ], ] (without his stentorian ] voice), ] and ]. The film earned a profit of $582,000.<ref name="uni">Richard B. Jewell, ''Slow Fade to Black: The Decline of RKO Radio Pictures'', University of California, 2016.</ref> '''''A Lady Takes a Chance''''' is a 1943 American ] directed by ] and starring ] and ]. Written by ] and based on a story by Jo Swerling, the film is about a New York working girl who travels to the American West on a bus tour and meets and falls in love with a handsome rodeo cowboy. The film was produced for ] by ], who was Arthur's husband at the time.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite web|title=A Lady Takes a Chance (1943) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/28075/A-Lady-Takes-a-Chance/overview |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113061346/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/28075/A-Lady-Takes-a-Chance/overview |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 13, 2013 |department=Movies & TV Dept. |work=] |author=Hal Erickson |author-link=Hal Erickson (author) |date=2013 |access-date=October 21, 2013}}</ref> The supporting cast features flamboyant comedian ], ] (without his stentorian ] voice), ], and ].


==Plot== ==Plot==
Three of her suitors protest when Molly J. Truesdale, on a whim, boards a bus in New York City to find out what life in the American West is like. Three of her suitors protest when Molly J. Truesdale, on a whim, boards a bus in New York City to find out what life in the American West is like.


Molly goes to a rodeo, where a bucking bronco tosses rider Duke Hudkins right into her lap. Duke buys her a beer afterward and then Molly brings him luck while gambling, but his partner Waco warns her that Duke is not the right guy for her. Molly goes to a rodeo, where a bucking bronco tosses rider Duke Hudkins right into her lap. Duke buys her a beer afterward and then Molly brings him luck while gambling, but his saddle pal Waco warns her that Duke is not the right guy for her. Whenever Duke warms to her charms, Molly panics and shies away. Duke escorts Molly to various places and events until she learns that her tour bus has left without her. Her pride will not permit Duke and Waco to help her so she decides to hitchhike, but in the dead of night she meekly accepts a ride to the next bus depot -- from Duke and Waco.


In a campfire, more worried about his horse than about her, Duke discovers his horse Sammy's blanket has been borrowed by Molly and is furious with her when Sammy catches cold. Giving up, Molly goes home to New York and her waiting suitors, who are astounded when a tall cowboy suddenly shows up and carries Molly away. The threesome camps outdoors overnight. The cowboys are comfortable but Molly isn't, so she takes a horse blanket from Duke's horse Sammy. The next day, Duke is incensed when Sammy catches pneumonia. Molly makes one last-ditch attempt to snare Duke by preparing an elegant dinner for two, but steak-and-potatoes Duke is reluctant. Finally he himself panics and insists that he will not be tied down. Giving up, Molly goes home to New York and her waiting suitors, who are astounded when a tall cowboy suddenly shows up and carries Molly away. They take the same tour bus back out west.


==Reception==
Director ] was noted for his charming comedies that were moderately paced and kept the laughs coming quietly, rather than resorting to joke-laden dialogue and slapstick. His handling of ''A Lady Takes a Chance'' was entirely in keeping, which some critics praised and others took for slowness. ''Film Daily'' loved the film: "Smart, clever romantic comedy should prove a boxoffice wow. Every moment of it is vastly entertaining and amusing beyond the ordinary. John Wayne turns in a far better job than one would have expected of him. One wouldn't be going overboard in saying it was his best work yet... has brought out the fine qualities of the script masterfully. He has truly made ''A Lady Takes a Chance'' delicious entertainment."<ref>''Film Daily''. Aug. 19. 1943, p. 6.</ref> Red Kann in ''Motion Picture Daily'' concurred: "If this is not on the riot side, it makes an unchallenged substitute. That's how delicious a comedy ''A Lady Takes a Chance'' proves itself to be... On the side of performance, far and away of course is Miss Arthur. If your reviewer knew a better word for excellent, he'd use it. John Wayne has never done a better job within this knowledge... No question whatever about this one. RKO has a hit on its hands."<ref>''Red Kann, ''Motion Picture Daily'', Aug. 17, 1943, p. 2.</ref> ''The Exhibitor'' conceded that the film was "pleasant entertainment" but offered a mild dissent: "This lacks substance and doesn't quite come off. Arthur can't do much with what she has been given to work with, and while there are some funny sequences, this has stretches where the laughs aren't forthcoming."<ref>''The Exhibitor'', Aug. 25, 1943, p. 6.</ref> ''The independent Film Bulletin'' wrote in the same vein: "Perhaps a more supple and subtle leading man would have helped. Or perhaps, it is too obvious that the makers were straining to produce another '']''. At any rate, ''A Lady Takes a Chance'' turns out to be only a moderately successful romantic comedy, despite some gay situations and another sparkling performance by lovely Jean Arthur... Because the public is buying 'escapist' entertainment and Jean Arthur has an established following, ''Lady Takes a Chance'' should draw good grosses in most locations. Wayne's name will help in the action spots."<ref>''The Independent Film Bulletin'', Aug. 23, 1943, p. 25.</ref>

The boxoffice predictions proved to be correct. The film brought in $2,500,000, earning a profit of $582,000.<ref name="uni">Richard B. Jewell, ''Slow Fade to Black: The Decline of RKO Radio Pictures'', University of California, 2016.</ref>
==Cast== ==Cast==
] ]
Line 41: Line 45:
* ] as Duke Hudkins * ] as Duke Hudkins
* ] as Waco * ] as Waco
* ] as Smiley Lambert (bus tour director) * ] as Smiley Lambert, bus tour director
* ] as Florrie Bendix * ] as Florrie Bendix
* ] as Drunk * ] as Drunk
* John Philliber as Storekeeper * John Philliber as Storekeeper
* ] as Malcolm Scott * ] as Malcolm Scott, suitor
⚫ * ] as Bob Hastings, suitor
⚫ * ] as Gregg Stone, suitor
* Jean Stevens as "Jitterbug" * Jean Stevens as "Jitterbug"
⚫ * ] as Bob Hastings
⚫ * ] as Gregg Stone
* Ariel Heath as Flossie * Ariel Heath as Flossie
* Sugar Geise as Linda Belle * Sugar Geise as Linda Belle
* Joan Blair as Lilly * Joan Blair as Lilly
* ] as Mullen * ] as Mullen
* ] as Gambling Boss
* ] as Beggar Woman (uncredited)<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yw9eCgAAQBAJ&q=%22dorcas+mckim%22&pg=PA185|title=The John Wayne Filmography|first=Fred|last=Landesman|date=August 13, 2015|publisher=McFarland|isbn=9781476609225|via=Google Books}}</ref> * ] as Beggar Woman (uncredited)<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yw9eCgAAQBAJ&q=%22dorcas+mckim%22&pg=PA185|title=The John Wayne Filmography|first=Fred|last=Landesman|date=August 13, 2015|publisher=McFarland|isbn=9781476609225|via=Google Books}}</ref>


Revision as of 14:17, 3 March 2024

1943 film

A Lady Takes a Chance
Theatrical release poster
Directed byWilliam A. Seiter
Screenplay byRobert Ardrey
Story byJo Swerling
Produced byFrank Ross
Starring
CinematographyFrank Redman
Edited byTheron Warth
Music byRoy Webb
Production
company		Frank Ross Productions
Distributed byRKO Radio Pictures
Release date
  • September 15, 1943 (1943-09-15)
Running time86 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$2.5 million (US rentals)

A Lady Takes a Chance is a 1943 American romantic comedy film directed by William A. Seiter and starring Jean Arthur and John Wayne. Written by Robert Ardrey and based on a story by Jo Swerling, the film is about a New York working girl who travels to the American West on a bus tour and meets and falls in love with a handsome rodeo cowboy. The film was produced for RKO Radio Pictures by Frank Ross, who was Arthur's husband at the time. The supporting cast features flamboyant comedian Phil Silvers, Hans Conried (without his stentorian Barrymoresque voice), Charles Winninger, and Mary Field.

Plot

Three of her suitors protest when Molly J. Truesdale, on a whim, boards a bus in New York City to find out what life in the American West is like.

Molly goes to a rodeo, where a bucking bronco tosses rider Duke Hudkins right into her lap. Duke buys her a beer afterward and then Molly brings him luck while gambling, but his saddle pal Waco warns her that Duke is not the right guy for her. Whenever Duke warms to her charms, Molly panics and shies away. Duke escorts Molly to various places and events until she learns that her tour bus has left without her. Her pride will not permit Duke and Waco to help her so she decides to hitchhike, but in the dead of night she meekly accepts a ride to the next bus depot -- from Duke and Waco.

The threesome camps outdoors overnight. The cowboys are comfortable but Molly isn't, so she takes a horse blanket from Duke's horse Sammy. The next day, Duke is incensed when Sammy catches pneumonia. Molly makes one last-ditch attempt to snare Duke by preparing an elegant dinner for two, but steak-and-potatoes Duke is reluctant. Finally he himself panics and insists that he will not be tied down. Giving up, Molly goes home to New York and her waiting suitors, who are astounded when a tall cowboy suddenly shows up and carries Molly away. They take the same tour bus back out west.

Reception

Director William A. Seiter was noted for his charming comedies that were moderately paced and kept the laughs coming quietly, rather than resorting to joke-laden dialogue and slapstick. His handling of A Lady Takes a Chance was entirely in keeping, which some critics praised and others took for slowness. Film Daily loved the film: "Smart, clever romantic comedy should prove a boxoffice wow. Every moment of it is vastly entertaining and amusing beyond the ordinary. John Wayne turns in a far better job than one would have expected of him. One wouldn't be going overboard in saying it was his best work yet... has brought out the fine qualities of the script masterfully. He has truly made A Lady Takes a Chance delicious entertainment." Red Kann in Motion Picture Daily concurred: "If this is not on the riot side, it makes an unchallenged substitute. That's how delicious a comedy A Lady Takes a Chance proves itself to be... On the side of performance, far and away of course is Miss Arthur. If your reviewer knew a better word for excellent, he'd use it. John Wayne has never done a better job within this knowledge... No question whatever about this one. RKO has a hit on its hands." The Exhibitor conceded that the film was "pleasant entertainment" but offered a mild dissent: "This lacks substance and doesn't quite come off. Arthur can't do much with what she has been given to work with, and while there are some funny sequences, this has stretches where the laughs aren't forthcoming." The independent Film Bulletin wrote in the same vein: "Perhaps a more supple and subtle leading man would have helped. Or perhaps, it is too obvious that the makers were straining to produce another It Happened One Night. At any rate, A Lady Takes a Chance turns out to be only a moderately successful romantic comedy, despite some gay situations and another sparkling performance by lovely Jean Arthur... Because the public is buying 'escapist' entertainment and Jean Arthur has an established following, Lady Takes a Chance should draw good grosses in most locations. Wayne's name will help in the action spots."

The boxoffice predictions proved to be correct. The film brought in $2,500,000, earning a profit of $582,000.

Cast

John Wayne and Jean Arthur in A Lady Takes a Chance

References

  1. "A Lady Takes a Chance: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
  2. "Variety (January 1944)". New York, NY: Variety Publishing Company. February 10, 1944 – via Internet Archive.
  3. Hal Erickson (2013). "A Lady Takes a Chance (1943)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  4. Film Daily. Aug. 19. 1943, p. 6.
  5. Red Kann, Motion Picture Daily, Aug. 17, 1943, p. 2.
  6. The Exhibitor, Aug. 25, 1943, p. 6.
  7. The Independent Film Bulletin, Aug. 23, 1943, p. 25.
  8. Richard B. Jewell, Slow Fade to Black: The Decline of RKO Radio Pictures, University of California, 2016.
  9. Landesman, Fred (August 13, 2015). The John Wayne Filmography. McFarland. ISBN 9781476609225 – via Google Books.

External links

Films directed by William A. Seiter
Categories: