A Lady Takes a Chance (1943)

A Lady Takes a Chance is probably the best American romantic comedy of the '40s that hardly anyone knew about--at least, in the last three or four decades of the 20th century. That's chiefly because, as a semi-independent production mounted for Jean Arthur by her husband, Frank Ross, the movie couldn't claim a place in any studio archive (It's a Wonderful Life was long neglected for similar reasons). So this lovely gem is ripe for rediscovery, not only for Arthur at her most enchantingly distracted, as a New York gal on a bus tour of the modern Wild West, but also for John Wayne's sly sexiness as the rodeo rider who literally falls into her lap. James Agee, no less, approvingly noted that "Wayne suggests how sensational he might be in a sufficiently evil story about a Reno gigolo." Lady isn't evil, but it's surely a delight. --Richard T. Jameson Amazon.com

A Lady Takes A Chance

I am a BIG John Wayne fan. I was surprised at how good it was. It is not your "normal" Wayne movie. In this one Jean Arth;ur plays the part of Molly Trousdale. She sets out from New York on a cross-country bus tour, because she wants to see America. When she gets out West she runs into Duke Hutkins (John Wayne), who is competing in a rodeo. Duke assumes she's just another pretty girl who wants to be with a rodeo star. But she is a lady who won't be roped easly. They keep meeting throughout the rest of the movie, with Duke following her to New York, (where she has three other men who love her), to win her back and takes her back out west. Needless to say, I liked the movie and give it 4 stars.

Russ
Posted 02/23/2008 February 23, 2008

The Duke has never been more charming...

This is an early effort of John Wayne's, but he holds his own in this light comedy. The supporting cast are, as always, worth watching as they all progress through the romantic antics of this movie. If you've never seen it-do so! March 9, 2007

A Lady Takes a Chance

I've watched this movie at least a dozen times. Fine romance! My gosh he was a sexy young man! GREAT chemistry between him and Jean Arthur. Thoroughly enjoyable! February 14, 2007

Good Romantic Comedy; Terrible DVD

This is far from Jean Arthur's classic comedies of the late 1930s and the early 40s, but she's as charming as ever. John Wayne is also surprisingly good as the romantic leading man, but the film is a showcase for Jean Arthur's talents from beginning to end (it was produced by her husband).

The DVD, however, is terrible. Its watchable, but you feel like you're watching the film on 1980s VHS, late night TV or one of those cheap public domain DVDs. The image is very soft, there are visible scratches and the sound is very bad. Still, I doubt that Criterion will ever pick a film like this one, so if you like 1940s romantic comedies, and Jean Arthur in particular, you should "take a chance" on this one. November 18, 2005

John Wayne and Jear Arthur sizzle onscreen

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! May 3, 2004

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