A Lady Takes a Chance (1943) - Up until recently I had never heard of this movie. I happened to come across it on Netflix while looking up movies with Jean Arthur, who was a well known actress in the 1930’s and 1940’s. Arthur is probably best known for the films she made with director Frank Capra when both were under contract to Columbia Pictures (“Mr. Deeds Goes to Town”, “You Can’t Take it With You”, and “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington”). I saw this particular film also starred John Wayne who at the time was just beginning his rise to big time stardom. My wife is a big fan of John Wayne westerns, and it happens to be her birthday weekend, so I figured this would be a good one to watch this weekend with her.
Anyway, “A Lady Takes a Chance” is a mixture of the comedies that Jean Arthur was making at the time, combined with the elements of John Wayne westerns. To say the least, this movie is a mishmash that is all over the place. Arthur plays a single big city girl from New York City who decides to go on a bus tour of the American West. On this tour, she meets Wayne who plays a rodeo cowboy who tours the western rodeo circuit. As they spend time with each other, the two are alternately attracted and repulsed to each other. This movie is a bit all over the place between the comedic elements, the persona John Wayne was developing at the time, and the various western elements that show up. Sure enough, this film also features the odd brawl or two as well. One thing I found interesting is that Wayne’s character is called “Duke”, which of course ended up being his nickname. I have no idea if this film was the genesis of that nickname. Seeing Wayne doing his thing in a Jean Arthur vehicle comedy is an oddball mix indeed. At any rate, while this is hardly a great movie, it does keep your interest and is certainly entertaining.
Anyway, “A Lady Takes a Chance” is a mixture of the comedies that Jean Arthur was making at the time, combined with the elements of John Wayne westerns. To say the least, this movie is a mishmash that is all over the place. Arthur plays a single big city girl from New York City who decides to go on a bus tour of the American West. On this tour, she meets Wayne who plays a rodeo cowboy who tours the western rodeo circuit. As they spend time with each other, the two are alternately attracted and repulsed to each other. This movie is a bit all over the place between the comedic elements, the persona John Wayne was developing at the time, and the various western elements that show up. Sure enough, this film also features the odd brawl or two as well. One thing I found interesting is that Wayne’s character is called “Duke”, which of course ended up being his nickname. I have no idea if this film was the genesis of that nickname. Seeing Wayne doing his thing in a Jean Arthur vehicle comedy is an oddball mix indeed. At any rate, while this is hardly a great movie, it does keep your interest and is certainly entertaining.
