A Lady Takes a Chance

Moviecut—A Lady Takes a Chance

I saw this move once ten years ago on late night television, and I was mesmerized by how sexy John Wayne played the love scene, especially when he falls on top of Jean Arthur in the Rodeo. In that scene he exudes masculinity and his voice melts you through the screen. The scene when they kiss is so well done, one of the best kissing scenes on film. There is great chemistry between John Wayne and Jean Arthur's character. The story is weak, yes, and silly, especially the scene that has John Wayne wearing an apron, but his performance is pure heaven. Jean Arthur is, as always, lovable. They are both at the top of their game. This is one that I would have loved to watch in the big screen just to see the kissing scene bigger than life. This film is highly recommended by this reviewer.

This is by no means one of the top films of Jean Arthur or John Wayne, but it is perfectly pleasing entertainment and shows what these two actors were able to achieve on the basis of a relatively poor script.

A LADY TAKES A CHANCE is something different for western veteran John Wayne, once more playing the 'Duke'. Here he's a warm-hearted rodeo star who embarks on a likeable romance with the youthful and feisty Jean Arthur, just arrived in the city on bus. This is a light-hearted kind of picture that reminded me of the fare that Cary Grant would put out at the time, and it's surprisingly enjoyable. Wayne has a good touch for comedy while the show really belongs to Arthur, who is excellent. The script is humorous and the story fast-paced, and you even get Phil Silvers in a small role as a tour operator. What's not to love?

I thought I was going to see a John Wayne shoot-em-up western, but instead I got a fun black and white comedy. The only western action is in watching the rodeo scenes. John Wayne plays a total cowboy-- he is stuck in his cowboy ways and loves his horse more than anything else. Although John Wayne's character is prominent in the story, he is obviously not the lead. His character was there for Jean Arthur to play against. I will go as far as saying that the part of Duke Hudkins could have been played by another actor. Even without the John Wayne touch, the movie would have been just as good because of Jean Arthur as Molly Truesdale. It was a good role for Jean Arthur, and she made it the best it could be. This was her movie, and she got top billing. I love her voice!

This is a movie about two people who are the least likely to couple. Our girl Molly(Jean Arthur) is taking a cross the country bus tour to clear her head of men. Seems she has three of them! They just aren't her type though. Bring in John Wayne as Duke Hudkins. A good looking rodeo rider that runs into our Molly and thinks she would be a great one night stand. That's what he thinks. She does like him alot. He is after all, a REAL man who is unlike the other men she has met in New York. Seems rodeo men are kind of scarce there. The Duke likes women, ALOT, and has no thought of settling down. That's what he thinks. Now Molly wants him bad. How to hog tie this cowboy is the question. This movie is cute though with an quite impossible plot, but hey it's Hollywood. Not a classic like "Devil and Miss Jones", "Easy Living" or "More the Merrier", but a good film just the same.