Editorial Review:

Amazon.com:
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

This is a real forgotten gem from the golden days of Hollywood romances. Jean Arthur, as always, is delightful as a city gal that decides to escape her three annoying suitors by taking a bus trip out West. There she accidentally meets John Wayne while taking pictures at a rodeo. Wayne is very low-key but effective in his role as an old fashioned western rodeo rider who eventually falls for Jean Arthur though he keeps telling himself that he's not cut out for marriage. The romantic chemistry bewteen Wayne and Arthur, though not as magical as that with Jimmy Stewart in the Frank Capra classics Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and You Can't Take it With You, is nonetheless very nice.

Phil Silvers, in a very early role, adds some nice comedy as the overbearing tour guide on the bus.

Overall, a very entertaining romantic comedy that works well and is another reminder of how Hollywood used to make movies before immorality and profanity took hold in the late 1950's and 60's. They just don't make-em like this anymore

Average Rating:

Rating: - A Forgotten Gem
This is a real forgotten gem from the golden days of Hollywood romances. Jean Arthur, as always, is delightful as a city gal that decides to escape her three annoying suitors by taking a bus trip out West. There she accidentally meets John Wayne while taking pictures at a rodeo. Wayne is very low-key but effective in his role as an old fashioned western rodeo rider who eventually falls for Jean Arthur though he keeps telling himself that he's not cut out for marriage. The romantic chemistry bewteen Wayne and Arthur, though not as magical as that with Jimmy Stewart in the Frank Capra classics Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and You Can't Take it With You, is nonetheless very nice.

Phil Silvers, in a very early role, adds some nice comedy as the overbearing tour guide on the bus.

Overall, a very entertaining romantic comedy that works well and is another reminder of how Hollywood used to make movies before immorality and profanity took hold in the late 1950's and 60's. They just don't make-em like this anymore

Rating: - pretty much a failure
The problem with this film is that although both are good actors, Jean Artur and John Wayne just seems to have no chemistry even in the clinches. I don't think they much liked each other and it showed? She comes off a minor eastern type and he seems to be cast as an insensitive brute of a cowboy who cares for his horse more than his girl friend ( pretty much like the modern guy who spends all his time working on his car instead of keeping his wife and kids happy). They say opposites attract, but it doesn't show up here on film! Interesting that Clark Gable could make one of these romantic comedies and it would become a classic, John Wayne should fall flat in the same type of movie? I think what results is like having two straight men and no comic.

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Rating: - A Lady Takes a Chance
It's an OK movie. Not great but worth watching. No heavy plot or anything thought provoking here. It's a fun light hearted comedy. It's always fun to watch the "Duke" on the big screen. He plays a traveling rodeo star and Jean Arthur is the sweet city gal that falls for the hunk. Phil Silvers is great as the comic bus driver. He spices things up a quite a bit. To me it's a period piece and fun to listen to the dialog, look at the cars, and watch the old actors do their thing.
The movie nut in Idaho

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Rating: - 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

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Rating: - 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!

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