Chances (1931) Starring: Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Rose
Hobart, Anthony Bushell. Directed by Allan Dwan. Screenplay by A. Hamilton
Gibbs. Based on the novel Chances by Arthur Hamilton Gibbs (Boston, 1930).
Producer Not Credited. Run time: 72 minutes. USA Black and White. Pre-Code,
Drama.
There is no one way that you can become aware of a particular movie. In the case of Chances, for me, it was purely by accident. One morning while I was getting ready for work, the film happened to be on TCM and I happened to be watching. Since I didn’t have the time to watch it, I decided to DVR it and watch it later, which I recently did.
There were several things that attracted me to the film. I haven’t seen a lot of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. films, and those I have seen, especially from this time period, I have liked. Then there is the backdrop to the story, World War I. For most of my life, World War II has been so dominating, and rightly so, that the first World War is somewhat forgotten. However, during the 1920s and 30s, it was the last major war that most people had lived through, so it was used quite often for a backdrop for films. And then there was the obvious story detail that becomes quickly apparent, two close brothers fall in love with the same woman. I’m happy to say that on all these points, the film does not disappoint.
