Lady Takes a Chance, A (1943)

Lady Takes a Chance, A (1943)

“Any fella that can love a horse can love a girl.”

Synopsis:
A young woman (Jean Arthur) with several competing suitors (Grant Withers, Grady Sutton, and Hans Conried) travels across the country on a tour bus and is accidentally stranded in a small town with a cowboy (John Wayne) she meets at the local rodeo. Will Arthur be able to make her way back to the bus — and will she and Wayne resolve their differences so romance can bloom?

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

  • Hans Conried Films
  • Jean Arthur Films
  • John Wayne Films
  • Road Trip
  • Romantic Comedy
  • Westerns

Review:
This enjoyable romantic comedy features an unlikely lead duo (Arthur and Wayne) who have surprising on-screen chemistry together. The screenplay, based on a story by Jo Swerling, cleverly shows how desirable Arthur is back at home before she heads off on her adventure: she isn’t a desperate spinster by any means, thus making her would-be romance with “exotic” Wayne more intriguing.

For a film made in 1943, Wayne is refreshingly frank in his desire to sleep with Arthur but not marry her — and if their quibbles inevitably resolve the way we suspect they will, their travails together are an enjoyable enough diversion to make this worth a one-time look.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

  • Fine performances by the romantic leads

Must See?
No, though it’s recommended for one-time viewing.

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One thought on “Lady Takes a Chance, A (1943)

  1. First viewing; not must-see.

    Mildly amusing comedy with a typically charming Arthur. A ‘date night’ movie of its day; innocuous, leisurely (a bit slow). 30 minutes in, there’s a charming scene with Arthur and Wayne, getting better acquainted as they talk on a stack of hay.

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