“Any fella that can love a horse can love a girl.”
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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?
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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.
Links:
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One thought on “Lady Takes a Chance, A (1943)”
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.