Waste of time

Simply Perfect

Simply A Masterpiece

Best movie ever!

Too much mugging by the top-billed actors leave Johnny Mack Brown and Eugenie Besserer the most believable members of an actually very talented cast. In fact, "A Lady of Chance" is much like an old-time pantomime at times, and not at all subtle.Even in 1928, Lowell Sherman was already a veteran, but so was Norma Shearer, who, though only 26 at this time (two years older than Brown), had been making films since about 1919.Gwen Lee, who was much more restrained, had also made many movies by 1928 but hadn't started until about three years before. (She just had a very busy three years.)Brown was still a relative newcomer, but had amazing screen presence. He eventually acted opposite such grand ladies as Joan Crawford and Greta Garbo, among others.After a while, though, he stuck with westerns and was one of the most popular western stars.Those of us who love westerns were the beneficiaries, but I wonder if Mr. Brown would have been any happier had he been an A picture fixture.Again, in "A Lady of Chance," he really stood out, showing talent and looks and ability at underplaying the country boy intended to be a sucker.There are no other surprises in this pleasant movie. The ending seems to be tacked on, but I don't think anybody would want another.I do recommend "A Lady of Chance," which I saw on Turner Classic Movies 3 November 2015 during a night of Norma Shearer films. (That night it was followed by "The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg" in which she was adorable, charming, lovely, enticing ... just wonderful. And more restrained though still exuberant. Pretty nearly perfect.)

The other day I saw a few comments about Norma Shearer - sneering at her thespian abilities in "Marie Antoinette" and "Romeo and Juliet" - I just wanted to shout "You don't know the real Norma"!! In the two movies mentioned she was fully entrenched as "First Lady" of MGM but, in the silent era, she was a beautiful leading lady. With Joan Crawford as MGM's flapper in residence, Norma pushed back her hair in a distinctive style, got a wardrobe of rather daring Adrian gowns and added a little shady to the lady. "A Lady of Chance" was Norma's last silent and introduced a new sophisticated Norma to her already legion of fans.Dolly (Norma Shearer) is working as a switchboard operator at a certain ritzy hotel when she is spotted by two former associates, Brad and Gwen (Lowell Sherman and Gwen Lee), who recognise her as their one time partner in crime "Angel Face". Dolly hasn't reformed - she is trying her luck on her own - fleecing gullible millionaires out of their money, with pretty tears (she can cry on cue) and sad stories about dying mothers and sick little brothers. They "convince" her to come back to the gang, holding over her head the fact that she has failed to report to her parole officer. She reluctantly goes back, but is always one step ahead of her shifty con artist buddies. Again Dolly goes out on her own and finds herself at an Atlantic City Convention where she makes a play for Steve Crandall (Johnny Mack Brown), who she thinks is a naive Southern millionaire - "I never realised how uninteresting cement was - until I met you"!!! They marry (a funny title says "From now on I'll do the paying" to which Dolly replies when she closes the door "And How"!!!Once she is in Steve's home town she realises she has made a ghastly mistake - he is not wealthy (he had been at the convention to interest people in his invention of unbreakable cement). He is working to pay off his ramshackle car and the plantation he had dreamed of returning to, well, his family owns the small homestead next door which is badly in need of paint. Dolly is thoroughly disillusioned but is won over by the family's love for her and contentment in the simple things in life - something she has never experienced. Like two bad pennies, Brad and Gwen turn up but before Dolly can convince them that Steve is really poor - Steve bursts through the door with the news that he has sold his invention for $100,000!!!Lowell Sherman and Gwen Lee almost steal the movie - Gwen Lee should have had a much bigger career but her height went against her in an era when leading men were not tall. Lowell Sherman had been playing dapper cads since "Way Down East" with Lillian Gish and his debonair and jaunty mannerisms gave this movie even more class. Even though it was just a frothy comedy it had all the style and sophistication that made MGM the greatest of the "Dream Factories".Highly, Highly Recommended.

While Warner Brothers and many of the other American studios were making more and more talking pictures in 1928, the world's largest and most prestigious studio, MGM, was still firmly convinced that sound was a fad that would soon pass. This is one of the main reasons that this film is a silent, though in a slight nod to the trend, it did feature sound effects and music.During most of her career, Norma Shearer played rather nice ladies and that's why I enjoyed seeing her in this film, as she was a nasty piece of work. Not only was she a career criminal, but she had no qualms about cheating "suckers" out of their money. Eventually, though, she thinks she's ready for a big score when she meets a man who she thinks is really rich--though after they marry and move to his home she finds he's not rich but owns a small concrete business. What happens next is pretty interesting but I'd rather cut the summary short because it might spoil the film.The film has decent writing (though at times it is predictable) and the acting is generally very good as well. Most importantly, it is fun to watch and entertaining. While not among the best silents, this is still worth a peek--especially if, like me, you are a huge fan of early film.

"A Lady of Chance" was Norma Shearer's last silent film. The Turner Movie Classic channel debut of this forgotten gem with a brand-new score, took place on August 15, 2001. It was a total delight! The print was in excellent condition and looked just as audiences first saw it in 1928. Norma, who never looked lovelier, was in top form and showed how adept she was as a silent movie actress. Never let anyone say that she couldn't handle comedy! It's a fun film to watch and I recommend it to anyone, not just Shearer fans.