The Golden Chance (1915)

Director:

Cecil B. DeMille

Writers:

Cecil B. DeMille (story)
Jeanie Macpherson (story)

Release Date:

30 December 1915 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Mary Denby becomes a seamstress after her husband Steve wastes their money on booze. Her employer provides...

Plot Keywords:

Melodrama

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Cleo Ridgely	...	Mary Denby
Wallace Reid	...	Roger Manning
Horace B. Carpenter	...	Steve Denby
Ernest Joy	...	Mr. Hillary
Edythe Chapman	...	Mrs. Hillary
Raymond Hatton	...	Jimmy The Rat

Runtime:

74 min (DVD)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Company:

Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company

Trivia:

The role of "Mary Denby" was first assigned to Edna Goodrich, and a good portion of the film was in the can when her drinking problem became so severe that Cecil B. DeMille fired her and shut down production long enough to find a new star, Cleo Ridgely. DeMille was then forced to continue directing The Cheat (1915) during the day while directing the re-shoots of this movie at night.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Cecil B. DeMille: American Epic (2004) (TV)

Great for fans of early film

If you're interested in the history of film, this movie is definitely worth watching. As other reviewers pointed out, it is a melodrama, but it has a number of interesting surprises that you won't see in other flicks from the period. DeMille pays good attention to small emotional reactions, and the camera is placed pretty close to the actors, a nice change from the stagey feel of some movies even into the late teens. There are two scenes showing physical fights that are marvelously staged--gritty even by today's standards. And the ending would be rare in today's Hollywood.

I was always curious about Wallace Reid, because I read a little about his tragic personal life in a movie book years ago--here he appears in all his youthful strength and good looks. Cleo Ridgely projects a lot of emotion, and only occasionally goes a little overboard. It's easy to sympathize with the plight of her character. The two bad guys are straight out of Jacob Riis photos. I can see why they didn't work for some viewers who have posted their comments, but I found them fascinating, especially the way their dark emotions were enhanced by the movie's lighting. My favorite player was Edythe Chapman, as a wealthy woman hoping to advance her husband's business.

If you can get into the spirit of 1915 in order to enjoy this film on its own level, you will find it worth your while.