Second Chance (1953)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Rudolph Maté

Writers:

Sydney Boehm (writer)
D.M. Marshman Jr. (story) (adaptation)

Release Date:

18 July 1953 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller | Film-Noir | Drama

Tagline:

For the First Time--3D With Important Stars!

Plot:

Claire Sinclair is hiding in Mexico to avoid testifying against her gangster boyfriend. Her seclusion is made difficult by Cappy Gordon...

Plot Keywords:

Gangster | Beautiful Woman | 3 Dimensional

Cast

Robert Mitchum	...	Russ Lambert
Linda Darnell	...	Clare Shepperd, alias Clare Sinclair
Jack Palance	...	Cappy Gordon
Roy Roberts	...	Charley Malloy
Dan Seymour	...	Felipe
Fortunio Bonanova	...	Mandy, hotel owner
Sandro Giglio	...	Cable Car Conductor
Reginald Sheffield	...	Mr. Woburn, English tourist
Margaret Brewster	...	Mrs. Woburn, English tourist
Rodolfo Hoyos Jr.	...	Vasco, murderous husband (as Rodolfo Hoyos, Jr.)
Richard Vera	...	Pablo, Vasco's son
Maurice Jara	...	Fernando, groom
Judy Walsh	...	Maria, bride
Salvador Baguez	...	Officer Hernandez
Milburn Stone	...	Edward Dawson

Runtime:

82 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

3 Channel Stereo (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Norway:16 | Finland:K-16 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #16452)

Filming Locations:

Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Quotes:

Clare: He'll manage to get another gun in San Cristobal.
Russ: Who's going to wheel him to the store to buy it?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Mondo Lugosi (1987)

Failed noir

Claire Sinclair is hiding out in Mexico from her mob ex-boyfriend. However the arrival of violent admirer Cappy Gordon, who has been sent by his boss to stop her talking by killing her, places her in immediate danger. She turns to the open arms of boxer Russ Lambert, who admires her also, for protection. However the threat from Cappy is still present, leading to a confrontation between the two men.

When this film was released, it's was promoted on the basis that it was a 3D film, but not a gimmicky film but one with a real plot. However this feels like it may have been false advertising as I didn't see that in evidence. The film wants to be a noir and has elements of this, but really is too bright and hopeful to be a noir. Colourful both in gaudy Technicolor but also in the content. The film drags along with the central romance forming but it lacks tension – the final 20 minutes in a cable car should have been really tense (Where Eagles Dare anyone?) but is really flat and straightforward. Only twice does it get dramatic.

The characters are far too black and white to work in an attempted noir. Sinclair is supposedly a gangster's moll but never convinces me and Darnell doesn't play it well. Mitchum is OK but again his boxer is just a really good guy – even afraid to hit anyone hard because his last hard punch killed someone. Palance is also just plain bad and cowardly. There is an interesting strand because Cappy loves Claire but this is not explored and is really wasted. Palance gives his usual breathless, sneering performance and does manage some menace.

The film feels like it has been made to do the 3D thing. The plot may try to be more than just this gimmick, but it doesn't stand up. The film is distinctly average and is a bit of a let down. It may be worth watching as a novelty but as drama, noir or thriller it works well on no level.