Second Chance (1972)

A rich stockbroker buys a Nevada ghost town as a community for people who need a second chance in life.

Director:

Peter Tewksbury

Writer:

Michael Morris

Stars:

Brian Keith, Elizabeth Ashley, Kenneth Mars

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Brian Keith	...	Geoff Smith
Elizabeth Ashley	...	Ellie Smith
Kenneth Mars	...	Doctor Julius Roth
William Windom	...	Stan Petryk
Pat Carroll	...	Gloria Petryk
Avery Schreiber	...	Roberto Gazzari
Roosevelt Grier	...	Maxie Hill
Juliet Prowse	...	Martha Foster
Ann Morgan Guilbert	...	Charlene
Mark Savage	...	Jimmy Smith
Ned Wertimer	...	Charley Whitehead
Emily Yancy	...	Stella Hill
Vernon Weddle	...	Lester Fern
Frank Parker	...	Hardin (as Brett Parker)
Robert Nichols	...	Doctor Strick

Storyline

A rich stockbroker buys a Nevada ghost town as a community for people who need a second chance in life.

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Plot Keywords:

stockbroker | second chance | nevada | ghost town | pregnant wife | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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User Reviews

Amazingly dopey...and I am not surprised it never became a TV series.

So, the story is about a successful stockbroker who is miserable and he buys a ghost town in Nevada and turns it into a community for folks deserving a second chance. Nope...doesn't sound the least bit ridiculous or contrived. No, wait, it sounds like a textbook example of ridiculous AND contrived!! Talk about starting off a movie with a huge strike against it!!! Is Brian Keith (the stockbroker) able to salvage a decent movie out of this mess of a story idea?

The town grows surprisingly fast (I'm not sure HOW) and it's peopled with a motley group of weirdos...such as a sex pervert therapist, an ex-football player, an ex-con, a crazed nut of a newspaper man and more. Most of these folks seem like caricatures instead of real people. This, combined with the embarrassing 'rap session' is reason enough to skip this dopey flick. Generally, I like installments of "The ABC Movie of the Week", but this one is really not worth your time unless you like terrible films.

Apparently someone thought this would be a great idea for a TV series. The fact that the series was never made certainly comes as no surprise to me or ANYONE who watched the film. I think the idea MIGHT have worked if it had been more serious and the characters been less annoying. But as is, it's pretty dippy.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 February 1972 (USA)

Also Known As:

Le deuxième souffle

Filming Locations:

Arizona, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Danny Thomas Productions, Metromedia Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

74 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1