A Lady of Chance
Encyclopedia
A Lady of Chance is a 1928
silent film
directed by Robert Z. Leonard
. The film is based upon the story Little Angel by Leroy Scott
and is known for being Norma Shearer
's last silent film. Although the film was released with added dialogue scenes, Shearer can't be heard.
Soon thereafter, Dolly meets a young man named Steve Crandall, in town for a cement convention. Believing that he is a wealthy plantation owner, she flirts with him and it isn't long before he falls hard. When he proposes marriage, Dolly is shocked, but accepts his offer. She is packing to leave with Steve when Brad shows up, demanding his share of the $10,000. Once again, Dolly uses her wits to make a quick getaway.
After the wedding, Dolly and Steve take the train south, where Dolly encounters a rude surprise: Steve isn't wealthy, nor does he own a plantation (though he lives next door to one). His only "wealth" is an invention of his, an unbreakable cement, which he has yet to market. Dolly is fond of Steve, but tells him how disappointed she is and that she has no intention of sticking around. That evening, she boards a train for New York. The next morning, Steve, feeling heartbroken, returns to his room to find Dolly curled up in a chair. She has come back to him, after all.
Meanwhile, Brad and Gwen arrive in town, in order to get their share of the money. Dolly tells them there isn't any money to get, because the Crandall family isn't rich, but they don't believe her. To get rid of them, she gives them money. Meanwhile, Steve has just sold his cement formula for $100,000. Overjoyed, he rushes home and tells Dolly and his mother the news. As a result, Brad and Gwen refuse to go.
Brad and Gwen manage to infiltrate themselves into the Crandall family, to the point that Brad talks Steve into becoming his business partner. Just as Steve is about to sign the contract, Dolly intervenes. She tells Steve that the contract is nothing but a scam; she then confesses to Steve that she herself is a scam artist and that she only married him in order to fleece him of his fortune. Steve is devastated.
Dolly, meanwhile, has called the cops, who show up and immediately arrest her. Steve begs Dolly to eventually come back to him, but she says no, that he would be better off without her. Dolly is taken to prison. But Steve cannot forget her; he pays her parole and, in an improbable turn, she is released to his custody, resulting in a happy ending for both.
1928 in film
-Events:Although some movies released in 1928 had sound, most were still silent.* July 28 - Lights of New York is released by Warner Brothers. It is the first "100% Talkie" feature film, in that dialog is spoken throughout the film...
silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
directed by Robert Z. Leonard
Robert Z. Leonard
Robert Zigler Leonard was an American film director, actor, producer and screenwriter.He was born in Chicago, Illinois...
. The film is based upon the story Little Angel by Leroy Scott
Leroy Scott
Leroy Scott was an American writer of novels and screenplays. He was born in Fairmount, Indiana 11 May 1875. His father was a minister with the Religious Society of Friends. He graduated from Indiana University in 1897. His writing career began with three years experience as a reporter; he worked...
and is known for being Norma Shearer
Norma Shearer
Edith Norma Shearer was a Canadian-American actress. Shearer was one of the most popular actresses in North America from the mid-1920s through the 1930s...
's last silent film. Although the film was released with added dialogue scenes, Shearer can't be heard.
Plot
Dolly ‘Angel Face’ Morgan is a young woman working as a telephone operator. Despite her innocent looks, she is a scam artist, out to fleece any wealthy man who comes her way. At her worksite, she is noticed by two rival con artists, Gwen and Brad, who are aware of her shady past. Together, the three of them "pull a job," shaking down a wealthy man for $10,000. But then Gwen and Brad try to cheat Dolly by claiming that payment on the check was stopped -- that there is, in fact, no money to split. But Dolly knows better. She finds the wad of money hidden under Gwen's pillow and makes a quick getaway. Brad, outraged, claims that Dolly has made the worst mistake of her life.Soon thereafter, Dolly meets a young man named Steve Crandall, in town for a cement convention. Believing that he is a wealthy plantation owner, she flirts with him and it isn't long before he falls hard. When he proposes marriage, Dolly is shocked, but accepts his offer. She is packing to leave with Steve when Brad shows up, demanding his share of the $10,000. Once again, Dolly uses her wits to make a quick getaway.
After the wedding, Dolly and Steve take the train south, where Dolly encounters a rude surprise: Steve isn't wealthy, nor does he own a plantation (though he lives next door to one). His only "wealth" is an invention of his, an unbreakable cement, which he has yet to market. Dolly is fond of Steve, but tells him how disappointed she is and that she has no intention of sticking around. That evening, she boards a train for New York. The next morning, Steve, feeling heartbroken, returns to his room to find Dolly curled up in a chair. She has come back to him, after all.
Meanwhile, Brad and Gwen arrive in town, in order to get their share of the money. Dolly tells them there isn't any money to get, because the Crandall family isn't rich, but they don't believe her. To get rid of them, she gives them money. Meanwhile, Steve has just sold his cement formula for $100,000. Overjoyed, he rushes home and tells Dolly and his mother the news. As a result, Brad and Gwen refuse to go.
Brad and Gwen manage to infiltrate themselves into the Crandall family, to the point that Brad talks Steve into becoming his business partner. Just as Steve is about to sign the contract, Dolly intervenes. She tells Steve that the contract is nothing but a scam; she then confesses to Steve that she herself is a scam artist and that she only married him in order to fleece him of his fortune. Steve is devastated.
Dolly, meanwhile, has called the cops, who show up and immediately arrest her. Steve begs Dolly to eventually come back to him, but she says no, that he would be better off without her. Dolly is taken to prison. But Steve cannot forget her; he pays her parole and, in an improbable turn, she is released to his custody, resulting in a happy ending for both.
Cast
- Norma ShearerNorma ShearerEdith Norma Shearer was a Canadian-American actress. Shearer was one of the most popular actresses in North America from the mid-1920s through the 1930s...
as Dolly ‘Angel Face’ Morgan Crandall - Lowell ShermanLowell ShermanLowell Sherman was an American actor and film director....
as Bradley ‘Brad’ - Gwen LeeGwen LeeGwen Lee was an American film actress from Hastings, Nebraska. Her given name was Gwendolyn Lepinski.-Acting career:...
as Gwen - Johnny Mack BrownJohnny Mack BrownJohnny Mack Brown was an All-American college football player and film actor originally billed as John Mack Brown at the height of his screen career.-Early life:...
as Steve Crandall - Eugenie BessererEugenie BessererEugenie Besserer was an actress born in Watertown, New York of French Canadian parents, who starred in silent films and features of the early sound motion picture era, beginning in 1910.- Orphan in Canada:...
as Ma Crandall - Buddy Messinger as Hank Crandall