Take a Chance (1937 film)
Take a Chance is a 1937 British comedy sports film directed by Sinclair Hill and starring Claude Hulbert, Binnie Hale, and Henry Kendall. It depicts farcical events in the horse racing world.[1][2][3]
| Take a Chance | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Trade ad | |
| Directed by | Sinclair Hill |
| Produced by | Harcourt Templeman |
| Written by | Walter C. Hackett (play) G.H. Moresby-White D.B. Wyndham-Lewis |
| Starring | Claude Hulbert Binnie Hale Henry Kendall Enid Stamp-Taylor |
| Music by | John Reynders |
| Cinematography | John W. Boyle |
| Edited by | Michael Hankinson |
Production company | Grosvenor Films |
| Distributed by | Associated British Film Distributors |
Release date | January 1937 |
Running time | 73 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Synopsis
The cynical Richard Carfax develops a relationship with Cicely Burton, the wife of a race horse owner, in order to get inside information on a horse named 'Take a Chance' which is considered to be the favorite in an upcoming race. Her suspicious husband hires Alastair Pallivant, an incompetent tipster and part-time detective, to tail her and swears that he will scratch the horse from the race if he uncovers evidence about Carfax and his wife. Having his own private arrangement with a betting gang, Pallivant does everything he can to prevent the favourite from running. However, he encounters the equally determined Wilhelmina Ryde, a garage owner who stands to win heavily if the favorite rides to victory.
Main cast
- Claude Hulbert as Alastair Pallivant
- Binnie Hale as Wilhelmina Ryde
- Henry Kendall as Archie Burton
- Enid Stamp-Taylor as Cicely Burton
- Gwen Farrar as Lady Meriton
- Jack Barty as Joe Cooper
- Harry Tate as Sergeant Tugday
- Guy Middleton as Richard Carfax
- Kynaston Reeves as Blinkers Grayson
Production
The film was based on a play by Walter C. Hackett. It was made at Ealing Studios by the independent production company Grosvenor Films.[4][5]
References
- "Take a Chance:Overview". movies.msn.com. Archived from the original on 17 March 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
- "Take a Chance (1937)". filmsdefrance.com. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
- Sandra Brennan, Rovi. "Take a Chance (1937)". nytimes.com. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
- Wood p.92
- Goulding, Andy. "Blueprint: Review Reviews Podcasts Features Short Films Videos THE EALING STUDIOS RARITIES COLLECTION VOLUME 7". blueprintreview.co.uk. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
Bibliography
- Low, Rachael. Filmmaking in 1930s Britain. George Allen & Unwin, 1985.
- Wood, Linda. British Films, 1927-1939. British Film Institute, 1986.