The Chance of a Lifetime
Encyclopedia
The Chance of a Lifetime is a 1943 crime
drama
starring Chester Morris
, Erik Rolf and Jeanne Bates
. It is one of 14 films made by Columbia Pictures
involving detective Boston Blackie
, a criminal-turned-detective. The film is also William Castle
's directorial debut.
factory. Those chosen have to be "good prisoners" who want to support America's war effort. As usual, there is the proverbial black sheep who immediately returns to crime after his parole. If Boston Blackie is to save this project, he has to capture the criminal and find the stolen loot.
had their own "in house" detective series. Boston Blackie films were taut, compact and entertaining "B" crime film
s with a bit of humor periodically injected into the plot.
The Chance of a Lifetime was Columbia Pictures
' sixth Boston Blackie film in the series and one of three that did not have his name in the title of the film. As with many of the films of the period, this was a flag waver to support America's efforts during World War II.
said that star Chester Morris
"brought to the role a delightful offhand manner and sense of humour that kept the films fresh even when the scripts weren't." Hal Erickson
of Allmovie said "The Chance of a Lifetime represents the first directorial effort of William Castle
, who later claimed that, saddled with a hopeless project, he made the film "work" by re-arranging the reels in the editing room."
or DVD
releases of any of the Boston Blackie
films.
Crime film
Crime films are films which focus on the lives of criminals. The stylistic approach to a crime film varies from realistic portrayals of real-life criminal figures, to the far-fetched evil doings of imaginary arch-villains. Criminal acts are almost always glorified in these movies.- Plays and films...
drama
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
starring Chester Morris
Chester Morris
Chester Morris was an American actor, who starred in the Boston Blackie detective series of the 1940s.-Career:...
, Erik Rolf and Jeanne Bates
Jeanne Bates
Jeanne Bates was an American radio, film and television actress. She signed a contract with Columbia Pictures in 1942 which began her career in films both in bit parts and larger roles.-Career:...
. It is one of 14 films made by Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
involving detective Boston Blackie
Boston Blackie
Boston Blackie is a fictional character created by author Jack Boyle . Originally a jewel thief and safecracker in Boyle's novels, he became a detective in adaptations for films, radio and television—an "enemy to those who make him an enemy, friend to those who have no friend."-Literature:Jack...
, a criminal-turned-detective. The film is also William Castle
William Castle
William Castle was an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. Castle was known for directing films with many gimmicks which were ambitiously promoted, despite being reasonably low budget B-movies....
's directorial debut.
Plot
Boston Blackie helps the war effort by getting prisoners released on parole to help in a World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
factory. Those chosen have to be "good prisoners" who want to support America's war effort. As usual, there is the proverbial black sheep who immediately returns to crime after his parole. If Boston Blackie is to save this project, he has to capture the criminal and find the stolen loot.
Production
As with the other studios, Columbia PicturesColumbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
had their own "in house" detective series. Boston Blackie films were taut, compact and entertaining "B" crime film
Crime film
Crime films are films which focus on the lives of criminals. The stylistic approach to a crime film varies from realistic portrayals of real-life criminal figures, to the far-fetched evil doings of imaginary arch-villains. Criminal acts are almost always glorified in these movies.- Plays and films...
s with a bit of humor periodically injected into the plot.
The Chance of a Lifetime was Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
' sixth Boston Blackie film in the series and one of three that did not have his name in the title of the film. As with many of the films of the period, this was a flag waver to support America's efforts during World War II.
Cast
- Chester MorrisChester MorrisChester Morris was an American actor, who starred in the Boston Blackie detective series of the 1940s.-Career:...
as Boston Blackie - Erik Rolf as Dooley Watson
- Richard Lane as Insp. John Farraday
- George E. StoneGeorge E. StoneGeorge E. Stone was a Polish-born American character actor in movies, radio, and television.-Career:Stone's slight build and very expressive face first attracted attention in 1927, in the popular silent-film romance Seventh Heaven...
as The Runt - Lloyd CorriganLloyd CorriganLloyd Corrigan was an American film actor, producer, screenwriter and director who began working in films in the 1920s...
as Arthur Manleder - Arthur HunnicuttArthur HunnicuttArthur Lee Hunnicutt was an American actor known for his portrayal of wise, grizzled, old rural characters...
as Elwood "Tex" Stewart - Pierre WatkinPierre WatkinPierre Watkin was an American actor. He was a character actor in many films, serials and TV series from the 1930s through the 1950s, especially westerns...
as Gov. Rutledge - Douglas FowleyDouglas FowleyDouglas Fowley was an American movie and television actor.Fowley was born Daniel Vincent Fowley in The Bronx, New York. The 5'11" actor is probably best remembered for his role as the movie director Roscoe Dexter in Singin' in the Rain . The actor appeared in over 240 films and later in dozens of...
as Nails Blanton - Sid MeltonSid MeltonSid Melton was an American actor known for his roles as incompetent carpenter Alf Monroe in the CBS sitcom Green Acres and as Uncle Charlie Halper, proprietor of the Copa Club, in Make Room for Daddy and its spin-offs.Born as Sidney Meltzer in Brooklyn, New York, he was the brother of screenwriter...
as "Sunny" Hines - Walter SandeWalter SandeWalter Sande was an American actor, notable for film roles including Paul Revere in Walt Disney's Johnny Tremain....
as Detective Sgt. Mathews - Haarry Semels as Jerome "Egypt" Hines
- Ray TealRay TealRay Teal was an actor who appeared in more than 250 movies and some 90 television programs in his 37-year career. His longest running role was as Sheriff Roy Coffee on NBC's most successful western, Bonanza...
as The Cop "Joe"
Reception
Critic Leonard MaltinLeonard Maltin
Leonard Maltin is an American film and animated film critic and historian, author of several mainstream books on cinema, focusing on nostalgic, celebratory narratives.-Personal life:...
said that star Chester Morris
Chester Morris
Chester Morris was an American actor, who starred in the Boston Blackie detective series of the 1940s.-Career:...
"brought to the role a delightful offhand manner and sense of humour that kept the films fresh even when the scripts weren't." Hal Erickson
Hal Erickson
Harold James Erickson was a relief pitcher who played briefly for the Detroit Tigers during the season. Listed at 6' 5", 230 lb., he batted and threw right-handed....
of Allmovie said "The Chance of a Lifetime represents the first directorial effort of William Castle
William Castle
William Castle was an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. Castle was known for directing films with many gimmicks which were ambitiously promoted, despite being reasonably low budget B-movies....
, who later claimed that, saddled with a hopeless project, he made the film "work" by re-arranging the reels in the editing room."
Availability
There have been no official Columbia VHSVHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
or DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
releases of any of the Boston Blackie
Boston Blackie
Boston Blackie is a fictional character created by author Jack Boyle . Originally a jewel thief and safecracker in Boyle's novels, he became a detective in adaptations for films, radio and television—an "enemy to those who make him an enemy, friend to those who have no friend."-Literature:Jack...
films.