Street of Chance (1930 film)
- William Powell: John D. Marsden, aka "Natural" Davis
- Kay Francis: Alma Marsden
- Jean Arthur: Judith ' Babe' Marsden
- Regis Toomey: ' Babe' Marsden
Street of Chance is an American feature film with the on-screen couple William Powell and Kay Francis, directed by John Cromwell.
Action
John Marsden, known as "Natural Davis " is a well-known gambler in New York. He is now dependent on the risk and the charm that emanates from professional poker games. The game has made him rich, but at the same time is his marriage to Alma, a warm-hearted woman, on the brink. Just as Alma persuaded her husband to leave New York, is John's younger brother in trouble. The young man tried his hand at the poker table, but he does not have his brother's talent. John tried to show his brother a way out of trouble, but in the end John entangled himself in scams and finds a violent death.
Background
Kay Francis, who stood since 1929 at Paramount under contract, was at first only in supporting roles seen as Vamp or amoral woman of high society. Despite their mostly brief appearance, she was popular with the female audience, not least thanks to their ability to radiate in stirring emotional moments peace and self Mr. Chung. Then there was the ability of Francis to present themselves extravagant wardrobe with naturalness. It was David O. Selznick, who discovered that Kay Francis could also carry a lead role. He sat for the first time with William Powell, a common, whose career did not develop with the advent of sound film in the desired manner. Francis, whose agent Myron Selznick was the brother of David, always expressed himself grateful for the opportunity, which gave her the producer.
" David Selznick did more for the development of my self-consciousness than any other. He wr the only one who believed in me and zutraute lead roles. "
Powell and Francis established itself as a popular screen couple that occurred up to 1932 in six films together. For Jean Arthur, whose career was rapidly waning since the advent of sound film, the film meant the last good role under its current Paramount contract. She returned shortly thereafter returned to Broadway and should create until the mid- 1930s the rise to stardom.
The film is based on some events in the life of the then -known professional professional player Arnold Rothstein.
Criticism
In LA Evening Herald, the film was highly praised.
" The professional player is at the center of Paramount's " Street of Chance ", a good movie, which will be a candidate for the ten best films of 1930 without a doubt. "
Photoplay, then one of the most influential film magazine said, good will:
" Bill Powell's talent and Kay Francis honest representation would be the highlight of any film. "
Louella Parsons was particularly fond of Kay Francis and pointed prophetically to a very special ability of the actress out, which should contribute much to their subsequent ascent to the top star:
"But no other woman would be better than Kay Francis in the role of the wife on the canvas. She wears her clothes like a consummate professional and brings additional interest in a male-dominated story. "