Street of Chance *** (1930, William Powell, Jean Arthur, Kay Francis, Regis Toomey, Stanley Fields) Classic Movie Review 11,464

Kay Francis frequently co-starred with William Powell, first teaming in Street of Chance (1930) after producer David Selznick fought for the pairing, ending up making seven films together.

Director John Cromwell’s 1930 Paramount Pictures American pre-Code film Street of Chance is an involving version of Oliver H P Garrett’s story, based on the life of New York gambler Arnold Rothstein, here renamed John D Marsden (Powell), about brother against brother in a duel to be ace at cards. Powell is outstanding, and so is Regis Toomey as his younger brother, Babe Marsden, Kay Francis as his wife Alma, and Jean Arthur as Babe’s new wife Judith.

Howard Estabrook was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Writing, Achievement.

It is remade as Her Husband Lies in 1937.

The 1942 film Street of Chance is unrelated.

Also in the cast are Stanley Fields as Dorgan, Brooks Benedict as Al Mastick, Betty Francisco as Mrs. Mastick, John Risso as Tony, Joan Standing as Miss Abrams, Maurice Black as Nick, Irving Bacon as Harry, and John Cromwell as Imbrie (uncredited).

Street of Chance is directed by John Cromwell, runs 76 minutes, is made and released by Paramount Pictures, is written by Howard Estabrook, Lenore J Coffee, Gerald Geraghty (titles), Ben Hecht (uncredited) and Charles McArthur (uncredited), is shot in black and white by Charles Lang, is produced by David O Selznick, and is scored by John Leipold (uncredited).

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,464

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