One of the earliest surviving DeMille films, THE GOLDEN CHANCE is one of his society dramas, here starring Wallace Reid and Cleo Ridgely. Cleo plays a judge's daughter who elopes with what turns out to be a violent, no account thief who spends what little money there is on booze and has her living in a squalid apartment house. In desperation for money, Cleo takes a job as a seamstress with a rich couple, the Hilarys. The matron is impressed with Cleo's poise and learns Cleo has a good background despite her current address. That very night, the Hilarys are hosting a dinner in honor of a millionaire (Wallace Reid) whom the husband hopes to sign up for a business venture. When the young socialite the wife wanted to pair up with millionaire at the dinner cancels at the last minute, in desperation she gets Cleo to fill in for her. Reid proves to be quite taken with Cleo at the dinner and the couple persuade him to stay for the weekend insisting Cleo (who reluctantly goes along with their plans due to her poverty) will also be there. Wallace Reid falls hard for Cleo who can't help respond to his kindness and gentlemen ways after her time with her brute of a husband. And those dreamy eyes and broad shoulders don't hurt either.
Meanwhile, Cleo's husband Steve is planning a break in at the very home she is staying at, unknown to either of them, after jewels. Eventually, all hell breaks loose. The movie's ending is rather abrupt and does not end in the expected romantic clinch probably due to the distaste some in the era might have that a married woman would find happiness elsewhere, even with having a violent mug of a husband, but it leaves a respectable door open that clears the way for our lovebirds presumable future happiness off-screen.
This is an average silent melodrama and probably would not appeal to those who don't care for silents. The story has more holes than Cleo's well-worn shoes and quite a number of absurd bits. How nice the matron has a dress - AND SHOES - that can fit last minute invite Cleo. How did well-bred Cleo ever get tangled up with a cardboard hoodlum like her husband? Wallace Reid not only falls in love at first sight but pronounces Cleo marriage material by day two. Steve hides from Mrs. Hilary at the house - behind Cleo! Steve doesn't hesitate to pull a gun on Cleo and threaten her but curiously takes his time to pull it on Wallace when he is caught in the house. Most outrageous is when the police raid the apartment building where Steve and Cleo live on at least the second floor Steve is shot as he tries to get away on the fire escape and falls from the window to the ground. The police then carry him up to his apartment for him to die in his bed!! Some of these incredible bits probably drew laughs at their absurdities even back in 1916.
Cleo Ridgely is a pleasant screen performer who evokes sympathy and light charm if not quite the bewitching beauty that might instantly captivate a heartthrob of a millionaire like Wallace Reid. Reid is attractive and still projects the charisma that made quite a few lady moviegoers hearts flutter way back when and gives a good performance in an undemanding role. The supporting cast does well although as stated earlier Horace B. Carpenter's Steve character is such a cartoonish villain he would probably twitch his mustache if he had one. It's nice to see this film still exists even if it is a rather unmemorable programmer.
Meanwhile, Cleo's husband Steve is planning a break in at the very home she is staying at, unknown to either of them, after jewels. Eventually, all hell breaks loose. The movie's ending is rather abrupt and does not end in the expected romantic clinch probably due to the distaste some in the era might have that a married woman would find happiness elsewhere, even with having a violent mug of a husband, but it leaves a respectable door open that clears the way for our lovebirds presumable future happiness off-screen.
This is an average silent melodrama and probably would not appeal to those who don't care for silents. The story has more holes than Cleo's well-worn shoes and quite a number of absurd bits. How nice the matron has a dress - AND SHOES - that can fit last minute invite Cleo. How did well-bred Cleo ever get tangled up with a cardboard hoodlum like her husband? Wallace Reid not only falls in love at first sight but pronounces Cleo marriage material by day two. Steve hides from Mrs. Hilary at the house - behind Cleo! Steve doesn't hesitate to pull a gun on Cleo and threaten her but curiously takes his time to pull it on Wallace when he is caught in the house. Most outrageous is when the police raid the apartment building where Steve and Cleo live on at least the second floor Steve is shot as he tries to get away on the fire escape and falls from the window to the ground. The police then carry him up to his apartment for him to die in his bed!! Some of these incredible bits probably drew laughs at their absurdities even back in 1916.
Cleo Ridgely is a pleasant screen performer who evokes sympathy and light charm if not quite the bewitching beauty that might instantly captivate a heartthrob of a millionaire like Wallace Reid. Reid is attractive and still projects the charisma that made quite a few lady moviegoers hearts flutter way back when and gives a good performance in an undemanding role. The supporting cast does well although as stated earlier Horace B. Carpenter's Steve character is such a cartoonish villain he would probably twitch his mustache if he had one. It's nice to see this film still exists even if it is a rather unmemorable programmer.