I watched Chances (1931) and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. is actually great

Is it worth a watch?

If you enjoy old movies that feel like a rainy Sunday afternoon, then yes. You should watch this if you like Douglas Fairbanks Jr. or stories where everyone is very polite while their hearts are breaking. 🌧️

You will probably hate it if you need big explosions or if 1930s acting makes you want to roll your eyes. It is definitely a mood piece more than an action movie.

The movie starts out with these two brothers, Jack and Tom, back in London on leave. They are both soldiers but they couldn't be more different if they tried.

Douglas Fairbanks Jr. plays Jack, and honestly, he has this weirdly modern energy. He moves around the room like he is actually alive, while some of the other actors feel like they are made of cardboard.

Then there is Molly. Rose Hobart plays her with these massive, sad eyes that seem to take up half the screen. 👁️

The whole thing is very foggy. I know it is supposed to be London, but sometimes the fog looks like someone is just blowing cigarette smoke directly into the lens.

There is a scene in a pub that I really liked. The lighting is all dark and moody, and you can practically smell the stale ale and wet wool coats. 🍺

It reminds me a bit of the atmosphere in At the Front, but much more focused on the romance stuff. It is not trying to be a big war epic.

One thing that bugged me was how clean their uniforms stayed. They talk about the mud and the trenches, but they look like they just stepped out of a tailor shop on Savile Row.

The drama kicks in when they realize they both love Molly. It is that classic awkward dinner table vibe, but with more 1930s longing looks.

I noticed a small detail where Jack keeps fiddling with his cap. It felt like a real habit, not just a bit of acting business. 🧢

Sometimes the dialogue is a bit much. People say things like "Oh, the pity of it!" which nobody has ever said in real life, ever.

But then there are these quiet moments between the brothers that actually hurt a little to watch. You can tell they really love each other, which makes the whole "loving the same girl" thing suck even more.

It is definitely better than The Gun Runners if you are looking for something with actual feelings. It doesn't just rely on the setting to do the work.

A few things I wrote down while watching:

• The sound of the rain is weirdly loud in some scenes and totally gone in others.
• Douglas Fairbanks Jr. has a very impressive mustache situation going on.
• The mother character is extremely dramatic. Like, lady, calm down a bit.
• There is a shot of a wet pavement that looks genuinely beautiful.

The middle part of the movie drags a little. They spend a lot of time talking in rooms about things we already figured out ten minutes ago.

I think the director, Allan Dwan, was trying to make us feel the claustrophobia of their situation. Or maybe they just didn't have the budget for more outdoor sets. 🎬

There is this one reaction shot of Tom that lingers for way too long. He just stares into space until it starts to feel like the film might have jammed in the projector.

It is much more of a person-to-person story than something like Martha. It stays small and tight.

The ending gets pretty heavy. It stops being a polite romance and starts being a war movie very quickly.

I won't spoil it, but it feels earned. Even if it is a bit sappy by today's standards, it worked on me.

I left the movie feeling a bit bummed out, but in a good way. Like I had just read an old letter I found in an attic. ✉️

It’s a solid little film. Not a masterpiece, but it’s got heart and that goes a long way for me.