The Chance of a Lifetime

Infobox_Film
name = The Chance of a Lifetime

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caption = Film poster
writer = Jack Boyle
Paul Yawitz
starring = Chester Morris
Erik Rolf
Jeanne Bates
director = William Castle
producer = Wallace MacDonald
music = Stock Music Used
cinematographer = Ernest Miller distributor = Columbia Pictures
released = October 26 1943
runtime = 65 min.
imdb_id = 0035726

"The Chance of a Lifetime" is a crime drama starring Chester Morris, Erik Rolf and Jeanne Bates made in 1943. It is one of 14 films made by Columbia Pictures involving detective Boston Blackie, criminal turned detective. This film is William Castle's directorial debut.

Plot

Boston Blackie helps the war effort by getting prisoners released on parole to help in a WWII manufacturing factory. The prisoners chosen have to be "good prisoners" who want to support America's war efforts. 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 Pictures had their own "in house" detective series. Boston Blackie films were taught, compact and entertaining "B" crime films 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 Boston Blackie's 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

Criticism

*Leonard Maltin said that 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".
* [http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/movie.html?v_id=130131 Hal Erickson of the All movie Guide] 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".

Availability

There have been no official Columbia VHS or DVD releases of any of the Boston Blackie Films, but there are bootleg VHS and DVD-R versions available via internet auction sites for several of these films.Facts|date=July 2007

External links

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