''The Wonderful Chance'' (also ''The Thug'' and ''His Wonderful Chance'') is a 1920 American silent crime drama film produced by Lewis Selznick and released by

Select Pictures Selznick Pictures was an American film production company active between 1916 and 1923 during the silent era. History Selznick Pictures was founded in April 1916 by Lewis J. Selznick following his loss of control at World Film. Selznick moved p ...

. This picture stars Eugene O'Brien in a dual role and was directed by George Archainbaud. While this film survives today in several archives, it is best known for featuring

Rudolph Valentino Rodolfo Pietro Filiberto Raffaello Guglielmi di Valentina d'Antonguolla (May 6, 1895 – August 23, 1926), known professionally as Rudolph Valentino and nicknamed The Latin Lover, was an Italian actor based in the United States who starred ...

in a villain role rather than the hero. In the 1960s scenes from the film were used in the documentary ''The Legend of Rudolph Valentino'' (1961) narrated by

Graeme Ferguson Graeme Ferguson may refer to: * Graeme Ferguson (biathlete) (born 1952), British biathlete * Graeme Ferguson (filmmaker) Ivan Graeme Ferguson (October 7, 1929May 8, 2021) was a Canadian filmmaker and inventor. He was noted for co-inventing IM ...

.Progressive Silent Film List: ''The Wonderful Chance''
at silentera.com

Plot

As described in a film magazine, recently released convict 'Swagger' Barlow (O'Brien) is mistaken for Lord Birmingham (O'Brien) and is feted and dined, while the true nobleman is held by a scheming band of crooks. He falls in love with Peggy (Mansfield), the daughter of his host Parker Winton (Cook). Through the actions of Barlow, Lord Birmingham is released. Peggy, after explanations, agrees to wait for Barlow to "come back."

Cast

* Eugene O'Brien as Lord Birmingham / 'Swagger' Barlow *

Martha Mansfield Martha Mansfield (born Martha Ehrlich; July 14, 1899 – November 30, 1923) was an American actress in silent films and vaudeville stage plays. Early life She was born in New York City to Maurice and Harriett Gibson Ehrlich. She had a younger sis ...

as Peggy Winton *Tom Blake as 'Red' Dugan *

as Joe Klinsby *Joseph Flanagan as Haggerty (credited as Joe Flanagan) * Warren Cook as Parker Winton

Production

Henry Cronjager's use of the "double exposure" method to film an actor on screen in two different roles at the same time, was one of the first uses of this method. This occurs when Eugene O'Brien, in the guise of "Swagger" Barlow, interrogates himself in the persona of Lord Birmingham. Unlike the more common, and easier, method of using a split screen, the use of double exposure allows the actor to appear on the same side of the screen in both roles, in this case allowing Barlow to circle Birmingham.

Preservation

Copies of the film are in the

George Eastman House Motion Picture Collection The George Eastman Museum Motion Picture Collection in Rochester, New York comprises about 28,000 titles, including features, shorts, documentaries, newsreels, and experimental moving images. The collection is renowned for its holdings of silent f ...

and Museum of Modern Art film archive, and it has been released on DVD.

References

External links

* * *
The Wonderful Chance
' is available for free download at Internet Archive 1920 films American silent feature films Films directed by George Archainbaud Films based on short fiction American crime drama films American black-and-white films 1920 crime drama films Selznick Pictures films 1920s American films Silent American drama films {{silent-crime-drama-film-stub