One More Chance (1931 film)

One More Chance is a 1931 Educational-Mack Sennett Featurette (No. S2687) starring Bing Crosby and directed by Mack Sennett. This was the second of the six short films Crosby made for Sennett and which helped launch his career as a solo performer.[1] This film is notable for Crosby first singing on film his classic hit "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams" which is sung to a bevy of giggling overweight Native American maidens who gradually close in on him.[2] He also sings "Just One More Chance" which topped the various charts of the day in 1931.[3]

One More Chance
Bing sings "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams"
Directed byMack Sennett
Screenplay byJohn A. Waldron
Earle Rodney
Harry McCoy
Lew Foster
StarringBing Crosby
Arthur Stone
Patsy O'Leary
Matty Kemp
CinematographyCharles P. Boyle
George Unholz
Edited byWilliam Hornbeck
Production
company
Distributed byFox Film
Release date
  • November 15, 1931 (1931-11-15)
Running time
20 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

Bing Bangs (Crosby) is a salesman for "Magic" washing machines and his demonstration of the machine at the beginning of the film results in disaster. Crosby later gains a transfer from Hoboken to California and he drives his wife Ethel and her Uncle Joe (who dislikes Bing) in an open car on the journey having many adventures en route. Uncle Joe presses Ethel to divorce Bing and marry a more desirable suitor called Percy Howard. Ethel, Joe and Percy are dining in a California night club when the announcer refers to the sponsor, the Magic Washing Machine Company and introduces their singer. It is Crosby and he sings "Just One More Chance" and he and Ethel reunite.[4]

Cast

Background

Six shorts were made by Crosby for Mack Sennett, of which were four filmed in a three-month period in 1931 and two in 1932. The shorts were:

Reception

Film Daily was not impressed. "Featuring Bing Crosby, the radio crooner, in a slight story that jumps all over the map and is very disconnected. The “plot” is pretty hazy, if any. Bing is a happy-go-lucky salesman for an electric washing machine who depends on his songs to sell his wares. He has the usual trouble holding his wife from the other fellow, but wins her back in the last sequence by crooning his song. Bing's crooning is okay, but as a comedian there is little to be said in his favor. Or was it the fault of the material?"[5]

Variety liked it better. "Second of the two-reelers by the radio crooner, also bearing as title one of the torch numbers he uses, the first being “I Surrender Dear.” New subject is first rate, Crosby revealing a splendid camera presence, remarkable to those who have seen his mild personal appearances on the Paramount stage....Crosby displays a capital comedy sense, plays with assurance and certainty. Subject is worth minor featuring in lieu of air popularity.[6]

Soundtrack
  • "Just One More Chance"
  • "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams"
  • "I Surrender Dear" (parody)
  • I'd Climb the Highest Mountain

References
  1. Macfarlane, Malcolm. "Bing Crosby - Day by Day". BING magazine. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  2. Wolfe, Norman (2005). Troubadour. Leeds, UK: International Club Crosby. p. 143.
  3. Whitburn, Joel (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 103. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
  4. Reynolds, Fred (1986). Road to Hollywood. John Joyce. pp. 33–34.
  5. "Film Daily". Film Daily. November 1, 1931.
  6. "Variety". Variety. December 22, 1931.
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