“Take a Chance” (1918) starring Harold Lloyd, Bebe Daniels and ‘Snub’ Pollard / Z-View

Take a Chance (1918)

Director:  Alfred J. Goulding

Screenplay: Alfred J. Goulding

Stars:  Harold Lloyd, Bebe Daniels, ‘Snub’ Pollard, Bud Jamison. 

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Harold sees a girl (Bebe) outside on some steps and is smitten.  Before he can make any headway, Bebe’s boyfriend, Snub, drives up. She gets in the front seat while Harold, unbeknownst to both, sneaks in the back.

Harold secretly influences Bebe and Snub into an argument.  When they arrive at the park, Harold continues to try to woo Bebe.  When two escaped convicts show up, one knocks Harold out and exchanges clothes with him as well.  When the police chasing the escaped cons show up, they see Harold in prison clothes.

The chase is on!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Don’t go in to Take a Chance looking for a sensible story… even by early film standards.  Take a Chance feels like two partial films stuck together.  The first, a romantic comedy and the second, a slapstick chase.  It’s not Harold Lloyd’s finest but at this stage in his career, Harold Lloyd wasn’t yet Harold Lloyd the silent film star.

Take a Chance (1918) rates 3 of 5 stars.