Children of Chance

I applaud the issue of any British film of this era on DVD.. I appreciate that the materials used are subject to the depridations of time.Sadly this is the case with this film.The picture elements are in fact better than the sound elements.My hearing is not too good but even with my hearing aids in was well aware that a considerable part of the soundtrack was inaudible through distortion which of course made the following of the plot impossible for me.Great shame.

I enjoy watching the earliest talkies, full of people who had been silent films actors until very recently. I watched this film around two weeks ago and already I've forgotten much of it. So, it's not the most memorable plot -- but I remember that it's a nice farce with some good peformances. I particularly liked Mabel Poulton as Binnie's spunky friend Mollie. Too bad Poulton's career didn't survive the transition to sound.

Elissa Landi stars in a dual role, as Binnie the chorus girl and Lia de Marita, the famous model she resembles. Binnie is mistaken for the model (who's involved in the theft of a string of pearls) and is asked to audition for a new show that needs a famous name). Egged on by pal Sally (Mabel Poulton) she sings "He's My Secret Passion" and gets the job. But things get more complicated when she borrows some fake pearls from Sally, totally unaware that the real Lia has fled the country with stolen ones.

Landi is charming and does well playing both women. Poulton is fun as spunky Sally. John Stuart plays the Gordon the suitor, John Longden is Lia's partner in crime, Wallace Lupino plays Johnson the fake American, Gus McNaughton plays Zinkwell, Kay Hammond as Joyce, Hannah Jones as the landlady, and Gus Sharland as the sergeant.

Landi had a substantial starring career in 1930s films in England and Hollywood. Poulton, a major silent film star in England, quickly fell to supporting roles in talkies.