The Fighting Chance
Cast & Crew
William Witney
Rod Cameron
Julie London
Ben Cooper
Taylor Holmes
Howard Wendell
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Horse trainer Bill Binyon and young jockey Mike Gargan are fired after they quarrel with their boss, Al Moreno, over Moreno's withholding money from Mike's paycheck. Because of the quarrel, Moreno's feisty girl friend Janet Wales, who tries to intervene on Mike's behalf, leaves him. Although the glamorous Janet impresses Mike, Bill, who is older and more jaded, warns him about money-seeking women who frequent racetracks. Lucky Jim Morrison, a wealthy stable owner in Southern California, hires Bill and Mike, and they establish solid, professional reputations while the stable becomes even more profitable. Believing that a temperamental young filly, Miss Ellen, has the makings of a champion, Mike convinces Bill and Jim to keep her. After breaking up with another rich man, Janet comes to Southern California and attracts the usually cautious Bill. She also encourages the naïve Mike's growing infatuation and he gives her racetrack tips. When Janet tells Bill that she is afraid of hurting the young jockey, Bill's advises her to avoid Mike until he has a chance to talk to him. Nevertheless, Janet continues to toy with the young man. After Mike is encouraged by an older, family-oriented jockey to express his feelings to Janet, Mike goes to her house with an engagement ring. When Mike finds Bill there, he feels hurt and betrayed, and immediately resigns from Jim's stable. Making his way to Mexico, Mike drinks, gambles and loses his competitive edge on the racetrack. After Mike's departure, the horses trained by Bill experience a losing streak. Although Janet tries to turn Bill against Mike by telling lies about him, Bill refuses to believe her stories. Later, Railbird, an old man who frequented Jim's stables, tells Mike that Jim died of heart problems and that his horses, including Miss Ellen, are up for auction. With Railbird's encouragement, Mike raises enough money to bid against Bill for Miss Ellen. After Mike wins, he admits that he bid more money than he has, and when Bill offers to make up the difference, they form an uneasy partnership. Afterward, Mike is displeased to learn that Janet and Bill have married, although he is unaware that Janet's extravagance and gambling have nearly bankrupted the couple and that their marriage is shaky. Still trying to drive the former friends apart, Janet tells Bill that Mike is still in love with her. After training Miss Ellen, Bill and Mike enter her in a race, but when she starts to hemorrhage, the veterinarian suggests that they do not race her for a while. Janet, who is counting on winning the $40,000 prize money from an upcoming race, called "The Hollywood Special," insists that the horse run. Mike heatedly argues in favor of protecting Miss Ellen's health, but Bill sides with Janet and offers to let Mike buy him out, if Miss Ellen wins. During the race, Miss Ellen starts slowly, but is picking up speed when Mike realizes that she is bleeding. Unwilling to injure her further, Mike does not push for her to win and consequently, she comes in second. Although Bill supports Mike's decision, the furious Janet slaps Mike and accuses him of throwing the race. Angry that they have lost what little money they had left, Janet says that she has only stayed with Bill for his money. Disgusted, Bill throws $40,000 worth of mutual tickets at her, which he has won by betting across the board. When she stoops to pick them up, he slaps her once with a horsewhip, and she leaves him for good. After she is gone, the veterinarian assures the reconciled Mike and Bill that Miss Ellen will recover and be able to race again.
Director
William Witney
Cast
Rod Cameron
Julie London
Ben Cooper
Taylor Holmes
Howard Wendell
Mel Welles
Bob Steele
Paul Birch
Carl Milletaire
Rodolfo Hoyos Jr.
John Damler
Sam Scar
Fred Sherman
Herbert Butterfield
Ralph Peters
Jose Gonzalez Gonzalez
Lennie Bremen
Stanley Adams
Lou Merrill
Crew
Frank Arrigo
Jean Belcher
Robert Blees
Houston Branch
R. Dale Butts
L. B. Dix
Leonard Kunody
Howard Lydecker
Theodore Lydecker
Bob Mark
John Mccarthy Jr.
William J. O'sullivan
Adele Palmer
Irving Schoenberg
Otto Siegel
Bud Thackery
Dick Tyler Sr.
Roy Wade
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The working title of the film was Man to Man.
