It's hard to say why the producers of SECOND CHANCE filmed it in 3-D, since that gimmicky device wore out its welcome very quickly. At any rate, without any added frills, SECOND CHANCE is little more than a routine exercise in suspense with some colorful Mexican locales to hold interest when the plot, involving LINDA DARNELL, ROBERT MITCHUM and JACK PALANCE, enters some dull stretches. Given that the story borders on film noir territory, it might have been more sensible to photograph it in classic B&W rather than washed out color.
Darnell is the pretty damsel in distress being menaced by Palance and helped by Mitchum, an American boxer who proves himself up to the task of defending her from her jealous ex-boyfriend.
A chase with Palance on her trail, is soon interrupted by a cable car ride to a mountain top site and a pause to enjoy a Mexican festival celebrating a wedding, which seems to have nothing to do with the plot but adds some local color. George Chakiris can be seen as a bystander in the background of a Mexican dance sequence.
Mitchum looks bored most of the time, Darnell looks ravishingly lovely for all her close-ups and Palance chews whatever scenery is in sight as the villainous thug, all strictly one-dimensional roles.
The story finally gets into a higher gear with the cable car sequence at the finale. By that time, interest has wavered throughout and the payoff seems rather tame despite the struggle between Mitchum and Palance on the cable car which has a predictable ending.
Both Mitchum and Darnell deserved better material than this at this point in their careers. Nothing memorable here, strictly routine.
Darnell is the pretty damsel in distress being menaced by Palance and helped by Mitchum, an American boxer who proves himself up to the task of defending her from her jealous ex-boyfriend.
A chase with Palance on her trail, is soon interrupted by a cable car ride to a mountain top site and a pause to enjoy a Mexican festival celebrating a wedding, which seems to have nothing to do with the plot but adds some local color. George Chakiris can be seen as a bystander in the background of a Mexican dance sequence.
Mitchum looks bored most of the time, Darnell looks ravishingly lovely for all her close-ups and Palance chews whatever scenery is in sight as the villainous thug, all strictly one-dimensional roles.
The story finally gets into a higher gear with the cable car sequence at the finale. By that time, interest has wavered throughout and the payoff seems rather tame despite the struggle between Mitchum and Palance on the cable car which has a predictable ending.
Both Mitchum and Darnell deserved better material than this at this point in their careers. Nothing memorable here, strictly routine.