"Men of Chance" is one of those romances where one or both of the parties accidentally fall in love. In this case a woman named Marthe (Mary Astor) was being used as a plant to sink Johnny Silk (Ricardo Cortez).
I'd seen both actors in other movies. Mary Astor in "The Royal Bed," "Other Men's Women," and "Behind Office Doors"--always the romantic interest. Ricardo Cortez in "Ten Cents a Dance" and also "Behind Office Doors."
Marthe was bailed out of a sticky situation in France by a man named Dorval (John Halliday). For that she was to pretend to be a countess in order to be in a romantic relationship with Johnny Silk. Johnny was a professional gambler who repeatedly beat the bookies. One bookie who had had enough was Farley (Ralph Ince). He and Dorval hatched a plan to finally sink Silk.
The phony identity worked like a charm. Johnny wasn't attracted to regular girls, no matter how pretty, but a countess was something else. Marthe pretending to be a countess was just the ticket to lure Johnny.
He had lived a charmed life to that point and he let it get to his head. As he exclaimed to Marthe, "There are three things that I know: horses, gambling, and women. Why I'd stake my bankroll on you." Yet, little did he know he was getting played.
He was so goofy he asked her to marry him after two weeks and didn't even allow her to say no. If he had half a brain he would've noted her hesitation and protestations, however soft they were. This guy wouldn't take no for an answer and it was quite unnerving. I know I'm watching through 21st century eyes, but seeing a guy make wedding plans without a full consent from the bride-to-be didn't sit well with me. And if that wasn't odd enough, Marthe was pressured by Dorval to go through with the marriage. All to avoid sixty days in jail!
Yes. When Dorval found Marthe she was being booked for vagrancy (though she hadn't done that) and she was sentenced to 60 days in jail. She was willing to sleep with Dorval to avoid the jail sentence, but Dorval didn't want that, he wanted her for his scheme involving Johnny Silk. I could almost understand a woman having sex with a stranger to avoid a jail sentence, but marriage? And for a sixty day sentence at that?? Is sixty days in a French jail so horrible that she'd agree to a lifetime commitment to avoid it???
So, Marthe agreed to marry Johnny and continued to be Dorval and Farley's plant until she fell in love. And love always complicates things.
The movie was a little of "Smart Money" (1931) starring Edward G. Robinson with a splash of "The Lady Refuses" (1931) starring Betty Compson.
Edward G. Robinson was a big time gambler who was ruined by a woman in "Smart Money," and Betty Compson played a woman hired to woo a man who fell in love with her in "The Lady Refuses." Both movies were better than this one because this was really all about money and not love. When Silk thought Marhe ruined him, he didn't love her; as soon as she restored his wealth, he loved her again. How convenient.
Free on YouTube.