Men of Chance

Men of Chance is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film directed by George Archainbaud, starring Ricardo Cortez, Mary Astor, and John Halliday.^[1][2]

Men of Chance
Directed by	George Archainbaud Tommy Atkins (assistant)
Written by	Louis Weitzenkorn
Screenplay by	Louis Stevens Eddie Welch
Produced by	William LeBaron
Starring	Ricardo Cortez Mary Astor John Halliday
Cinematography	Nicholas Musuraca
Edited by	Archie Marshek
Music by	Max Steiner
Production company	RKO Radio Pictures
Distributed by	RKO Radio Pictures
Release date	December 1931 (1931-12) (New York[1])
Running time	67 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Plot

A destitute Marthe Preston is in dire straits in Paris until gambler Richard Dorval comes to her aid. In gratitude, she agrees to a scheme of Dorval's to seduce and wed his rival, "Diamond Johnny" Silk, then help ruin Johnny's horse-racing business interests.

Marthe's inside information enables Dorval and an accomplice, bookie Joe Farley, to bribe Johnny's jockeys to deliberately lose races or to help them influence the odds. Johnny learns the truth and demands she leave. Martha has fallen in love with her husband, however, so she pretends to go along with a plot to poison Johnny's horse, double-crossing Dorval and rejoicing in Johnny's triumph.

Cast

• Ricardo Cortez as Johnny Silk
• Mary Astor as Marthe Preston Silk
• John Halliday as Richard Dorval
• Ralph Ince as Joe Farley
• Kitty Kelly as Gertie Robbins
• James Donlan as Clark
• George Davis as The Frenchman

Uncredited:

• Herman Bing as Fritz Tannenbaum
• André Cheron as French Detective
• Jean De Briac as Hotel Manager
• Tom Herbert as One of Johnny's Bookies
• John Larkin as Black Horse Handler
• Tom McGuire as Race Track Bookie
• Frank Mills as Tony - One of Johnny's Bookies

See also

• List of films about horses
• List of films about horse racing