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Her Great Chance
(1913) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by [?] Robert Goodman?
Cast: Richard Stanton [Smith, the gambler], Mildred Bracken [Ann], Ray Gallagher [the kindly stranger]
Méliès Star Films [American] production; distributed by [?] The Vitagraph Company of America through The General Film Company, Incorporated? / Produced by Gaston Méliès. / Released 9 January 1913. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? A prospector dies suddenly before the town tavern and leaves his small daughter, Ann, to be brought up by strangers. Eleven years later finds her a western beauty, the “darling of the camp.” She can play poker with the best of them and luck will usually smile in her direction. One day while on her accustomed ride, she meets Smith, the gambler, who falls in love with her, and she, never having known a better man, reciprocates. Smith teaches her how to help him to cheat at cards, and their winnings are enormous until the game is discovered and they are obliged to fly. Smith is wounded, but Ann is aided in her escape by a kindly stranger whom she had aided in illness. He gives her a letter to friends in New York, who receive her as one of their own and educate her to refinement. After three years she is an accomplished and attractive young lady. Maurice, son of her kindly benefactors, at this time ends his long estrangement with the family and returns. It takes but one month for him to win Ann’s love, and with the old folks’ approval, the wedding is planned. The night before the ceremony Ann bears a noise downstairs, and investigating, finds a burglar, who is none other than her old lover, Smith. Recognition is instantaneous. He threatens to expose her past unless she “comes across.” Maurice comes to the rescue and ejects Smith, but the latter gives him some of Ann’s love letters. It is hard for Maurice to believe Smith’s story, but Ann confirms it and gives him the privilege of canceling the wedding. Never! Maurice loves her for herself regardless of her past, and nobly tears up the letters unread. • [From Méliès promotional materials] Fleeing from the West after an unconventional episode with Smith, the gambler, Ann, through a kindly stranger whom she had once aided, secures a home with Easterners who educate and refine her. Three years later their son is on the eve of marrying her when Smith burglarizes the house, and, caught, exposes her former lover. He offers love letters as proof, but the son loves Ann for herself and nobly tears them up unread.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 7 January 2025.
References: Thompson-Star p. 232 : Website-IMDb.
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