moonspinner55 RKO's first foray into 3D is a rather dire star-vehicle for Robert Mitchum and Linda Darnell. Gangster's girl in South America, anxious to turn herself over to the police and release incriminating evidence to Washington officials against her boyfriend, instead finds herself on the run from the mobster's murderous stooge (whom she's also apparently been involved with!). She uses a smitten professional boxer from the States to get the thug off her tail, but he's relentless and they all end up in a crippled cable car suspended perilously over the valley. Muddled script by Oscar Millard and Sydney Boehm, from D.M. Marshman Jr.'s original treatment, makes a particular mess of the relationship between breathless Darnell and good-guy Mitchum (she's such a complete blank anyway, it's confounding why Mitchum would even give her the time of day). The climax is well-directed (if visually unconvincing), there's a colorful wedding celebration with fireworks, and Jack Palance is a menacing heavy. ** from ****

jjnxn-1 A standard tale of a woman in jeopardy and on the run aided by a handy tall, dark and handsome stranger but the stars make it worth checking out. Robert Mitchum and Linda Darnell have an excellent chemistry, a shame that they only made this one film together. Actually their costarring was not planned, Susan Hayward was originally scheduled to appear but Howard Hughes had a revealing wardrobe in mind to exploit the leading lady's figure in 3-D, Susan found it distasteful and backed out and Linda stepped in. The wardrobe ended up not being used since Hughes wasn't upfront with Linda either and she likewise refused the costuming so between the censors and she he backed down and her clothes are flattering without being overly revealing.The story may be standard but it is shot in some beautiful locations in gorgeous Technicolor and moves at a good pace with a suspenseful climax. It also has a fine villain in Jack Palance whose granite features were ideally suited to being a bad guy. Probably very impressive in the original 3-D this still has some impressive shots that give you an idea of what the audiences in the 50's saw. A good compact thriller that's worth your time.

marcslope Pretty good suspense-noir-romance in 3D, not quite an A and not quite a B, with prizefighter Robert Mitchum agonizing over having killed a rival in the ring (shades of Golden Boy) while he pursues moll Linda Darnell, who is pursued by amorous hit man Jack Palance, all running around streets in unnamed Mexican tourist towns. The racial stereotyping is a bit thick, and the screenplay isn't exactly overflowing with fresh situations or good lines. But there's plenty of local color, and an exciting climax aboard a disabled cable car. The stunts are impressive, Darnell's typically beautiful, and Bob Mitchum doing his sexy-laconic-sarcastic thing was always something to behold.

Neil Doyle 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.