MYSTERY . 1919 . 1h 0m . 4.7/10

A Sporting Chance_

John Stonehouse (William Russell) checks into a hotel, intending to commit suicide. But instead he winds up helping a girl, Gilberte Bonheur (Fritzi Brunette), out of a jam. He finds her bending over a man who she has apparently killed, and since he's about to kill himself anyway, he offers to assume the blame. Throw a valuable emerald into the works, and the fact that the dead man suddenly comes back to life, and Stonehouse -- not to mention the audience -- becomes thoroughly befuddled by it all. Everything clears up, however, when Gilberte gives him a theater ticket -- it turns out that everything he went through was the plot to a stage play, enacted in real life by the actors. The critics roasted the play, saying it wasn't true to life, and this was their proof that the situations really could happen. Gilberte retires from acting when Stonehouse proposes.

Starring William Russell, Fritzi Brunette, George Periolat
4.7/10
Rating
1h 0m
Runtime
1919
Year
Updated Feb 16, 2026
A Sporting Chance poster

John Stonehouse (William Russell) checks into a hotel, intending to commit suicide. But instead he winds up helping a girl, Gilberte Bonheur (Fritzi Brunette), out of a jam. He finds her bending over a man who she has apparently killed, and since he's about to kill himself anyway, he offers to assume the blame. Throw a valuable emerald into the works, and the fact that the dead man suddenly comes back to life, and Stonehouse -- not to mention the audience -- becomes thoroughly befuddled by it all. Everything clears up, however, when Gilberte gives him a theater ticket -- it turns out that everything he went through was the plot to a stage play, enacted in real life by the actors. The critics roasted the play, saying it wasn't true to life, and this was their proof that the situations really could happen. Gilberte retires from acting when Stonehouse proposes.

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DROPTHE_ GOSSIP

Cast
William Russell stars as John Stonehouse in A Sporting Chance.
William Russell →
Year context
A Sporting Chance was released 107 years ago in 1919.
Overview
John Stonehouse (William Russell) checks into a hotel, intending to commit suicide. But instead he winds up helping a girl, Gilberte Bonheur (Fritzi Brunette...
A Sporting Chance is a Mystery, Drama, Comedy film with a runtime of 1h 0m.

DETAILS

Release
Status
Released
Runtime
60 min (1h 0m)
Country
Rating
4.7/10 (3 votes)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is A Sporting Chance about?
John Stonehouse (William Russell) checks into a hotel, intending to commit suicide. But instead he winds up helping a girl, Gilberte Bonheur (Fritzi Brunette), out of a jam. He finds her bending over a man who she has apparently killed, and since he's about to kill himself anyway, he offers to assume the blame. Throw a valuable emerald into the works, and the fact that the dead man suddenly comes back to life, and Stonehouse -- not to mention the audience -- becomes thoroughly befuddled by it all. Everything clears up, however, when Gilberte gives him a theater ticket -- it turns out that everything he went through was the plot to a stage play, enacted in real life by the actors. The critics roasted the play, saying it wasn't true to life, and this was their proof that the situations really could happen. Gilberte retires from acting when Stonehouse proposes.
How long is A Sporting Chance?
A Sporting Chance has a runtime of 60 minutes (1h 0m).
Who stars in A Sporting Chance?
The cast of A Sporting Chance includes William Russell, Fritzi Brunette, George Periolat, J. Farrell MacDonald, Lee Hill.
What is the rating of A Sporting Chance?
A Sporting Chance has a rating of 4.7 out of 10 based on 3 votes on TMDB.

GENRES (3)

Mystery Drama Comedy
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