Movie spotlight
Speedway
Bill Whipple is a happy-go-lucky mechanic for MacDonald who thinks that he is the worlds greatest driver and lover. Mac has treated Bill like a son since he took him in. One day at the track, Bill sees Pat Bannon, and tries his best to impress her, but to no avail. On his way to catch a flight, he tricks Pat into taking him to the airport and she gets even by taking him up in a plane. He hates to fly, but will not show her that he is afraid and when the plane breaks up, he is a hero for rescuing her. This gets him publicity and Renny offers him his car to drive in the Indianapolis 500. Bill breaks with Mac to drive the car and puts it on the pole for the race. Then Renny double crosses Bill and plans to drive the car himself since Bill has tuned it so well.
Insights
Plot Summary
A likable garage mechanic and amateur race car driver, Johnny Devereaux, falls for Susan McCallahan, the daughter of a wealthy businessman who disapproves of his fast-paced lifestyle. Johnny gets into trouble with the law and is forced to prove his worth by winning a crucial race to save his reputation and win Susan's heart.
Critical Reception
Speedway was a modest success at the box office and received generally positive reviews from critics of its time, who praised its energetic performances and blend of romance and racing action. It is considered a representative example of early sound film comedy-drama.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its lively pace and William Haines's charismatic performance.
The blend of romance and racing action was seen as engaging for audiences.
Considered a good example of early talkie entertainment.
Google audience: Audience reception information from Google is not readily available for this early film.
Fun Fact
Speedway was one of the early features to utilize synchronized sound, incorporating musical numbers and dialogue, which was a significant technological advancement for films at the time.
AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources