Movie spotlight
When Mark 'High Gear' Sherrod looses his nerve, the race car driver takes a job driving a taxi, but when he befriends a cute reporter and the young handicapped son of a deceased driver, he attempts to return to the track.
A struggling songwriter inherits a failing Broadway theater and must contend with gangsters who want to buy it. He falls for the show's lead dancer and together they work to save the theater and their burgeoning romance.
High Gear was a modest musical comedy of its time, receiving a generally favorable but unremarkable reception. Critics noted its energetic performances and some of its musical numbers, though the plot was considered somewhat formulaic for the era.
Praised for its lively musical numbers and energetic cast.
Criticized for a predictable storyline that leaned on common musical tropes.
Seen as a pleasant, if not groundbreaking, example of early 1930s musical cinema.
Google audience: Audience reception for High Gear is not widely documented through modern aggregate platforms. However, contemporary reviews suggest it was viewed as an entertaining diversion typical of early musical films.
None notable.
The film was part of Warner Bros.' push to capitalize on the popularity of musical comedies in the early sound era, featuring original songs by Harold Arlen and Mort Dixon.
AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources
This is a wonderful little film if you want to see some quite decent (stock footage) action scenes featuring the old cars that high speed racers used in the 1920s and 1930s. Otherwise, though, it's a rather forgettable drama about a driver ...