Excuse My Dust

When last we saw Toodles Walden, he had won the road race from Los Angeles to San Francisco. Now he has a wife and baby, but still has an itch to race, despite the admonitions of his wife Dorothy, and father-in-law J. D. Ward, a car manufacturer. Then Toodles is pulled over for speeding with his wife and infant in the car. An exasperated J. D. cooks up a scheme to prevent Toodles from driving for the next six months. J. D. Also sells off his racing cars, determined to get out of that business. But a turn of events leads him back into the sport, with the speed record from Los Angeles to San Francisco up for grabs. Naturally Toodles wants to drive in the race, but J. D. forbids it. Meanwhile, Dorothy has left Toodles and has taken their child to San Francisco. Then Toodles receives a telegram from his wife, urging him to come at once because their infant is sick. Can Toodles get to San Francisco in time, and maybe set a new record in doing so? Well, yes ... and no ... well, you'll see ...

This film is the follow-up to "The Roaring Road." The same cast returns, including Ann Little as Dorothy and Theodore Roberts as J. D. Ward. Villains Tully Marshall and Walter Long are added this time for good measure. Even Wallace Reid's actual son makes an appearance (his film debut), as the infant.

While predictable, the film is still fun, and probably a bit better than the first one. The road race is more interesting, with some good camera work and an impressive car wreck. Roberts steals the show again with his bluster and omnipresent cigar. He even gets behind the wheel of a racing car to take part in the final race.