Walking Back

Lightly entertaining silent film about "reckless" youth circa 1928. "1928 - and how!", introduces the film as we see a montage of Charleston dancing flappers, flowing cocktails, men boxing, and youth gone wild - we soon meet "Smoke" Thatcher, a young man who is failing three subjects in school due to his lackadaisical attitude and absolutely won't be caught dead without his flask. Smoke's biggest problem is to convince his hard-nosed dad to let him take the car so he can pick up his girl Patsy (Sue Carol) before she runs off with his rival, Pet Masters. Well, convincing dad fails - so our "bright boy" (I didn't make this name up - one of the characters calls him this later in the film) proceeds to "borrow" the neighbor's car, but finds he is too late - fickle Patsy has already gone out dancing with the rival! Next thing you know Smoke gets into a cat and mouse car slamming game against this rival - and proceeds to smash up the neighbor's car. Now what will become of him?!

Well, this film is very light fare - enjoyable and fun, it won't win any prizes, but did keep me entertained for it's hour length. Sue Carol makes an adorable flapper and plays her role to the hilt - cute as a button and full of high-spirited fun, I quite enjoyed her in this. The rest of the cast is fine too - the story is pretty tame, but there is a nicely photographed speeding car finale, giving a first person viewpoint of the car racing through the city streets. The version of this I saw featured a decent-looking print and nicely done organ score featuring such classic tunes as "Ain't We Got Fun", and the "Varsity Drag".