I am not sure why, but there is a real cult-like love for William Haines and his films. I am shocked by the many 10s I see his films receive from reviewers. Now I am NOT saying his films are bad, but they clearly follow the exact same formula in most of them....a major reason I can't see giving any of these films 9s or 10s. They just were lazily written and repetitive. Now this is not to say some of them aren't great....a few defy the mold and work quite well...but they seem to be the exception, not the rule.
The usual formula is simple. Haines plays some sort of talented but thoroughly obnoxious guy who spends most of the movie bragging about how great he is and making passes at women. In nearly all these films he IS talented but his hubris sets him up for a major fall. And, predictably, by the end of the film the now humbled guy managed to save the day and prove he really is a stand up guy down deep. Fortunately, his redemption is a bit better than usual...a real stand out ending.
It's not a bad formula and if you see one or two of these films, you'll probably enjoy them. But the problem is that the formula was used so often that the films seem like essentially the same film. Whether he's a marine, ball player or race car driver...it's pretty much the same.
In "Speedway" he once again plays this sort of braggart. The only big difference is that here he is much more obnoxious in the way he annoys a woman into falling for him. His character clearly has no understanding of the word no....and today he'd be very likely arrested for what must have been seen as cute antics back in 1929. So back in the day, people might have enjoyed this but today with Women's Lib and the Me Too Movement, his films (especially this one) would sure raise a lot of eyebrows! It's so ironic that this piggish character was played by an openly gay actor and perhaps the studio was trying hard to overcompensate by making his characters this way.
In addition to spending most of the film annoying women, there is a bit about auto racing and this talented mechanic's loyalty to an older racer (Ernest Torrence)...though his chasing skirts is clearly the main theme in the film. He plays a guy who is all talk but has a hard time finishing anything. After disappointing everyone, can Billy manage to turn his life around and make good? What do you think?!?!
The biggest reason to see this film is the footage from the actual Indy Motor Speedway and the old racing cars. It's actually important historically...so I am glad the film has been preserved. But with Haines essentially playing a super sexual harasser, this great footage couldn't save the film for me. Worth seeing, but if you do, just be prepared to be shocked by his boorish behaviors...it's what MGM and the public apparently wanted at the time, though it sure wears very thin today.
By the way, if you do watch, note Haines' racing outfit and those of his crew...they look just like Team Rocket from "Pokemon"!
