Speedway

Practical-joking, annoyingly funny William Haines was one of the few silent screen stars to cross over to sound films. And, quite naturally, he brought his variation of a cocky, offbeat character right with him. He was quite good in this type of role, the abrasive anti-hero, basically out of the circle because of his arrogance, also chasing after the girl who won't give him the time of day --and winning back both his career and lady in the end.

Any other actor may not have faired as well with this type of character, but Haines was a natural and enormously popular in his day. Same scenario with SPEEDWAY, one of his best silent films; he's up to his ears in trouble, destined to enter a challenging race at the Indianapolis Speedway, and beautiful Anita Page has caught his eye.

What a tangled web Haines weaves, but it's so much fun watching the adult "Peck's Bad Boy" get in and out and back into trouble, and all with a smirk that makes you laugh. Why we will never forget Bill Haines.

Always on remastered dvd for completists. Thanks much to TCM for running these golden oldies.

Speedway (1929)

** (out of 4)

William Haines' final silent film has him playing the same type of part he did throughout the decade. In the film he plays Bill Whipple, a cocky race car driver who thinks he's the greatest thing in the world. He eventually sells out his best friend (Ernest Torrence) and gets overlooked by a girl (Anita Page) he has his eye on but soon Bill starts to realize that he's not as great as he thought. SPEEDWAY isn't a very memorable film and it's safe to say that the screenwriters simply copied earlier Haines' films as this thing doesn't offer anything original or fresh. If you really want to see Haines in a good role and film it's best to check out TELL IT TO THE MARINES or SPRING FEVER because this one here just doesn't cut it. I think when you mention Haines' name today you're going to find many film buffs who simply hate him and I can understand this. The characters he played were such jerks that it's easy to see why so many people might be turned off but in terms of a performance I thought he was terrific because of how well and easy he made this character seem annoying. It's the characters that are annoying and not Haines' himself so I can't fault his performance. I do think this film goes way too far in terms of that cockiness because even I started to really hate this guy and I couldn't care what happened to him. One example takes place when Haines walks into a restaurant and gets upset because the menu isn't clean. Fine, a bad joke. However, instead of just letting it go this scene continues to play out to the point where it's certainly not funny and you can't help but really start to hate the character because of how he's acting. Haines and Page appeared in a few films together but their chemistry here really isn't where it should be as the romance side of things never comes across. On their own both give fine performances but together there's just no spark. Torrence and Karl Dane are wasted in their supporting roles. The one interesting thing about this otherwise bland movie is that the race at the end was actually shot at the 1929 Indianapolis 500 and featured that events winner Ray Keech doing some work for this picture. It's strange to note that a man was killed during this actual race and that Keech himself would be killed during another race seventeen days later. Being able to see the actual event and how it looked in 1929 was certainly the highlight of the movie and the only real reason to watch this otherwise forgettable picture.

SPEEDWAY (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1929), directed by Harry Beaumont, stars William Haines in a typical race car story in typical William Haines fashion. With William Haines in the cast, the story revolves around two characters, William Haines and his portrayed character, Bill Whipple, which equals to William Haines. Aside from this being his final silent movie, SPEEDWAY is also notable for actual participation of world famous drivers with actual race car sequences through the cooperation of the Indianapolis Speedway Association.

Opening title: "According to Bill Whipple's impression of Bill Whipple, nobody had anything on Bill Whipple but Bill Whipple." Plot development focuses on Bill Whipple (William Haines), a top mechanic for the Indianapolis Speedway, assisted by Dugan (Karl Dane), his mechanical friend. Bill has a close relationship with Jim MacDonald (Ernest Torrence) and his wife (Eugenie Besserer), who treat Bill more like a son than a close friend. Mac, also a race car driver who's big dream since 1911 is to win the annual 500 mile decoration day racing classic. Mac holds a serious grudge against Lee Renny (John Miljan), a race car rival responsible for his serious crackup in Altoona a year ago. Bill, who never takes anything seriously, meets and becomes attracted to a beautiful blonde named Patricia Manning (Anita Page) while in a diner. His brash personality turns her off, but regardless of her rejections, he refuses to give up on her. When the doctor (Alfred Allen) diagnoses Mac's heart condition and to not participate in the upcoming race, further complications ensue as Mac and Bill become rivals caused by Bill's association with Renny. Aside from race car driver Harry Hartz appearing as himself, Polly Moran makes good with her five minutes as a wisecracking waitress which males any avid film buff think of future comedienne, Patsy Kelly.

Released in the final year (1929) of the silent movie era, SPEEDWAY is accompanied by fine 1920s style orchestral scoring through much of its 76 minutes, except during the annual 500 mile decoration race where sound effects and roaring of the crowd take precedence. One amusing sequence occurs when Pat (Page) piloting an airplane in her attempt of teaching Bill (Haines) a lesson by giving him a thrill ride. Bill, who fears airplane rides, appears ill at ease one moment, to suddenly smile the next in pretense of enjoying himself as Pat faces his direction. He and Page commend each other well enough to work together again, such as an early talkie and 1929 release of NAVY BLUES. Ernest Torrence, a gruff older man with a heart of gold, never disappoints with his presence while Eugenie Besserer (best known as Al Jolson's mother in THE JAZZ SINGER (1927), offers another sympathetic and caring performance. Though MGM used the title of SPEEDWAY for another race car story in 1968 starring Elvis Presley and Nancy Sinatra, it was not a remake.

Considering its typical story with Haines annoyance or entertainment value (depending on the viewer), it's a wonder had SPEEDWAY been a talkie would the movie have had the same affect? Unseen for many years until the arrival of Turner Classic Movies cable channel in 1994, SPEEDWAY has also been made available for rediscovery on DVD. (** finish lines)

Boastful race-car enthusiast William Haines (as William "Bill" Whipple) works for mentor driver Ernest Torrence (as Jim "Mac" MacDonald), who has been trying to win the Indianapolis 500 since its inception in 1911. When Mr. Torrence is sidetracked due to a weak heart, Mr. Haines enters the race, along with mechanic pal Karl Dane (as Dugan) and rival John Miljan (as Lee Renny). Haines also romances beautiful Anita Page (as Patricia "Pat" Bonner), who helps teach him a lesson. This is your typical Haines vehicle. It is most notable as one of MGM's last silent features, and includes actual Indy 500 location footage. "Speedway" has Haines and the MGM crew in good form, but the silent era was ending. After Greta Garbo's successful "The Kiss" appeared in November, all the big stars were being heard.

****** Speedway (9/7/29) Harry Beaumont ~ William Haines, Anita Page, Ernest Torrence, Karl Dane

Love & revenge, thrills & spills. A cocky young man. A beautiful young lady. A nasty celebrity racer and a decent old driver with a bad heart. They will all come together for the great Decoration Day Race at the Indianapolis SPEEDWAY

This is a fairly typical William Haines silent comedy. He chases pretty Anita Page throughout, engaging in antics so annoying they'd get him arrested today. Haines' personality is a bit much at times, but he is never anything less than entertaining. He benefits here by much location shooting at the famous Raceway.

The supporting cast is good: Ernest Torrence & Eugenie Besserer are the old driver & his wife who've taken Haines in like a son; Karl Dane is a good-natured, if slow-witted, mechanic; John Miljan is properly repugnant as the bad guy. The ubiquitous Polly Moran scores in her one scene as a frowzy hash house waitress.