Speedway (1929 film)

Speedway
Speedway
Directed by	Harry Beaumont
Written by	Byron Morgan (also story); Alfred Block; Ann Price; Joseph Farnham (titles)
Starring	William Haines; Anita Page; Ernest Torrence
Cinematography	Henry Sharp
Edited by	George Hively
Production; company	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Distributed by	MGM
Release date	September 7, 1929;
Running time	82 minutes
Country	United States
Languages	Sound (Synchronized); English Intertitles

Speedway is a 1929 American synchronized sound drama film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring William Haines, Anita Page and Ernest Torrence. The film has no audible dialogue but featured a synchronized musical score and sound effects. The soundtrack was recorded using the Western Electric Sound System sound-on-film process. The soundtrack was also transferred to discs for those theatres that were wired with sound-on-disc sound systems. This was Haines' last film without dialogue.

Plot

The film tells the story about a car racer who clashes with his father, also a driver, at the Indianapolis Speedway. Prior to the Indy 500 auto race, Bill Whipple quarrels with his foster father, Jim MacDonald, who is to be one of his rivals that day.

MacDonald suddenly loses his chance to drive because of a heart condition. Whipple's car owner decides to go with another driver, so MacDonald offers his car to Whipple for the race. With victory in sight, Whipple pulls into the pits and lets MacDonald take the checkered flag of victory.

Cast

William Haines as Bill Whipple
Anita Page as Patricia Bonner
Ernest Torrence as Jim MacDonald
Karl Dane as Dugan
John Miljan as Lee Renny
Eugenie Besserer as Mrs. MacDonald
Polly Moran as Waitress

Production

Much of the film was filmed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, including extensive footage of the 1929 'Decoration Day' race.

At the end of the film, it is possible to see a car accident on the track, where the vehicle overturns several times and the driver hits his head on the ground. The driver of the car, Bill Spence, died, due to head trauma. He participates in the grand prix that was taking place in Indianapolis.

References

External links

Speedway at IMDb
Speedway at the TCM Movie Database
Speedway at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films

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