Car 99: A Fast-Paced Cop Drama From a Different Era

Is it worth your time?

If you've got a soft spot for 1930s crime pictures where everyone talks fast and drives faster, you'll probably get a kick out of Car 99. It’s snappy, clocking in at a brisk runtime that doesn't overstay its welcome. If you need your movies to have modern pacing or deep emotional layers, you might find the whole thing a bit thin. It’s basically a B-movie with a badge and a megaphone. 🚔

Fred MacMurray is in this, looking young and earnest. He plays Ross Martin, the fresh-faced rookie who clearly hasn't learned that holding a prisoner with one hand is a bad idea. His transition from eager kid to disgraced officer happens so quickly it almost gives you whiplash. One minute he’s signing up for the job, the next he’s dropping the ball on the biggest crook in the state.

The middle section of the film feels like it was put together with a lot of kinetic energy and very little sleep. There's a lot of driving. So much driving. The car interiors feel tight, almost claustrophobic, and you can hear the tires screeching on the pavement even when the audio quality is a bit crackly. It reminded me a little bit of the chaotic energy found in The Live Wire, where things just sort of *happen* to the characters until the credits roll.

I couldn't help but laugh at the way the criminals are handled. They aren't mastermind villains; they’re mostly just guys in hats looking annoyed that they got caught. When Martin loses his man, the disappointment is played up so heavy it feels like a Greek tragedy in a Michigan parking lot. It’s dramatic, sure, but it’s the kind of drama that’s mostly just people shouting about duty and honor.

Some quick notes from the sidelines:

• The radio chatter in the police cars sounds like it was recorded inside a tin can. It’s charming, honestly.
• Ann Sheridan doesn't have a whole lot to do, but she makes the most of her scenes by looking concerned near a telephone.
• The chase sequences are surprisingly punchy for the time. No CGI, just a lot of real metal moving too fast for safety.
• There’s a moment where Martin gets suspended that feels weirdly sudden. Like the writers just wanted to get to the 'redemption' part without dealing with the paperwork of a real internal investigation.

There’s this one shot of the squad car pulling away from the curb that lingers about three seconds longer than it needs to. You just watch the exhaust fumes dissipate while the scene fades. It’s a small, weirdly quiet moment that feels like a mistake, but I kind of liked it. It feels real, in a way the big speeches don't.

Ultimately, Car 99 isn't going to change your life. It’s a relic of a time when 'police procedural' meant a radio, a gun, and a very sturdy hat. If you want to see MacMurray before he was doing darker stuff, or if you just like watching old cars careen around corners, give it a go. It won't hurt, and it’s over before you can get bored. 🏎️