Speed Devils: Racing, Garages, and Bad Decisions

Is this thing worth a look?

Honestly, only if you’re into pre-Code era fluff or you’ve got a weird itch for 1930s auto-repair drama. If you’re looking for high-octane racing, move along, because the budget clearly went into the coffee fund instead of actual stunt driving. It’s the kind of flick that feels like it was put together on a rainy Tuesday afternoon, which is either charming or exhausting depending on your mood.

Paul Kelly and Russell Hardie spend most of the runtime looking like they’re trying to remember where they parked their cars. Their rivalry starts with a crash, but it quickly devolves into a soap opera about a reporter named Pat. She’s the glue holding the plot together, mostly because she has to constantly deal with these two guys acting like toddlers over a garage contract.

The whole bit about the crooked politicians trying to strong-arm them into a kickback scheme is just... well, it's there. It’s not deep. It’s just a way to make sure the guys have something to argue about besides the girl. There's a scene in the office that drags on for an eternity, and you can practically see the actors checking their watches just out of frame.

Some of the dialogue is so stiff it sounds like they’re reading off a chalkboard. One moment in particular, where they’re arguing over the repair shop books, feels like it goes on for about 20 seconds too long. The silence between lines starts to feel less like tension and more like everyone just forgot their next cue. 😅

I couldn’t help but think about how far cinema has come since films like The Doctor's Secret or the silent grit of Frozen Justice. This movie lacks the visual weight of those. It’s just... there. It’s light, it’s forgettable, and it’s done before you can even get settled in your chair.

Odd little details:

• The way the politicians wear their hats indoors makes them look like they’re hiding something besides just graft.
• The garage set looks suspiciously clean for a place that supposedly fixes race cars.
• Marguerite Churchill is doing a lot of heavy lifting here trying to make the romance feel like it wasn't just pulled out of a hat.

It’s not a masterpiece. It doesn’t even really try to be. But if you’re the type of person who likes watching old movies just to see how people held their cigarettes or talked to their bosses in 1935, you might find a bit of fun in it. Just don’t expect a revelation. It’s just a movie about two guys who should probably spend more time working on cars and less time crying about who’s dating who. 🚗💨