Speed in the Gay Nineties: A dusty, clunky trip

Is it worth the watch?

Look, if you have a soft spot for silent-era slapstick and don’t mind when the plot feels like it was scribbled on a napkin five minutes before the cameras rolled, you’ll probably get a kick out of Speed in the Gay Nineties. If you need logic, pacing, or even a basic grasp of physics, stay far away. This isn't exactly Gold Heels in terms of sports drama, but it has a certain frantic energy.

The whole thing is built around Ed Martin, an inventor who is about as popular as a skunk at a picnic. The mayor wants him institutionalized because he keeps talking about flying. It’s 1890, so naturally, everyone acts like he’s practicing dark magic. The stakes are delightfully low—he just needs to win a race to show he isn't a total loon.

Watching the 'high-speed' car reach 15 miles per hour is genuinely funny. The movie treats it like it’s breaking the sound barrier. You can see the actors struggling to keep a straight face while the vehicle chugs along like a lawnmower with a bad cough. It’s charming in that “they really tried” kind of way. 🏎️

There’s a lot of running around. Like, an excessive amount. People are constantly jumping over fences or dodging the mayor’s gang in a way that feels very Looney Tunes but with more mutton chops. At one point, I lost track of why exactly they were chasing him, but it didn't really matter. The movement is the point.

It’s not as dark or weird as The Cursed Village, and it certainly lacks the polish you might find in later comedies. Some scenes just kind of end. No fade out, no transition, just *cut* to the next bit of chaos. It’s a bit jarring, but honestly, it fits the tone.

Small things I noticed:

• The mustache game in this movie is top-tier. Serious handlebar commitment.
• The race track looks suspiciously like a dirt patch behind a barn.
• There’s a guy in the background of the final act who seems to be having a much better time than the actual main actors.

The movie gets noticeably better once the race actually starts. It drops the thin pretense of a plot and just goes for pure, unadulterated nonsense. You can feel the director just throwing things at the screen to see what sticks. It’s not great art. But it’s a decent way to spend a few minutes if you’re bored.

It’s a bit like watching an old Anything Once! short, but with more coal dust. Don't go in expecting to learn anything about history or engineering. Just watch the funny hats go fast. Or, you know, 15mph fast. 🎩