Speed Limited: A Vegas romp that loses its way

Is it worth your time?

If you like old-school, black-and-white B-movies where the plot moves like it's stuck in molasses, you might find some charm here. If you prefer stories that actually make sense, stay away. This is strictly for the folks who dig 1930s curiosities and don't mind a little confusion.

The whole thing feels like it was written on a cocktail napkin between drinks at a casino. We've got a wealthy socialite who just ditched her husband, and suddenly she's rubbing elbows with a lady gangster. Why? Who knows. It just happens.

Evelyn Brent is doing her best to carry the weight of the film, but she looks bored, honestly. She’s playing this criminal mastermind like she’s just waiting for her lunch break. I can’t blame her.

The Vegas thing

It’s funny to see Vegas portrayed in this era. There’s no neon excess or massive hotels. It’s just dusty roads and people talking too fast. It’s almost like a different planet compared to what we think of now.

There is this one scene in a hotel room where the framing is so tight you can see the actor trying not to bump into the microphone boom. It’s painfully obvious. It’s moments like that which make me realize nobody was really watching the monitor during the take.

If you’ve seen Mother's Cry, you know how good a classic drama can look when it has a point. This? This doesn't have a point. It’s just people walking through doors and saying lines that don't really lead anywhere.

Random Thoughts

• The G-Man character is so wooden I’m surprised he didn’t catch fire from the studio lights.
• Claudia Dell looks like she’s having a great time, even if her character makes zero sense.
• The pacing is... well, it isn't really pacing. It's just a series of things happening until the credits roll.

I kept waiting for the tension to kick in. It never did. The stakes feel like they’re buried under a pile of cheap sets and bad lighting. It’s just kind of there.

I’ve sat through a lot of old crime flicks, and this one feels like the cousin of The Ghost Train but without any of the spooky fun. It’s a total snooze fest, unless you’re really into seeing how they did interior shots back then. Which, to be fair, I kind of am. But don't expect a masterpiece. 🥱