Speedway (1929) Review - Does William Haines ever stop talking?

If you're in the mood for something that feels like a time capsule of 1929, Speedway is probably worth your afternoon. 🏎️

It’s perfect for people who love seeing how movies used to handle "fast" action before CGI existed. If you can’t stand leads who are basically human personifications of a headache, you might want to skip it.

William Haines is the star here. He plays Bill Whipple, a guy who is *very* sure of himself.

Haines has this specific energy where he's always smirking. Like he knows a joke that you aren't invited to hear.

Sometimes it’s charming. Other times, you kind of want someone to throw a wrench at him.

The movie is set around the Indianapolis 500. This is the best part, honestly.

The footage of the actual cars is incredible. They look like giant metal bathtubs with wheels attached.

You can see the dust kicking up into the drivers' faces. They aren't wearing much protection, just those little leather caps and goggles.

It makes modern racing look like a video game. There’s a weight to these machines that you can almost feel through the screen.

Anita Page plays Patricia, the love interest. She’s fine, but the script doesn't give her much to do besides look worried or impressed by Bill.

Her eyes are huge. In some of the close-ups, she looks like she’s from a completely different movie than the gritty racing stuff.

There is a lot of "skullduggery" promised in the plot. Basically, some guys are trying to mess with the race results.

It’s not exactly a complex mystery. You can tell who the bad guys are because they look like they’ve never smiled in their lives.

The movie transitions between silent parts and talking parts. It’s one of those "part-talkies" from the era where the tech was still a bit clunky. 🎙️

Sometimes the sound feels a bit disconnected. It’s like the voices are hovering a few inches away from the actors' mouths.

If you’ve seen The Man on the Box, you know Haines likes to play the lovable jerk. He really leans into it here.

There’s a scene where he’s working on an engine and he’s just talking non-stop. It’s impressive how much dialogue they crammed in there.

I noticed a guy in the background of one of the garage scenes who looks genuinely confused. He’s just holding a bucket and staring at the camera for a second too long.

It’s those little mistakes that make these old movies feel alive. It wasn't all polished to death by a thousand editors.

Karl Dane and Polly Moran handle the comedy. It’s very 1920s slapstick.

Some of it is funny, but a lot of it is just people falling over or making weird faces. It drags the pace down a bit when you just want to get back to the track.

The pacing is a bit weird. It feels like two different movies glued together.

One movie is a serious look at the dangers of early racing. The other is a loud comedy about a guy who won't shut up.

The "skullduggery" subplot feels a bit thin. It’s mostly there to give Bill something to do besides drive in circles.

I found myself more interested in the way they filmed the pit stops. Everything looks so manual and heavy.

Compared to something like The Silent Flyer, the action here feels a bit more grounded. It’s less about stunts and more about the grind of the race.

There’s this one shot where a car swerves near the edge of the track. It looks genuinely dangerous.

You realize these actors (or their doubles) were actually out there in the heat. There’s no green screen to save them if things go wrong. 🏁

The ending is exactly what you think it is. It doesn't try to surprise you.

But that’s okay. Sometimes you just want to see the cocky guy win the race and get the girl.

It reminds me a bit of the vibe in The Great Divide, where everything feels very big and dramatic for no reason.

Is it a masterpiece? No. But it's got a lot of heart.

The sound of the engines is surprisingly beefy for a movie this old. It’s got a low growl that hits you in the chest.

I wish Anita Page had more scenes where she wasn't just reacting to Bill. She’s a great actress, but she’s basically furniture here.

One thing that’s really striking is the crowd. Thousands of people in suits and hats sitting in the sun.

They look so formal compared to how we dress for sporting events now. It’s a weird detail to get stuck on, I know.

The movie gets way better in the last twenty minutes. Once the actual race starts, the talking stops and the drama takes over.

You can see the sweat on Haines' face. For a moment, he stops smirking and actually looks like a guy who’s scared he might die.

That’s the best acting he does in the whole thing. The silence works better for him than the dialogue does.

If you see this on a streaming service or a late-night channel, give it a shot. Just be ready for a lot of 1929-style "sass."

It’s a bit messy, but it’s got a personality. Which is more than I can say for a lot of modern blockbusters. 🎥

I wonder if the real Harry Hartz found Haines as annoying as I did. He’s in the movie too, playing himself.

He mostly just stands there looking like a professional. It’s a funny contrast.

Anyway, Speedway is a decent ride. Just don't expect it to change your life.