Top Speed: A Whiff of Old Hollywood Silliness 🎩

Alright, so Top Speed. Is it worth tracking down today? Well, if you’re someone who genuinely enjoys the quirks of early talkies, the kind of person who finds charm in a slightly slower pace and broad physical comedy, then yeah, give it a whirl. It's a peek into 1930s cinematic sensibilities. But if you’re expecting modern pacing, sleek visuals, or anything remotely subtle, you’ll probably be utterly baffled. This one’s definitely not for everyone, bless its heart.

The whole thing is built around Joe E. Brown playing Elmer Peters, an order clerk who just wants to win over Laura Lee’s character, Babs. Her family, naturally, expects someone with a bit more… *oomph* financially. So Elmer, in a move that only makes sense in a screwball comedy, decides to pretend he’s a millionaire. A golf-playing millionaire, no less. You just know this is going to go south, and fast. 🤦‍♂️

Brown, he’s got this incredible rubber face. Seriously, it's his superpower. There’s a scene where he’s trying to look sophisticated at a fancy dinner, and his eyes just dart around like he’s expecting the butler to suddenly ask him for a calculus equation. You can almost feel the sweat. It's not dialogue that sells these moments; it's just pure, unadulterated facial panic.

The plot, such as it is, really kicks into gear when Elmer gets tangled up with a real millionaire, played by Frank McHugh. McHugh, always a solid character actor, brings a nice dose of exasperation to the whole affair. Their interactions are probably the strongest parts. It’s a classic mistaken identity setup, with Elmer trying to keep all his stories straight, and failing spectacularly.

There's this one bit involving a speedboat race — hence the title, I guess? — where Elmer is just wildly out of his depth. The special effects for the water? Let’s just say they haven’t aged like fine wine. More like a very enthusiastic splash in a bathtub. But the sheer *joy* Brown puts into his flailing, it kinda makes you forgive the obvious trickery. You get the sense he’s just having a blast.

Laura Lee, as Babs, is charming enough, but she’s mostly there to be the sweet, slightly oblivious love interest. Her job is to look pretty and occasionally deliver a line that sets up Elmer’s next predicament. It’s a common role for women in these types of films from that era, I guess. She doesn’t get a ton to do, but she plays it straight, which helps ground Elmer’s antics a little.

What really strikes you, watching these old films, is the pacing. It's not *slow* exactly, but it has a different rhythm. There are moments where the camera just holds on someone, maybe for a reaction, maybe because they just didn't cut as fast back then. One specific shot, of an elderly woman in the background during a party, just kinda staring blankly at the proceedings. It stuck with me. Who was she? What was she thinking? Probably just waiting for her cue.

The film doesn't try to be anything it isn't. It's a lighthearted comedy, made to get some laughs from a simple premise. The dialogue is snappy in places, very much of its time. You get these slightly convoluted verbal misunderstandings that feel very theatrical, like they’re straight from a stage play. Which, many times, they were.

I also appreciated the very specific details. Like the patterns on some of the wallpaper in the 'millionaire's' house. So intricate, you could spend a good minute just looking at them. Or the way the men's suits are tailored; so crisp, even when Brown is making a mess of everything.

Is it a masterpiece? No. Is it a forgotten gem? Probably not that either. But it is a genuinely *fun* watch if you’re in the right mood and appreciate cinematic history. It's a window into a different time, with a very specific kind of humor. And sometimes, that’s exactly what you need. Just some good, honest, slightly goofy fun. 🥳

Didja notice?

• The amount of hats on display is truly something. Everyone had a hat!
• George 'Gabby' Hayes, barely recognizable without his later Western beard, still has that distinct voice.
• The 'swimming pool' scene looks less like water and more like a very thick, blue jelly.
• One of the golfers swings so awkwardly, it's almost a character beat in itself.
• The applause track after some of the jokes feels so *inserted*. Classic early sound.