''Speedway'' is a 1929 American synchronized
sound
In physics, sound is a vibration that propagates as an acoustic wave through a transmission medium such as a gas, liquid or solid.
In human physiology and psychology, sound is the ''reception'' of such waves and their ''perception'' by the br ...
drama film
In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...
directed by
Harry Beaumont and starring
William Haines,
Anita Page and
Ernest Torrence. The film has no audible dialogue but featured a synchronized musical score and sound effects. The soundtrack was recorded using the
Western Electric Sound System sound-on-film process. The soundtrack was also transferred to discs for those theatres that were wired with sound-on-disc sound systems. This was Haines' last film without dialogue.
Plot
The film tells the story about a car racer who clashes with his father, also a driver, at the
Indianapolis Speedway. Prior to the
Indy 500 auto race, Bill Whipple quarrels with his foster father, Jim MacDonald, who is to be one of his rivals that day.
MacDonald suddenly loses his chance to drive because of a heart condition. Whipple's car owner decides to go with another driver, so MacDonald offers his car to Whipple for the race. With victory in sight, Whipple pulls into the pits and lets MacDonald take the checkered flag of victory.
Cast
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William Haines as Bill Whipple
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Anita Page as Patricia Bonner
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Ernest Torrence as Jim MacDonald
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Karl Dane as Dugan
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John Miljan
John Miljan (November 9, 1892 – January 24, 1960) was an American actor. He appeared in more than 200 films between 1924 and 1958.
Biography
Born in 1892, Miljan was the tall, smooth-talking villain in Hollywood films for almost four deca ...
as Lee Renny
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Eugenie Besserer
Eugenie Besserer ( – May 29, 1934) was a French-American actress who starred in silent films and features of the early sound motion-picture era, beginning in 1910. Her most prominent role is that of the title character's mother in the first ...
as Mrs. MacDonald
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Polly Moran as Waitress
Production
Much of the film was filmed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, including extensive footage of the 1929 '
Decoration Day
Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day) is a federal holidays in the United States, federal holiday in the United States for National day of mourning, mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States ...
'
race.
At the end of the film, it is possible to see a car accident on the track, where the vehicle overturns several times and the driver hits his head on the ground. The driver of the car,
Bill Spence, died, due to head trauma. He participates in the grand prix that was taking place in Indianapolis.
See also
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List of early sound feature films (1926–1929)
This is a list of early pre-recorded sound and part or full talking feature films made in the United States and Europe during the transition from silent film to sound film, sound, between 1926 and 1929. During this time a variety of recording syst ...
References
External links
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1929 films
1929 romantic drama films
1920s American films
1920s English-language films
American auto racing films
American black-and-white films
American romantic drama films
American silent feature films
Films shot in Indiana
Indianapolis 500
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films
Silent American romantic drama films
Synchronized sound films
English-language romantic drama films
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