''The Speed Classic'' is a 1928 American silent

action film The action film is a film genre that predominantly features chase sequences, fights, shootouts, explosions, and stunt work. The specifics of what constitutes an action film has been in scholarly debate since the 1980s. While some scholars such as D ...

directed by

Bruce M. Mitchell Bruce M. Mitchell (November 16, 1883 – September 26, 1952) was an American film director and writer active during the silent film era from 1914 to 1934. With the advent of sound films in the 1930s, Mitchell abandoned directing and became an a ...

and starring

Rex Lease Rex Lloyd Lease (February 11, 1903 – January 3, 1966) was an American actor. He appeared in over 300 films, mainly in Poverty Row Westerns. Biography Rex Lease arrived in Hollywood in 1924. He found bit and supporting parts at Film Booki ...

Mildred Harris Mildred Harris (November 29, 1901 – July 20, 1944) was an American stage, film, and vaudeville actress during the early part of the 20th century. She began her career in the film industry as a child actress at age 10. She was also the first w ...

and Mitchell Lewis.

Synopsis

A young man obsessed with cars is dumped by his girlfriend, and goes on a binge in

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

where he ends up in jail. His girlfriend has a change of heart and gets his released in time to compete in a major car race.

Cast

as Jerry Thornton *

as Sheila Van Hauten * Mitchell Lewis as Mr. Thornton *

James Mason James Neville Mason (; 15 May 190927 July 1984) was an English actor. He achieved considerable success in British cinema before becoming a star in Hollywood. He was nominated for three Academy Awards, three Golden Globes (winning once) and two ...

as Pedro de Malpa *

Helen Jerome Eddy Helen Jerome Eddy (February 25, 1897 – January 27, 1990) was a movie actress from New York City. She was noted as a character actress who played genteel heroines in films such as '' Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm'' (1917). Early years Eddy was bor ...

as Keziah Stubbs *

Otis Harlan Otis Harlan (December 29, 1865 – January 20, 1940) was an American actor and comedian. He voiced Happy, one of the Seven Dwarfs in the Disney animated film '' Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs''. This made him the earliest born actor to feature ...

as The Thirsty One * Garry O'Dell as Jonah * Jack Richardson as Speed Cop

Preservation

The film is now lost.The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Database:''The Speed Classic''
/ref>

References

Bibliography

* Munden, Kenneth White. ''The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures Produced in the United States, Part 1''. University of California Press, 1997.

External links

*
allmovie.com
1928 films 1920s action films American auto racing films English-language action films Lost American action films Films directed by Bruce M. Mitchell American silent feature films American black-and-white films Films set in Mexico 1928 lost films 1920s English-language films 1920s American films Silent American action films {{Action-film-stub