Good concept, poorly executed.

A Masterpiece!

A Disappointing Continuation

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

That honor goes to Next Time We Love with Margaret Sullavan. Indeed, she specifically chose Stewart to play opposite her. What stands out here is how even in his early raw period, his naturalness before the camera stands out. Most everyone's style of acting is rather dated, but not Stewart's. This is so even in the musical he did with Eleanor Powell, Born to Dance. Not even in those early roles where he was honing his skills. He even stands out against Powell and Loy and Company in After the Thin Man, where he shows an early surprising edge. Speed demonstrates that Stewart did drunk well--see The Philadelphia Story for later confirmation of this. He's also quite sexy in some of that early stuff.

"Emery Motors" cars are being tested by race-car driver James Stewart (as Terry Martin). Although he should be wounded in the opening crash, Mr. Stewart emerges from a car unscathed. He must be invulnerable. "Woman drivers" make Stewart nervous, so he takes the driver's seat to show arriving publicist Wendy Barrie (as Jane Mitchell) how cars are created on an assembly line. "A whole lot of man and a while lot of machine make a whole lot of automobile," Stewart explains...From the engineering department, Weldon Heyburn (as Frank Lawson) also likes showing Ms. Barrie around the factory. He doesn't seem to notice the loving glances being thrown around by Una Merkel (as "Jo" Sanderson). Stewart gets his new carburetor in shape for the "Indianapolis 500" with help from comic sidekick Ted Healy (as "Gadget" Haggerty). "Speed" amounts to little more than stock footage and juvenile romance. In the end, Stewart learns "a girl can have horse sense too." *** Speed (5/8/36) Edwin L. Marin ~ James Stewart, Wendy Barrie, Weldon Heyburn, Una Merkel

After some minor, but impressive roles James Stewart was handed the lead in SPEED (1936). A typical 'B' programmer that the Major Studios used for actors to work the 'kinks' out before they were moved on to major projects. In this one Stewart plays TERRY MARTIN a talented test driver and inventor from the wrong side of the tracks. That means he is loaded down with all sorts of class warfare hang-ups that was supposed to endear him to the mid 1930s audiences. Actually in the 21st Century he just comes off as a ASS! MARTIN is working on a new SUPER CARBERATOR with his side-kick 'Gadget' Haggerty (Ted Healy). He duels for creative control with Frank Lawson (Weldon Heyburn) educated engineer and top intellect of the company and also for the romantic interest of Jane Mitchell/Emery (Wendy Barrie). 'Jo' Henderson (Una Merkel) wants Lawson, but just does not know how to go about it. Fear not, true love will conquer in the end and automotive innovation, money and success will follow, with a happy ending.The idea of a engineering miracle invention like the SUPER CARBERATOR was a typical one in the 1930s. Whether for Automobiles or Aero-Planes it promised a revolution in performance. Either by stretching a gallon of gas to a 100 miles or promising speeds (in the air) in excess of 500mph. The movies though were on the wrong track. In Germany and Sweden, fuel injection was shown as the way to go, not carburetors. Don't think so, just look under the hood of your Car!

This film was made well before Jimmy Stewart was a real headliner. And, the studios didn't yet know exactly what sort of caliber actor they had on their hands. So, they experimented with him in a variety of films--some successful, some not. This one falls in the middle and while isn't playing the sort of character you'd expect from Stewart, he isn't nearly so out of his element as he would be just a short time later in BORN TO DANCE--where he sings!!! This film is very very reminiscent of a Jimmy Cagney film from just a few years before, THE CROWD ROARS. Both are in fact pretty indistinguishable. Yes the plots differ, but they all just seem like a lot of race cars spinning around track that are obviously the result of rear projection and stunt men. Not both but not particularly good either.