Speed Reviews

James Stewart stars as a test driver for a large auto plant. He and his crew have developed a new high-speed carburetor and are determined to perfect it in time for the big race at the Indianapolis Speedway. While he's trying to work out the bugs in the new system, the owner's daughter, Wendy Barrie, encourages him to allow her engineer friend, Weldon Heyburn, to have a look. Heyburn helps out, but soon tension develops between the two men, who both have amorous feelings for Barrie. The day comes to test the new carburetor, but the experiment nearly ends in disaster when the car crashes, injuring driver Ted Healy and nearly asphyxiating Stewart with carbon monoxide fumes. Heyburn saves the pair, and they take the carburetor back to the drawing board. The invention refined at last, Stewart wins the plaudits and the girl. Despite a strong performance from Stewart, SPEED fails to live up to the promise of its title. The film is badly paced, relies heavily on stock footage of auto races, and practically stops dead in its tracks during a lengthy guided tour of the automobile assembly line. Nevertheless, the footage shot through the windshield of the test car at high speeds is quite effective.