Criterion Challenge 202441. 1920sSpeedy, directed by Ted Wilde, 1924
Harold Lloyd might not be as recognizeable a name now as he was in the past alongside other silent era stuntsmen and clowns such as Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin. As Speedy, Lloyd’s stuntwork may take a bit of a backseat, but the incredible chase sequences and what little physical slapstick Lloyd is able to pull off in the film more than make up for it. The film sees Speedy fend off a streetcar tycoon intent on buying out the last horse-drawn cart in New York City. With most of the car chase action happening in the last third of the film, the film follows Speedy’s day to day life finding and losing work, spending time with his girlfriend Jane and her grandfather, and just milling about New York.
The film does a lot of fun tricks throughout that really sell the chases and give the film that good ol’ New York feel. Small attachments to the camera to mimic the hood of a car and slowing down the shutter speed on the camera in order to make things feel faster even when the cameraman is moving relatively slow in accordance with the traffic laws. Old school movie magic even make it so it’s hard to tell that the film was shot in both New York and Los Angeles. It’s just all so utterly charming all while giving a great snapshot as to the lives of the working class in a lighthearted manner
Criterion Challenge 202441. 1920sSpeedy, directed by Ted Wilde, 1924
Harold Lloyd might not be as recognizeable a name now as he was in the past alongside other silent era stuntsmen and clowns such as Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin. As Speedy, Lloyd’s stuntwork may take a bit of a backseat, but the incredible chase sequences and what little physical slapstick Lloyd is able to pull off in the film more than make up for it. The film sees Speedy fend off a streetcar tycoon intent on buying out the last horse-drawn cart in New York City. With most of the car chase action happening in the last third of the film, the film follows Speedy’s day to day life finding and losing work, spending time with his girlfriend Jane and her grandfather, and just milling about New York.
The film does a lot of fun tricks throughout that really sell the chases and give the film that good ol’ New York feel. Small attachments to the camera to mimic the hood of a car and slowing down the shutter speed on the camera in order to make things feel faster even when the cameraman is moving relatively slow in accordance with the traffic laws. Old school movie magic even make it so it’s hard to tell that the film was shot in both New York and Los Angeles. It’s just all so utterly charming all while giving a great snapshot as to the lives of the working class in a lighthearted manner
