Speedway (1929 film)

Speedway is a 1929 American pre-Code sound film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring William Haines, Anita Page, and Ernest Torrence. It is a silent film with added synchronized music, sound effects, and talking sequences. The film centers around a race car driver named Bill Whipple (Haines) who struggles with financial difficulties and a romantic interest, Patricia (Page), while competing in the world of auto racing. Torrence plays Mac, Whipple's mechanic and friend. A key plot element revolves around Whipple's gambling debts and the potential loss of his racing car. While not considered a major classic, Speedway is notable as an early example of sound film and for its depiction of the burgeoning popularity of auto racing in the late 1920s. The film features actual racing footage integrated into the narrative. It was produced and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.