#788: WILDE, Ted: Speedy (1928)

WILDE, Ted (United States)
Speedy [1928]
Spine #788
Blu-ray

Speedy was the last silent feature to star Harold Lloyd — and one of his very best. The slapstick legend reprises his "Glasses Character," this time as a good-natured but scatterbrained New Yorker who can't keep a job. He finally finds his true calling when he becomes determined to help save the city's last horse-drawn streetcar, which is operated by his sweetheart's crusty grandfather. From its joyous visit to Coney Island to its incredible Babe Ruth cameo to its hair-raising climactic stunts on the city's streets, Speedy is an out-of-control love letter to New York that will have you grinning from ear to ear.

86 minutes
Black & White
Silent
1:33:1 aspect ratio
Criterion Release 2015
Director/Writers


Story and scenario by John Grey, Lex Neal, Howard Rogers, and Jay Howe.
Ted Wilde was 39 when he directed Speedy.

Other Wilde films in the Collection:

#964: The Kid Brother (1927)

The Film

A

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

The Booklet

Twelve-page wraparound featuring an essay by critic Phillip Lopate.

Musical score

By composer Carl Davis from 1992, synchronized and restored under his supervision and presented in uncompressed stereo.

Commentary

Featuring Bruce Goldstein, director of repertory programming at New York’s Film Forum, and Turner Classic Movies director of program production Scott McGee.

In the Footsteps of “Speedy”

A short documentary by Goldstein about the film’s New York shoot.

Selection 1

Of rare archival footage of baseball legend Babe Ruth, who has a cameo in the film, presented by David Filipi, director of film and video at the Wexner Center for the Arts.

Video essay

Featuring stills of deleted scenes from the film and narrated by Goldstein.

Selection 2

Of actor Lloyd’s home movies, narrated by his granddaughter, Suzanne Lloyd.

A 1919 Lloyd two-reeler

Bumping into Broadway, newly restored with a 2004 score by Robert Israel.

Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

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