Indianapolis Speedway
(1939)
80-82 or 85 mins | Drama | 5 August 1939
Cast:
Pat O'Brien, Ann Sheridan, John Payne [ More ]Director:
Lloyd BaconWriters:
Sig Herzig, Wally Klein, Howard HawksCinematographer:
Sid HickoxEditor:
William HolmesProduction Designer:
Esdras HartleyProduction Company:
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.Working titles for this film were The Roaring Road and The Devil on Wheels. Frank McHugh reprised his role from the 1932 film in this picture. The file for the film in the MPAA/PCA Collection at the AMPAS Library indicates that, in Dec 1938, the PCA demanded that Warner Bros. eliminate from the script "the suggestion that Joe and Lee have been living without the benefit of clergy." The PCA also noted that the script contained "too much drinking," and urged the studio to make certain that there was no suggestion that "Frankie" was nude under the covers of her bed. In addition, the studio was told that "Frankie's" costume should not be, as the script called for, "as brief as the law allows." According to a Dec 1938 LAEx article, actor Ronald Reagan was originally slated for the co-starring role opposite Pat O'Brien. The LAEx article also notes that technical advisor Arthur Klein, a race car driver, broke all Indianapolis Speedway racing records during his stint there, and that the car he raced was to be used in the film. A HR pre-production news item noted that John Payne replaced Wayne Morris in the part of "Eddie" so that Morris could go on his honeymoon. According to the MPAA/PCA file, the scene showing "Spud" dying in the car wreck and his screams were deleted from the film by censors in England and New Zealand. Indianapolis Speedway was a remake of the 1932 Warner Bros. film The Crowd Roars (see above). ...
Working titles for this film were The Roaring Road and The Devil on Wheels. Frank McHugh reprised his role from the 1932 film in this picture. The file for the film in the MPAA/PCA Collection at the AMPAS Library indicates that, in Dec 1938, the PCA demanded that Warner Bros. eliminate from the script "the suggestion that Joe and Lee have been living without the benefit of clergy." The PCA also noted that the script contained "too much drinking," and urged the studio to make certain that there was no suggestion that "Frankie" was nude under the covers of her bed. In addition, the studio was told that "Frankie's" costume should not be, as the script called for, "as brief as the law allows." According to a Dec 1938 LAEx article, actor Ronald Reagan was originally slated for the co-starring role opposite Pat O'Brien. The LAEx article also notes that technical advisor Arthur Klein, a race car driver, broke all Indianapolis Speedway racing records during his stint there, and that the car he raced was to be used in the film. A HR pre-production news item noted that John Payne replaced Wayne Morris in the part of "Eddie" so that Morris could go on his honeymoon. According to the MPAA/PCA file, the scene showing "Spud" dying in the car wreck and his screams were deleted from the film by censors in England and New Zealand. Indianapolis Speedway was a remake of the 1932 Warner Bros. film The Crowd Roars (see above).
The Roaring Road
World champion race car driver Joe Greer is determined to see his kid brother Eddie finish college, but Eddie wants to follow in his brother's footsteps and join the racing circuit. Eddie finally wins his brother's consent to take to the race track if he promises to study at night, but problems between the two erupt when Eddie becomes enamoured with Frankie Merrick. Convinced that Frankie is a gold digger, Joe tries to break up Eddie's romance, and on the night before the big race, the brothers argue about her. As a result, Eddie signs up to drive a rival car in the race. Angered, Joe decides to teach his brother a lesson by driving him off the track. During the competition, Joe's best friend, Spud Connors, tries to separate the brothers' cars but dies when his car crashes and bursts into flames. Guilt-stricken, Joe gives Spud's wife all his savings, leaves town and sinks into oblivion, terrified of ever returning to the track. Meanwhile, Eddie marries Frankie, ascends to the championship by winning race after race, and works on new inventions for racing car manufacturer Duncan Martin. Having reached his nadir, Joe hitchhikes to the racetrack to watch his brother compete in the Indianapolis classic. While in the lead, Eddie is injured. Joe immediately springs from the stands, hops into his brother's car and drives it to victory, thus conquering his fear of racing. At the finish line, the brothers reconcile, and Joe proposes to his sweetheart, Lee Mason, and accepts a job at Martin's car ...
World champion race car driver Joe Greer is determined to see his kid brother Eddie finish college, but Eddie wants to follow in his brother's footsteps and join the racing circuit. Eddie finally wins his brother's consent to take to the race track if he promises to study at night, but problems between the two erupt when Eddie becomes enamoured with Frankie Merrick. Convinced that Frankie is a gold digger, Joe tries to break up Eddie's romance, and on the night before the big race, the brothers argue about her. As a result, Eddie signs up to drive a rival car in the race. Angered, Joe decides to teach his brother a lesson by driving him off the track. During the competition, Joe's best friend, Spud Connors, tries to separate the brothers' cars but dies when his car crashes and bursts into flames. Guilt-stricken, Joe gives Spud's wife all his savings, leaves town and sinks into oblivion, terrified of ever returning to the track. Meanwhile, Eddie marries Frankie, ascends to the championship by winning race after race, and works on new inventions for racing car manufacturer Duncan Martin. Having reached his nadir, Joe hitchhikes to the racetrack to watch his brother compete in the Indianapolis classic. While in the lead, Eddie is injured. Joe immediately springs from the stands, hops into his brother's car and drives it to victory, thus conquering his fear of racing. At the finish line, the brothers reconcile, and Joe proposes to his sweetheart, Lee Mason, and accepts a job at Martin's car company.
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