Michael_Elliott
The Speed Kings (1913) ** 1/2 (out of 4)Mabel Normand and her Papa (Ford Sterling) are heading to the local race but with different men on their minds. Papa wants his daughter to marry Earl Cooper but Mabel has her eyes on Teddy Tetzlaff. Once at the race it's full of excitement as the men battle to win while Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle shows up to create even more damage.Here's a Mack Sennett short that is mildly entertaining but for the most part I'd argue that there really weren't too many actual laughs. The main reason to watch this is that there are some real racing figures who appear and I think getting to see the old time racing styles. Of course, being a Sennett film, a lot of stuff comes off as if they're just making it up on the spot, which results in a rather crazy style and atmosphere but it just doesn't get the laughs needed to make the film better.
silentmoviefan
As a racing fan, I really, really loved this movie! The reason? Besides Mabel Normand looking especially beautiful in this film, is the presence of racing drivers "Terrible" Teddy Tetzlaff, Earl Cooper and Barney Oldfield.Mabel likes Tetzlaff (who I'll bet really enjoyed this role, I would have!) while her father, played by Ford Sterling, prefers she marry Cooper. Oldfield, probably a bigger name than both of them at the time, is in one shot, but it was neat to see him behind the wheel of a vehicle.Ford doesn't want Teddy to win the race, so that his daughter might not favor him, so he damages Teddy's engine.The race unfolds, Teddy's car breaks down (due to Ford's deviltry) and Cooper drives to victory.Before the race is over, Mabel interferes with the starter, played by Fatty Arbuckle. Fatty gets kind of rough with Mabel and Ford starts hitting Fatty until he lets go of Mabel.Cooper wins the race, Mabel still loves Teddy and Ford still kicks Fatty around.In real life, if Mabel had married Tetzlaff, she would have been a widow for a year or so, since Tetzlaff died of cancer in 1929. If she had married Cooper, Cooper would have been her widower for 35 years as he passed away in 1965.In any event, I love early racing, this movie has it, so it gets a "10".
Jay Raskin
Max Sennett's Keystone Studio was contractually obligated to produce two two-reelers, about 40 minutes of film a week. When he did not have any ideas, he just dragged some of his comedians to a public event and made up a story on the spot. That is why there is no logic, but a great deal of silliness, hand waving, punching and kicking.The racing scenes in this are a bit tiresome, but I'm sure it was interesting to an 1912 audience, many of whom had never seen such a thing before. The physical humor by Ford, Mabel and Roscoe is quite funny as they always are. One had to appreciate the acrobatics of Arbuckle, the enthusiastic expressions of Normand and the incredible monologue that Sterling has with himself and the audience. Together, they are a grand group capturing a unique and playfully surrealistic moment in time.Be sure to watch a good and full print. There are many incomplete and poor prints circulating.
tavm
The Speed Kings is of historical interest because of footage of actual car races as Mack Sennett decides to shoot a comedy short around the event with stars Mabel Normand, Ford Sterling, and, in an early supporting role, Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle. Mabel and father Sterling are for different car racers with Ms. Normand infatuated with one Teddy Tetzlaff. Arbuckle is a racetrack official who physically tries to keep Mabel from running to the track whenever Tetzlaff comes nearby. Then Sterling bites Fatty in the ear (shades of Mike Tyson!) afterwards. There's also many amusing facial reactions from Sterling and Ms. Normand. Other than what I've just mentioned, this is mostly a blah short but the races makes this worth a look at least once.
AD
