Kid Speed
"A Race for Romance! The Fastest Comedy Ever Filmed!"
Plot
Wealthy businessman Avery DuPoys organizes a thrilling automobile race and announces that the winner will earn the privilege of courting his beautiful daughter on Wednesday evenings. Two main competitors emerge: Larry, a charming but clumsy mechanic who is genuinely in love with DuPoys's daughter, and a rival racer who is also vying for her affection. The race becomes increasingly chaotic and dangerous as both competitors resort to increasingly desperate measures to win, including sabotage, reckless driving, and elaborate stunts. Throughout the competition, Larry faces numerous mechanical failures and comedic mishaps but persists with determination. The climactic race sequence features spectacular crashes, near-misses, and outrageous gags as Larry ultimately triumphs through a combination of luck and ingenuity, winning both the race and the girl's affection.
About the Production
The film featured real automobile racing sequences with stunt drivers performing dangerous maneuvers. Larry Semon, known for performing his own stunts, insisted on driving in many of the racing scenes himself, despite the risks involved. The production utilized actual racing cars from the period, some of which were modified for comedic effect. The film was shot in just a few days, typical for comedy shorts of this era, but the racing sequences required extensive preparation and safety measures.
Historical Background
'Kid Speed' was produced in 1924, during the peak of America's fascination with automobile racing and the golden age of silent comedy. The early 1920s saw the rise of professional racing circuits and the increasing affordability of automobiles for the middle class, making racing a popular subject for films. This period also represented the height of Larry Semon's career as one of the most successful comedy stars of the silent era, with his films regularly appearing in theaters alongside those of Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Harold Lloyd. The film's release coincided with the transition from short films to feature-length comedies, with many comedians experimenting with longer formats while still producing popular shorts. The 1920s also saw the establishment of Hollywood as the center of American film production, with studios like Vitagraph (which produced this film) contributing to the industry's rapid growth and technical innovation.
Why This Film Matters
'Kid Speed' represents an important example of the physical comedy tradition that dominated American cinema in the silent era. The film showcases the growing obsession with speed and technology in 1920s America, using the popular sport of automobile racing as a backdrop for romantic comedy. Larry Semon's work, including this film, influenced later comedy filmmakers with its elaborate stunt sequences and blend of action with humor. The film also captures the changing social dynamics of the 1920s, particularly regarding courtship rituals and the increasing independence of young people. Oliver Hardy's appearance in the film provides an early glimpse of the comedic style that would later make him famous in partnership with Stan Laurel. The racing sequences in 'Kid Speed' helped establish conventions for action-comedy that would influence films for decades, demonstrating how dangerous stunts could be combined with humor to create entertaining cinema.
Making Of
The production of 'Kid Speed' was typical of Larry Semon's work ethic - fast-paced and physically demanding. Semon was known for his hands-on approach to filmmaking, often writing, directing, starring in, and even editing his own films. For this particular production, Semon insisted on performing many of his own stunts, including several dangerous driving sequences that worried the studio's insurance carriers. The racing sequences required coordination with local authorities to secure filming locations, and the production team had to work quickly to minimize disruption to traffic. Dorothy Dwan, Semon's wife at the time, was a regular in his films and their on-screen chemistry was genuine. Oliver Hardy, who had not yet formed his famous partnership with Stan Laurel, was building his reputation as a reliable character actor and physical comedian in these types of supporting roles. The film's success led to several more racing-themed comedies from Semon, though none achieved the same level of popularity.
Visual Style
The cinematography in 'Kid Speed' was handled by Harry F. Neill, who employed the dynamic camera techniques becoming popular in action films of the 1920s. The racing sequences feature innovative tracking shots that follow the speeding automobiles, creating a sense of movement and excitement that was relatively advanced for the time. The film uses multiple camera angles during the action sequences, a technique that was still relatively new in comedy shorts. The visual style emphasizes speed through the use of whip pans and rapid editing during the race scenes. The comedy sequences utilize more traditional static framing, allowing the physical gags to play out clearly. The contrast between the dynamic racing footage and the more controlled comedy scenes creates an effective visual rhythm throughout the film.
Innovations
'Kid Speed' showcased several technical innovations for its time, particularly in the filming of action sequences. The production employed multiple cameras to capture the racing scenes from various angles, allowing for more dynamic editing than was typical in comedy shorts. The film features some of the earliest examples of camera mounts on moving vehicles to create tracking shots of the race. The stunt coordination in the film was particularly sophisticated for its era, with carefully choreographed crash sequences that appeared dangerous but were controlled for safety. The editing rhythm of the racing sequences, with rapid cuts between different cars and perspectives, helped establish conventions for action-comedy that would influence later films. The film also demonstrated effective use of location shooting for action sequences, taking advantage of actual roads and landscapes rather than relying entirely on studio sets.
Music
As a silent film, 'Kid Speed' would have been accompanied by live musical performance during its original theatrical run. The typical score would have been provided by a theater's organist or pianist, using popular musical cues and improvisation to match the on-screen action. For the racing sequences, fast-paced, dramatic music would have been employed to enhance the sense of speed and danger. The romantic scenes would have featured more melodic, sentimental themes. No original composed score survives for the film, as was common with comedy shorts of this era. Modern screenings of the film typically use period-appropriate compiled scores or newly composed music that attempts to recreate the silent-era theater experience.
Did You Know?
- Oliver Hardy, who would later become famous as half of Laurel and Hardy, appears as a rival racer in this film before his partnership with Stan Laurel was established
- Larry Semon was married to Dorothy Dwan, his co-star in this film, during the production
- The racing scenes were filmed on actual roads, requiring temporary road closures and police supervision
- Several of the cars used in the film were actual racing vehicles borrowed from local racing enthusiasts
- Semon's character wears his signature comedic makeup with the painted mustache and eyebrows that became his trademark
- The film features one of the earliest examples of a romantic subplot driving the action in a comedy short
- Many of the gags and stunts in the race sequence were later reused or referenced in other comedy films of the era
- The Wednesday night visiting privilege was a humorous reference to the strict dating customs of the 1920s
- The film was released during the golden age of silent comedy shorts, competing with works by Chaplin, Keaton, and Lloyd
- Original production stills from the film show that some dangerous stunts were performed without the safety equipment that would be standard today
What Critics Said
Contemporary critics praised 'Kid Speed' for its energetic pacing and spectacular stunt sequences. Variety magazine noted that 'Semon's latest offering delivers plenty of laughs and thrills, with the racing sequences providing genuine excitement alongside the comedy.' The Motion Picture News highlighted the film's 'inventive gags and impressive automobile stunts' as standout elements. Modern film historians view 'Kid Speed' as a representative example of Semon's work during his peak period, though it's generally considered less innovative than the works of his more famous contemporaries like Chaplin or Keaton. The film is appreciated today for its historical value and for featuring Oliver Hardy before his Laurel and Hardy fame, with some critics noting that the racing sequences remain surprisingly effective even by modern standards.
What Audiences Thought
Audiences in 1924 responded enthusiastically to 'Kid Speed,' with the film proving popular in theaters across the United States. The combination of romance, comedy, and spectacular racing action appealed to the broad audience base that silent comedies targeted during this period. Contemporary reports indicate that the film often received enthusiastic applause, particularly for the more elaborate stunt sequences. The film's success helped maintain Larry Semon's status as one of the most reliable comedy stars of the mid-1920s. Modern audiences encountering the film through revival screenings or home video releases generally appreciate it as a time capsule of silent-era comedy, with particular interest in seeing Oliver Hardy in an early role before his partnership with Stan Laurel.
Awards & Recognition
- No major awards were recorded for this film, as it was a comedy short during an era when such recognition was limited
Film Connections
Influenced By
- Earlier racing films like 'The Great Race' (1916)
- Physical comedy traditions from vaudeville
- Keystone comedy style
- Harold Lloyd's thrill comedies
- Buster Keaton's stunt work
This Film Influenced
- Later racing comedies of the 1920s and 1930s
- The stunt comedy genre
- Action-comedy hybrid films
- Later Laurel and Hardy racing-themed shorts