The Roaring Road
"The Thrill of the Race! The Romance of the Road!"
Plot
Wallace Reid stars as 'Toodles' Waldron, an ambitious automobile salesman and racing enthusiast who works for J.D. Ward's automobile company. When Toodles falls in love with Ward's daughter Dorothy, he faces opposition from his boss who forbids both the marriage and his participation in the prestigious Santa Monica Grand Prize Road Race. Determined to prove himself, Toodles defies Ward's orders and enters the race anyway, using his exceptional driving skills and knowledge of automobiles to compete against professional racers. The film builds to an exciting climax as Toodles must win both the race and Dorothy's hand, overcoming corporate obstacles and proving his worth as both a driver and a man.
About the Production
The film was notable for its authentic racing sequences, many of which were filmed during actual road races. Wallace Reid, an accomplished driver in real life, performed many of his own stunts. The production utilized multiple cameras to capture the racing action from various angles, which was innovative for the time. The film was rushed into production following the success of Reid's previous racing-themed films, capitalizing on the public's growing fascination with automobiles.
Historical Background
The Roaring Road was produced during a pivotal moment in American history, just after World War I when the nation was experiencing rapid technological advancement and social change. The automobile was transforming American society, creating new freedoms and changing how people lived and worked. The film reflected the growing obsession with speed and technology that characterized the Jazz Age. 1919 was also a significant year in Hollywood, as the studio system was solidifying and stars like Wallace Reid were becoming major cultural icons. The film industry was transitioning from short films to feature-length productions, and racing movies were becoming increasingly popular as they showcased modern technology and provided thrilling entertainment for audiences seeking excitement after the war years.
Why This Film Matters
The Roaring Road holds significant cultural importance as one of the earliest and most successful automobile racing films. It helped establish the racing movie as a viable genre and demonstrated the commercial potential of films centered around modern technology and speed. The film reflected and reinforced America's love affair with the automobile, which was becoming a symbol of freedom, progress, and individualism. Wallace Reid's portrayal of the charismatic, rebellious racer helped create an archetype that would influence countless action heroes in subsequent decades. The film also captured the spirit of the post-war era, when Americans were eager to embrace new technologies and experiences. Its success paved the way for other racing and automotive films, establishing conventions that would persist in the genre for decades.
Making Of
The production of 'The Roaring Road' was marked by its innovative approach to filming racing sequences. Director James Cruze and his cinematographers developed new techniques for capturing high-speed action, including mounting cameras on moving vehicles and using multiple camera positions to create dynamic visual effects. Wallace Reid's personal involvement in the racing scenes went beyond acting - he often consulted on the technical aspects of the automotive sequences and insisted on performing many of his own stunts. The film was shot quickly to capitalize on the racing season, with the crew working around the actual Santa Monica Road Race schedule. The chemistry between Reid and Ann Little was so apparent that the studio paired them in several subsequent films. The production faced challenges in coordinating the filming with real racing events, often having to shoot between heats and during practice sessions.
Visual Style
The cinematography of The Roaring Road was particularly innovative for its time, especially in the filming of racing sequences. The camera crew employed several groundbreaking techniques to capture the excitement of automobile racing, including mounting cameras on moving vehicles to create dynamic tracking shots. They used multiple camera positions to show races from various perspectives, including shots from inside the cars, alongside the track, and from elevated positions. The cinematographers experimented with panning and following shots to maintain visual continuity during the fast-paced action sequences. The film also made effective use of location shooting at the actual Santa Monica Road Race Course, providing authentic backgrounds that enhanced the realism of the racing scenes. The visual style combined documentary-like authenticity with dramatic composition, creating a sense of immediacy that thrilled audiences of the time.
Innovations
The Roaring Road achieved several technical milestones for 1919 filmmaking. The production pioneered new methods for filming high-speed action, developing camera mounts and techniques that could safely capture racing footage. The film's editing was particularly advanced for its time, using rapid cuts during racing sequences to create tension and excitement. The cinematography team successfully overcame the challenges of filming moving vehicles at high speeds, which required specialized equipment and careful planning. The film also demonstrated effective use of location shooting, taking advantage of the actual Santa Monica Road Race Course to provide authentic settings. The production's ability to coordinate filming with real racing events showed impressive logistical planning and technical coordination.
Music
As a silent film, The Roaring Road was originally presented with live musical accompaniment that varied by theater. Typical screenings featured a pianist or small orchestra playing popular music of the era, with faster-paced pieces during racing scenes and romantic melodies for the love story. Some larger theaters commissioned original scores, while others used compiled music from classical and popular sources. The music was crucial to enhancing the emotional impact of the racing sequences, with composers and performers creating driving rhythms and exciting crescendos to match the on-screen action. No original score recordings exist from the film's initial release, as was common for silent films of this period.
Famous Quotes
"A man who can sell cars can win races!" - Toodles Waldron
"No daughter of mine will marry a racing driver!" - J.D. Ward
"The road is calling, and I must answer!" - Toodles Waldron
"Speed is in my blood, Dorothy - it's who I am!" - Toodles Waldron
Memorable Scenes
- The opening sequence showing Toodles Waldron's exceptional salesmanship at the automobile showroom
- The forbidden romance scene between Toodles and Dorothy in the garden
- The tense confrontation between Toodles and J.D. Ward about the racing prohibition
- The climactic Santa Monica Grand Prize Road Race with multiple cars competing at high speeds
- The victory celebration scene where Toodles wins both the race and Dorothy's hand
Did You Know?
- Wallace Reid was an actual racing driver and automobile enthusiast in real life, which added authenticity to his performance
- The film was so successful that Paramount immediately commissioned a sequel, 'The Speed Maniac' (1919), with the same cast and director
- Many of the racing scenes were filmed during actual Santa Monica road races, with real race cars and drivers participating
- The film helped establish Wallace Reid as one of the biggest male stars of the silent era
- Director James Cruze would later direct the epic Western 'The Covered Wagon' (1923)
- The Santa Monica Road Race depicted in the film was a real event that ran from 1909-1919, attracting thousands of spectators
- The film's success contributed to the popularity of automobile-themed movies in the early 1920s
- Ann Little, who played Dorothy Ward, was a former Mack Sennett bathing beauty before becoming a dramatic actress
- Theodore Roberts, who played J.D. Ward, was one of Paramount's most reliable character actors and often played authority figures
- The film's title became part of the popular lexicon, with 'roaring road' being used to describe exciting automotive adventures
What Critics Said
Contemporary critics praised The Roaring Road for its exciting racing sequences and Wallace Reid's charismatic performance. Variety noted that 'the racing scenes are thrillingly photographed and Reid's performance is full of energy and charm.' The Motion Picture News called it 'a picture that delivers exactly what its title promises - excitement, speed, and romance.' Modern critics have recognized the film as an important early example of the racing genre, with particular appreciation for its innovative cinematography and authentic action sequences. Film historians often cite it as a significant example of how early Hollywood capitalized on America's fascination with new technology. While some modern viewers find the plot formulaic, the film's technical achievements and Reid's star power continue to be acknowledged.
What Audiences Thought
The Roaring Road was a tremendous box office success in 1919, drawing large audiences across the country. Theater owners reported that the film was particularly popular with young men and automobile enthusiasts, though it also attracted a significant female audience due to its romantic subplot. The film's exciting racing sequences created word-of-mouth buzz, and many theaters reported sell-out crowds. Audience reactions were enthusiastic, with contemporary reports describing viewers leaning forward in their seats during the racing scenes and applauding Reid's daring stunts. The film's popularity led to increased demand for more racing movies and helped cement Wallace Reid's status as one of the most popular stars of the era. The immediate production of a sequel, 'The Speed Maniac,' was a direct response to audience demand for more of Reid's racing adventures.
Film Connections
Influenced By
- The growing popularity of automobile racing in America
- Earlier racing films such as 'The Speedway' (1917)
- Wallace Reid's previous successful action films
- The public's fascination with new technology and speed
- Contemporary newspaper and magazine stories about racing heroes
This Film Influenced
- The Speed Maniac (1919) - direct sequel
- Excuse My Dust (1920) - another Wallace Reid racing film
- The Great Race (1965) - later racing comedy
- Grand Prix (1966) - modern racing epic
- Days of Thunder (1990) - contemporary racing film
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Film Restoration
The Roaring Road is believed to be preserved in various film archives, though complete prints may be rare. The Library of Congress holds materials related to the film, and the UCLA Film & Television Archive may have prints or fragments. Some sources suggest that the film survives in its entirety, while others indicate that only partial prints exist. The film's popularity and the existence of a sequel suggest that preservation efforts were made, though the quality of surviving prints may vary. Restoration efforts may have been undertaken by film archives, but a fully restored version is not widely available to the public.