Top Speed (1930) User Reviews

Snappy and Sunny Musical!!

[kidboots · 7/10 · 5 February 2010]

Ginger Rogers was busy in New York when "Top Speed" - the show that gave her career such a huge boost - started filming in Hollywood. Laura Lee, however, who played Ginger's part of Babs Green, was very bubbly and energetic. She was teamed with Joe E. Brown and the film was a showcase for the fast rising quirky comedian.

Elmer Peters (Joe E. Brown) and his office buddy Jerry Brooks (Jack Whiting) are away on a weekend vacation. A run-in with the local sheriff (for catching under-sized fish) has them running to the posh Lackawanna Lodge, where due to Elmer's fibs, everyone believes they are financial hot shots.

There is a car smash outside the hotel and the boys rescue two lovely ladies - Virginia (Bernice Claire) and Babs (Laura Lee). Virginia gets better acquainted with Jerry and sings the beautiful "Looking For the Love Light in the Dark". Frank McHugh makes an early appearance as a crazy inventor of an inflatable life jacket. Elmer and Babs cement their friendship with the song "If You Were a Traveling Salesman and I Was a Chambermaid", followed by a funny, eccentric dance. Elmer's fibs get Jerry into hot water - he has boasted that Jerry is a champion boat racer and Virginia's father fires his driver and quickly hires Jerry to race in the championship boat race. An associate of Jerry's (Cyril Ring) and also a rival for Virginia's affection,is also at the Lodge and gives the game away by telling Virginia that Jerry is just a lowly clerk. That doesn't make any difference to Virginia, but Jerry has other problems - his boss is also there and offers Jerry $30,000 to throw the race.

Even though there was only one production number - the splashy and toe tapping "Knock Knees", performed by Elmer, Babs and the girls and boys of the Lodge, the film seemed to be a classy production. The boat race was thrillingly and excitingly filmed. Unfortunately the film looks considerably trimmed down - at one point during a scene where Claire tells Whiting that they need each other, Claire opens her mouth to sing "As Long As I Have You and You Have Me" there is an abrupt cut to another scene. Musical interludes were cut to make room for Brown's comedy unfortunately. Even though beautiful Bernice Claire was the female lead, she didn't have much to do. She had been bought to films under the banner "the screens youngest soprano". With her beautiful voice and youthfulness, if the time had been right, it could have been Claire that occupied the lofty position that Jeanette MacDonald held in the mid thirties. But, unfortunately, it wasn't to be and even before her career got going people were starting to be fed up with musicals.

Recommended.

Poseurs

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 14 March 2019]

Top Speed has both Joe E. Brown and Jack Whiting as a pair of order clerks at a brokerage house who decide to see how the other half lives. They pose as young society blades while Brown is supposed to deliver an order which he misplaces.

Whiting falls for millionaire heiress Bernice Claire and she him. But will it hold once she finds out who he is. As for Brown he's got entertainer Laura Lee very interested in him.

The climax is a motorboat race which is quite the comic event. Evinrude's motors really take a pounding from Brown. And from Frank McHugh in one of his early films where he plays a perpetually soused millionaire/inventor.

A good one for Joe E. Brown fans.

The setting trumps, if you'll pardon the expression, the story.

[pronker · 5/10 · 1 April 2019]

I looked forward to seeing this for Brown, McHugh, and Maxwell from previous films, with Whiting, Claire and Lee a mystery. The setting made more of an impression at day's end. Wade Botteler seems born to play a game warden in this farce as he determines to get his man via an outrageous pair of checked trousers from Brown.

Brown generally entertains me in a mild way; this film's antics regarding him starts out a bit lame and seesaws throughout. What stands out is Brown's and Lee's dance number about knees because the chorus boys and girls gave energy, too, and the whole shebang delighted. That was the peak of the singing and dancing; the racing boats proved nifty to look at and a joy to behold in long shots. The comedy re the race, the weak plot revolving around Whiting's taking a bribe, and the fishing story lacked interest.

What interested was the setting! Gorgeous Spanish Colonial Lake Norconian Resort in its heyday, the dance pavilion, the steps leading into the building, the interiors ... yes, what a time the actors must have had filming here and presumably staying here. For a 1930 film, it had plenty of exteriors. I understand the stage play naturally couldn't have shown these, so this is a good example of how movies give life to a play. Whiting and Claire sang nicely and played nicely together; I thought she was cute. Lee suited Brown, who disappointed. I'm glad I watched it and doubt I'll rewatch. 5 stars because of the delightful setting.

Funny and Fast...

[drednm · 10 August 2003]

early Joe E. Brown vehicle with creaky plot and snappy lines. There are a couple nice musical numbers thrown in. Brown poses as a big shot at a resort and wins the girl and saves the day. But this is one of Brown's better early comedies. He is funny and has a nice dance number with the funny Laura Lee(who is in the Joan Davis/Majorie White mold). Jack Whiting in a solid sidekick, and Bernice Claire is also solid as a leading lady. Throw in Frank McHugh and you have a decent little comedy.

Predictable farce with some great musical numbers.

[mark.waltz · 6/10 · 6 October 2010]

After Joe E. Brown tangled with Winnie Lightner in "Hold Everything" and "Sit Tight", Warner Brothers decided to try out other wide or loud mouthed ladies to try to out-do him. For several films, it was Laura Lee, who dances "Knock Knees" with Brown in a rousing group number that is the highlight in this early musical film. Jack Whiting is the romantic lead, reminding me of later Warners musical star Gene Nelson. He is an able singer and light comedian, and together with Brown, comes off as Warners' answer to Wheeler and Woolsey over at RKO. The basic plot has them as unpaying guests in a posh hotel and how their antics turn everything upside down, culminating in a fast-moving boat race in the finale. The boat race sequence was repeated in several other Warner Brothers comedies and is the non-musical highlight of the film. Another amusing number is "When You Were a Chambermaid" which is filled with innuendos. This is probably the fastest moving of Brown's early talkie (1929/30) films that would soon have to face the editing pens of the production code. Add on Frank McHugh in one of several appearances he made as a drunk in Joe E. Brown's films, and you're guaranteed plenty of laughs.

Enjoyable though not especially funny.

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 10 September 2011]

This is an unusual film in that structurally, the film isn't a lot like Joe E. Brown's later successes like "Alibi Ike" and "Elmer the Great". That's because instead of it being a Brown film, it's really a film where he's teamed with a partner--here it's Jack Whiting. And so, the film bounces back and forth between them--with the two friends going in very separate directions during much of the film. And, Whiting is the straight man and sings a number, while Brown is full of quips and comes on VERY strong. Now that I think about it, this sure sounds like the exact same formula used in the Wheeler & Woolsey films.

Joe and Jack are on vacation. Joe convinces Jack that they should spring for a stay at a posh society hotel. While Jack at first refuses, he finally relents--and that's pretty much the pattern throughout the film. Joe always is suggesting something dishonest and Jack protests--but ultimately gives in and does what Joe suggests. So, when Joe starts lying and pretending they are rich Wallstreet investors, Jack SHOULD speak up and say something when he later hears about it--but doesn't. This causes problems when each of them fall in love, as sooner or later they need to tell the girls the truth. There's a lot more to the film than this--but you'll just need to see the film to see where this all ends.

While this is a comedy, I honestly felt that that the story was best when it came to Whiting. Whiting was rather likable, while I thought that Brown played a character that was just too obnoxious to like. Plus, as he often did in his films, he mugged too often. I preferred the more subtle and believable Whiting...though I doubt if anyone felt this way--especially since Brown went on to be a big star and no one has heard of Whiting! Worth seeing but not one of Brown's better comedies.

Throwaway comedy but of some interest to pre-code buffs

[gridoon2024 · 5/10 · 20 July 2020]

This is an overall mediocre comedy, but it does contain some delightfully risquè lines and situations which could only have happened pre-code. Joe E. Brown is an acquired taste; the real find here is Laura Lee, a peppy comedienne who reminded me of Winnie Lightner (but prettier!) and who, surprisingly, made only a handful of films before retiring. She and Brown fit well together. Warning: the TCM print of this movie is missing a few minutes, which are apparently lost. ** out of 4.

big names in cast - early talkie

[ksf-2 · 6/10 · 17 March 2019]

Historically speaking, you couldn't ask for a better cast -- Joe Brown, Frank McHugh, Edwin Maxwell, Bernice Claire. All pros! this was a pretty early talkie, and a couple years before the film code, so they could still make naughty jokes and prance around in their underwear. BUT.... some annoying ingredients here.. I personally find Joe Brown's over-acting annoying, as well as that loud, long noise he makes every couple minutes. and one of the women had that horrible little baby voice that apparently so many women had back then. and did there have to be so many song and dance numbers? really slowed things down. some fun word-play by the cast. and i always like films that have Frank McHugh. Looks like this one was filmed at an actual lakeside resort in Norco California. must have been fun for the cast! directed by Mervyn Leroy when he was just getting started. Pretty good!

Disappointing

[vincentlynch-moonoi · 6/10 · 24 November 2014]

Let's start off with a problem...at least with the print shown on TCM. There were places where the soundtrack didn't quite match up with the picture. Very annoying, and certainly not most of the film, but it was present in a few spots.

On the other hand, this is somewhat of a musical, with a couple of decent thirty-ish numbers, apparently by the popular team of Harry Ruby and Bert Kalmar. Joe E. Brown shows off his eccentric dancing skills, something you rarely see.

The plot is pretty simple. Two clerks make themselves out to be big shots at a resort and get caught up in their own lies.

As far as the supporting cast, only the most dedicated film-admirers of the Pre-Code era will recognize many names here. Jack Whiting (as the buddy of Brown) is horrible. There's and early -- and not impressive -- appearance by Frank McHugh here (only his second appearance in a film). George 'Gabby' Hayes has a small part as a Western Union Clerk.

Of the several films of Brown's which I have seen, this is far from the best, despite a few interesting scenes.

With Mouth Wide Open

[Ron Oliver · 10/10 · 30 August 2003]

Two penniless clerks, pretending to be industrial tycoons while staying at a lavish Florida resort, must keep their lies coming at TOP SPEED before their new wealthy girlfriends discover the truth.

Comic Joe E. Brown dominates this little film with his particular brand of slightly naughty physical humor. His agile body, elastic face and tremendous mouth are sure signs to the audience that laughs are on the way. Most of the time he's off the screen you wish he wasn't. He gets to do a little eccentric singing & dancing - ably backed up by energetic comedienne Laura Lee - which makes the rest of the movie's traditional hoofing look dull by comparison.

Jack Whiting plays Brown's buddy, and while a pleasant enough fellow he doesn't generate many chuckles. His romance with pretty Bernice Claire is faintly dull and his lengthy subplot - in which he races a motorboat and matches wits with an elderly extortionist - is interesting but really only serves to fill out the screen time.

Frank McHugh has some funny moments as a wacky inventor; Ward Boteler livens up a few scenes as a single-minded sheriff. Movie mavens will recognize an uncredited Edwin Maxwell as a petulant millionaire.

Ultimately, this is Joe E. Brown's film - another rung up the cinematic ladder to movies in which he would be the main star - both with the comedy and the romantic action.

Funny and Entertaining

[GManfred · 29 July 2010]

Have seen Joe E. Brown movies before but this was 'early Joe E.', before his screen persona became that of an overconfident country bumpkin, as in "Elmer The Great", or "Alibi Ike". It is also Pre-Code and must have been considered naughty for picture made in 1930, as the dialogue is full of double entendres, and for that matter single entendres.

As noted above, this picture is worth seeing on two counts. Brown is at his best and funniest and the musical numbers are very good - and the dancing is even better. And I didn't know Brown could dance as well as he did here. There is a lot of fun and entertainment packed into only 71 minutes.

Was not familiar with any of the supporting cast except Frank McHugh - Jack Whiting was average and Bernice Claire was lovely to look at and had a good soprano voice. See it if it comes on again, as it's not available on tape or DVD.

This movie was on ol' reliable TCM on 7/29.