Jive-Bomber submitted a new blog post: Jimmy Stewart's first feature 'Speed' (1936!) Continue reading the Original Blog Post
The streamlined car was based on a Cord chassis. Hey JB, Nice capture of the old video. I had seen it in other references a long time ago, but never had any interest in it. But, in the research, I found this blurb: similar to European motocross helmets without the bill. You see the most interesting thing on the HAMB. Thanks… Jnaki Look how close the streamlined car is to the spectators... especially in the movie action sequences...
And the female lead, an actress by the name of Wendy Barrie. Hmm, yep, her godfather J.M Barrie wrote "Peter Pan". Small world...
Around the late 80's was doing some work for a guy in Long Beach and saw the "FALCON" on a trailer in his storage warehouse
Just started watching...the scenes where the press workers are sticking their hands in there while the press is coming down, about 5:30 or so, !!!!!!!!
Thanks @Jive-Bomber. Nice distraction on a cold rainy day. Funny how about ten years later Jimmy Stewart teamed up with another guy named Clarence!
Spectators at dry lakes today are so far away you need binoculars. It was hilarious seeing people scramble out of the way inches from being killed, then seeing him driven to the hospital in the Falcon.
Wonder if this is the same car that turned up on an episode of "American Pickers", just the framework, no aluminum skin? It was features on a few websites, maybe here if you do a search. Owner had it covered in tinfoil to get the general shape of the body, think it had a Stutz engine if my memory is correct. Bob Turns out it was a Pierce Arrow engine, got this link off Google. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/american-pickers-land-speed-record-car-unearthed.791801/
Thanx for this - Did a search and put a dvd copy in my queue at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SWFM8KA/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
You should double check that you didn't end up with a copy of the Keanu Reeves/Sandra Bullock "Speed"
I did. I already have the one you're referring to. That's what you get with a "speed dvd" search. If you search "speed jimmy stewart dvd" you get the 1936 film.
Just watched a bit of the Ole Golden Oldy...Yeah Cheesy Cake with Some pretty suggestive bravado eh...I sure as heck hope those Hell Drivers had at the very least seat belts and safety glass...they did some some real smash'em up back in the day... And I haven't even got to the good stuff yet...thank for sharing this real vintage time in go fast @Jive-Bomber...
Jimmy Stewart a real american hero a few years after this movie he put life on hold and volunteerd to serve he was put in the army air corp because he knew how to fly he flew bombers over europe and retired as a two star general
Well it's no Ford vs Ferrari but for its time not bad at all. It was interesting hearing "busted" being used in the 30s and realizing it's not some newish bit of slang...
Recently I read an article online written by a guy who was a teenager in the post war years, He hung around an airport in Canada, helping fuel planes or anything else he could do to be there and get a little pocket change. Late one afternoon a call came over the tower radio requesting permission to land, plus wind speed & direction, etc. Permission to land and info were passed along and a P51 Mustang roared in for a landing. The pilot had the plane refueled, etc, explained he would be leaving early next morning to continue Westbound to some sort of military event in Western Canada. He then caught a taxi to town and a meal and a hotel room for the night. So of course the youngster was there before daybreak, not wanting to miss a thing. The pilot arrived , did a pre flight check, climbed aboard, fired up that mighty V12, and warmed it up. With an open canopy he saluted the crowd and then taxied to the downwind end of the runway. The crowd could see the canopy close and then came a mighty roar from that magnificent Merlin engine and the plane leaped away and down the runway it came, lifting the tail then soaring skyward in the flight pattern. Within minutes a call came over the tower radio from the P51, asking for permission to "salute" the field, which was granted. The crowd soon heard the mighty scream of that Merlin at full boost from the turbo, and moments later it appeared at the end of the runway, below treetop level, just high enough to keep that whirling prop off the ground, and when even with the crowd pulled up almost vertical as it climbed up and disappeared from sight, That pilot was General James Stewart, USAFR.
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