Speedy | 1928 | Comedy, Silent

Title: Speedy by Ted Wilde | 1928 | Comedy, Silent Director: Ted Wilde Studio: Harold Lloyd Corporation Starring: Harold Lloyd, Ann Christy, Bert Woodruff, Babe Ruth Release Date: April 7, 1928 Runtime: 86 Format: Silent, black-and-white, 1.33:1, 8 reels Country: United States Language: Silent with English intertitles Genres: Comedy, Slapstick, Silent --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Jobs lost and found; Pop’s streetcar at risk 00:17:30 Coney Island outing 00:36:00 Taxi dash with Babe Ruth 00:56:00 Plot to seize the line 01:15:00 Streetcar showdown and resolution --- Summary: Harold “Speedy” Swift struggles to keep steady work in New York City, courting Jane Dillon while befriending her grandfather, Pop, who operates the city’s last horse-drawn streetcar. When a transit magnate schemes to force Pop off the tracks, Speedy turns his boundless energy toward saving the line. The story follows Speedy through job mishaps, a joyous Coney Island interlude, and a frantic day as a cabbie that culminates in a high-speed run to Yankee Stadium. The finale pits neighborhood solidarity and Speedy’s resourcefulness against corporate pressure on the streets of Manhattan. --- Background: Speedy was Harold Lloyd’s final silent feature, photographed largely on location in New York City, with scenes at Coney Island, Pennsylvania Station, and Yankee Stadium. The film opened in New York on April 7, 1928, and earned director Ted Wilde a nomination at the 1st Academy Awards for Best Director . --- Trivia: Babe Ruth appears as himself in a celebrated taxi sequence en route to Yankee Stadium; Lou Gehrig is briefly visible through the cab window. Extensive location shooting captured New York landmarks and street life of 1927–1928, including Luna Park at Coney Island. “Speedy” was also Harold Lloyd’s long-standing nickname, used in publicity for the film. A sound version with synchronized music and effects was prepared for release later in 1928. The Criterion Collection’s restoration presents the film at 1.33:1 with a Carl Davis score, sourced from elements preserved by UCLA. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: April 7, 1928 Original Studio / Distributor: Harold Lloyd Corporation / Paramount Pictures Copyright Status: Public Domain. Renewal: Yes. --- Hashtags: Speedy HaroldLloyd TedWilde SilentFilm PublicDomain 1920sCinema BabeRuth NewYorkCity ParamountPictures ClassicFilm Source page: https: //commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Speedy_(1928)_by_Ted_Wilde.webm Direct media URL: https: //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/Speedy_%281928%29_by_Ted_Wilde.webm