Top Speed (1930)

An order clerk poses as a millionaire.

Director:

Mervyn LeRoy

Writers:

Harry Ruby (by), Bert Kalmar (by),

Stars:

Joe E. Brown, Bernice Claire, Jack Whiting

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Joe E. Brown	...	Elmer Peters
Bernice Claire	...	Virginia Rollins
Jack Whiting	...	Gerald Brooks
Frank McHugh	...	Tad Jordan
Laura Lee	...	Babs Green
Edmund Breese	...	Spencer Colgate
Wade Boteler	...	The Sheriff
Rita Flynn	...	Daisy

Storyline

Two clerks pose as rich playboys at a swanky summer resort. One of them falls in love with a millionaire's daughter who has a very disapproving father, until he wins, through fate and fortune, the Big Boat Race, in the vessel owned by his sweetheart's father.

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Plot Keywords:

boat race | resort | race | summer | playboy | 

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Taglines:

THRILLS! LAFFS! FUN! PEP! (original poster - all caps)

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical | Romance | Sport

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 August 1930 (USA)

Also Known As:

Med 68 knop

Filming Locations:

Lake Norconian Club, Norco, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

First National Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min 80 min (original) 71 min (Turner Library print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Apparatus)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In September 1928, Warner Bros. Pictures purchased a majority interest in First National Pictures and from that point on, all "First National" productions were actually made under Warner Bros. control, even though the two companies continued to retain separate identities until the mid-1930's, after which time "A Warner Bros.-First National Picture" was often used.

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Soundtracks

"Sweeter Than You"
(1929) (uncredited)
Music by Harry Ruby
Lyrics by Bert Kalmar
Cut before release in the United States

User Reviews

Funny and Entertaining

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.