Murder on the Road (1936) User Reviews

Talmadge tangles with gangsters - and a party girl!

[JohnHowardReid · 6/10 · 9 July 2017]

Richard Talmadge had at least ten or eleven separate careers in movies. This entry is his second last in his career as a leading man and daredevil stuntman. Although made on a very small budget, the movie moves along briskly enough and offers Talmadge plenty of opportunities to do more than a dozen of his daredevil stunts, although I must admit that the stunting here is not as courageous nor anything like as remarkable as is the case with some of his earlier movie appearances.

And I must also admit that it did not make my expectancy high to see the direction credited to Henri Samuels - an obvious pseudonym if ever there was one! But despite my initial misgivings, the director, whoever he was, did a reasonable job. And of course, the fact that he filmed this little cops and robbers saga on so many real roads and other real locations, helped rather than hindered my interest.

So what we have here is a movie made on a shoestring budget. Nevertheless, it's most certainly watchable, and it has historic interest, particularly if like me, you like to see what American cars and roads were like back in 1936 - to say nothing of the off- the- rack fashions presented by the presentable heroine, Lois Wilde! (Ironically, her career came to an abrupt halt two years later when she crashed her car when she lost control while speeding in Los Angeles).

This movie is available on a quite good Alpha DVD.

Cheerful Yet Dreadfully Acted

[iquine · 4/10 · 1 November 2019]

(Flash Review)

This is not a good movie, yet it had a fun feel. It is about a cop while gets fired after pulling over the Captain's daughter too much for speeding yet after losing his job he still attempts to take down a bunch of truck heists. The best I could say about the acting is they were able to memorize their lines. There were some bold stunts for the '30s with cars and falls from high places. Not worth the time even at under 60min.

Not With Harry Webb Directing!

[boblipton · 4/10 · 18 July 2023]

Trucking company owner Earl Dwire has two problems. On is that his trucks keep getting hijacked. The other is that his daughter, Lois Wilde, keeps getting ticketed for speeding by motorcycle cop Richard Talmadge. When he catches her this time, he announces he's taking her to the station, but she flees, forcing him to follow her and carry her, dressed in a bathing suit, to the station. Dwire admires his commitment and pluck and hires him to investigate the hijackings and keep an eye on Miss Wilde.

The highlights of Talmadge's movies are the stunts, and there are three or four very good ones here. Unfortunately, the story is ineptly written and under the direction of Harry Webb, who never thought that you could show guys in an ambulance with a sign reading "Receiving hospital" and let it go at that. No, you had to have the guard ask where they're from, and then have them tell him. Cameraman William Hyer tries to speed up this and the turgid cutting pace with pan shots, but it doesn't do much, especially with the bad line readings.

Talmadge had come to theUS as part of an acrobatic troupe. Soon he was doing movie stunts, including some for Douglas Fairbanks. He began his own series of stunt-laden adventure movies in 1921, but by the coming of sound, his vehicles were getting pretty bad. He starred in one more movie later the same year, then returned to stunt work and direction, working on productions like HOW THE WEST WAS WON. He retired in 1979 and died in 1981, aged 88.

Better Than Expected

[dougdoepke · 26 July 2021]

Okay, I admit it': I was pleasantly surprised by this bottom-budget 1936 flick, only 57-minutes long. But the action hardly lets up as hijackers use an inside man to grab gasoline tankers, while our hero, ex-patrolman Talmadge, tries to out-smart them. And catch those rickety old two lane highways they race down, along with the drabby filling stations, and hopped-up motorcycles. And how about those bulging oil tanks they circle around ; one explosion and the whole city goes up. It sure ain't the LA of Hollywood and Vine or even studio back-lots. Then too, reviewer JH Reid's right: where else can we get such graphic views of the past than these vintage flicks, especially the cheepos. And how about stuntman Talmadge's many acrobatic stunts done with such amazing ease, though his fist fights with four guys are about as plausible as my dance-work. Also, too bad sweetie Wilde's presence fades with the second half. I really liked her imaginative way of sidling up to handsome patrolman Talmadge, though it costs Dad a load of money. Sure, the flick's about the last word in movie obscurity, plus being a distance from a sleeper. Still, the camera-work and overall energy show that even bottom barrel budgets can vibrate with life and roadsides past.

Enjoyable Film

[kerryflow · 8/10 · 14 February 2021]

I am a big Richard Talmadge fan . So far , I have found all of his films entertaining , and this one was no exception . I only regret that more of his films are not available .

"If This Keeps Up, Our Business Will Be At A Complete Standstill!"...

[azathothpwiggins · 17 July 2021]

In MURDER ON THE ROAD (aka: STEP ON IT), State Trooper Larry Evans (Richard Talmage), gets tangled up with a speeding motorist named Connie Banning (Lois Wilde), when she attempts to run him over!

Things get worse when Connie's zillionaire father gets involved, taking Evans down a whole new career path of battling gangsters, performing derring-do, and teaching Connie a thing or two!

This is a suitably corny action film from the period. Talmadge is really good in his role, as are the rest of the cast.

BEST SCENE: At the thugs' hideout, where Evans takes on five guys at once in a boxing match. They spend most of their time running up and down the stairs!...