The Pace That Kills (1935)

Drug dealer on the run from the law meets an innocent young girl and her brother, and turns them into "cocaine fiends."

Director:

William A. O'Connor (as Wm. A. O'Connor)

Stars:

Lois January, Noel Madison, Sheila Bromley

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Lois January	...	Jane Bradford aka Lil
Noel Madison	...	Nick - The Pusher
Sheila Bromley	...	Fanny (as Sheila Manners)
Dean Benton	...	Eddie Bradford
Lois Lindsay	...	Dorothy Farley
Charles Delaney	...	Dan - the Detective - Dorothy's Boyfriend (as Chas. Delaney)
Eddie Phillips	...	Manager of Dead Rat Club
Frank Shannon	...	Mr. Farley
Fay Holden	...	Madame / Henchwoman (as Gaby Fay)
Maury Peck	...	Master of Ceremonies
Nona Lee	...	Band Vocalist
Gay Sheridan	...	Dorothy's Friend
Frank Collins	...	Singing Waiter

Storyline

Small town girl Jane Bradford falls for Nick, a guy from the big city who offers her the opportunity to get away from her small town life. He also offers her "headache powder", she not knowing that it's cocaine and that Nick is a drug pusher. By the time they get to the city, she's hooked on her new medicine. Jane's brother, Eddie, goes to the city to look for his sister, who has not kept in touch with her family. Eddie gets a job as a carhop at a drive-in and is befriended by a drive-in's waitress named Fanny. Fanny is one of Nick's customers, and Fanny soon gets Eddie hooked on the headache powder. Due to this vice, Eddie and Fanny's life soon goes downhill. They're both fired from their jobs and are unable to find other work in their drugged out state. On the periphery of both Eddie and Jane's life is Dorothy Farley, a customer at the drive-in. Dorothy, dating Dan, comes from a wealthy family and she throws her money around easily. She's willing to assist financially those in need....

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Plot Keywords:

cocaine | opium den | drug dealer | wealthy family | drive in restaurant | 

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Taglines:

The white dust from hell!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

December 1935 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Cocaine Fiends

Filming Locations:

7200 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Willis Kent Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

68 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The nightclub bill for the cover charge, six drinks and the tax (at only 3%) comes to $9.79. That would equate to $172.25 in 2016.

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Goofs

Even though the original title was "The Cocaine Fiends" , and cocaine is the main plot point, no one is ever actually shown doing the drug on screen (every time someone goes for a line, the film cuts to a shot of the dealer watching with glee that he has a new customer/victim).

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Quotes

Fanny: Tonight I'm gonna take you on a sleigh ride with some snow birds.
Eddie: Sleigh ride? Snow birds? In summer?
Fanny: Gee, you ARE dumb!

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Crazy Credits

Opening statement: Among the many evils against which society struggles, one of the most vicious is the traffic in dope . . in every community where the menace developes all the forces which society can mobilize, including social agencies, doctors, law enforcement officials and government band together to stamp it out . . . . . . Without such activity the dope evil would run rampant. Yet it has long been recognized that one other powerful force is necessary before the struggle can be completely successful. That force is an aroused and educated public awareness. It is in the hope of aiding in developing such awareness that this picture has been produced. What happens to Jane Bradford may happen to anyone. There will always be "Jane Bradfords" until you, Mr. Citizen, co-operate with the forces now fighting the dope evil to forever stamp it out in our land. --The Management.

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Connections

Remake of The Pace That Kills (1928)

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Soundtracks

Towsee Mongalay
(1915) (uncredited)
Words and Music by Grahame Jones
Performed by Frank Collins

User Reviews

dull and misguided anti-drugs exploitation film

Also known as 'The Cocaine Fiends' this film is actually rather dull, and the quality of prints available for viewing now are fairly poor. The story of Jane Bradford's fall from grace after she takes a 'headache cure' isn't really that interesting, or played particularly well.

If you've seen 'Reefer Madness', which is something of a companion piece, then you've seen the better film of the two. And that should not be taken as a recommendation! The 1930s exploitation films, setting themselves out as some kind of public education, are all appalling and really have no relevance today unless they can amuse or intrigue. 'The Pace That Kills' can do neither.