Money for Speed
Money for Speed is a 1933 British sports drama film directed by Bernard Vorhaus and starring John Loder, Ida Lupino, Cyril McLaglen and Moore Marriott. It is centered on the sport of speedway racing, which was at its peak of popularity at the time.
| Money for Speed | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Bernard Vorhaus |
| Produced by | Bernard Vorhaus |
| Written by | Bernard Vorhaus Vera Allinson Monica Ewer Lionel Hale |
| Starring | John Loder Ida Lupino Cyril McLaglen Moore Marriott |
| Music by | Philip Braham |
| Cinematography | Eric Cross |
| Edited by | David Lean |
Production company | Hall Mark Productions |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date | March 1933 |
Running time | 73 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
It featured speedway riders Ginger Lees, Lionel van Praag and Frank Varey, and speedway promoter Johnnie Hoskins. The film's editor David Lean had a brief appearance as a newspaper reporter.
Production and reception
The film was made by the independent company Hall Mark Productions at Wembley Studios and was distributed by United Artists. It was also released under the alternative title Daredevils of Earth. It was for many years considered a lost film, before two prints resurfaced. Along with Vorhaus' other Thirties work, the film was subject to a revival of critical interest from the 1980s onwards and is regarded as one of the most significant low-budget films of the era. It was one of the first feature films made by Vorhaus, who went on to have a notable career in British quota quickies and American supporting films.
Partial cast
- John Loder as Mitch
- Ida Lupino as Jane
- Cyril McLaglen as Big Bill Summers
- Moore Marriott as Shorty
- Marie Ault as Ma
- David Lean as Reporter
Bibliography
- Richards, Jeffrey (ed.). The Unknown 1930s: An Alternative History of the British Cinema, 1929- 1939. I.B. Tauris & Co, 1998