Wow! Such a good movie.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

James Murray, star of King Vidor's "The Crowd" (1928), had a checkered sound career. His one powerful scene as the train brakeman in "Baby Face" (1933) was censored before the movie hit theaters (although, pleasing to report, it has been restored in the Warner DVD release). In the Grapevine Video 7/10 DVD, "High Gear" (1933) release, we discover that James Murray actually has a pleasingly strong voice, although joined to a somewhat bland personality. Admittedly, the script in which a juvenile Jackie Searl is allowed to run riot, does not favor Murray, while those masters of comic relief, Eddie Lambert and Ann Brody, are also allowed to steal scenes right, left and center. Leigh Jason's uninspired direction doesn't help Murray either. And even worse, the screenplay's noirish aspects are toned down almost to the point of non-existence. Also poorly treated is heroine Joan Marsh who ends up making no impression at all,

This film is in the public domain and time has not been good to the print. As a result of it being an orphan, the print is choppy--with parts of the dialog clipped out here and there. Additionally, during the first race, a scene occurs from early in the film--completely out of place and out of sequence. So, as the leading man is racing about in his hot rod, the scene switched from the race to the same guy with the female reporter--trying to make time with her! Then, the scene switches and he's back behind the wheel of his sports car in the middle of the same race! Yikes! There's plenty more like this, unfortunately.James Murray plays a racing car driver. His best friend is his co-driver (standard back in the old days) and when this friend is killed in a race, Murray is so traumatized that he cannot bring himself to go back to racing. He also has inherited custody of his friend's son and has determined to keep him in a nice military academy--but paying for it is tough when he's not able to race. Murray makes ends meet as a taxi driver but doesn't tell the kid or a nice reporter (Joan Marsh) who is infatuated with him. In fact, he's so ashamed that he avoids her like the plague.Later, the lady accidentally discovers his new identity as a cabbie but decides NOT to divulge this in her column. But, her friend's promise NOT to mention this is immediately broken--as he reports on Murray's fall in his next radio show--calling Murray "yellow" and telling everyone that he's now just a cab driver. This makes life tough for the kid in military school, as he's idolized Murray and told everyone all about his 'Uncle Mark' and his exploits. Considering that this is a rather predictable B-movie, you just know by the end of the film that Murray will be back behind the wheel and his winning ways. However, I must admit that HOW this occurred took me by surprise--even if it was incredibly contrived and odd.The film is a very standard low-budget B-movie. There are a few things of interest, though not enough to make this one to see. First, the film did a nice job of portraying PTSD (though such a term wasn't coined for several more decades). Second, I liked that Marsh was a very ordinary looking woman--a bit chunky and less glamorous than you might expect. I like this, as too often in film everyone is sexy and beautiful--and totally unlike real life. Third, I liked the neighbors. While walking ethnic stereotypes, they were sweet and added nice color to the otherwise drab film. Overall, because of the standard plot and choppy print, there isn't any real compelling reason to see this one.

HIGH GEAR (Goldsmith Productions, 1933), directed by Leigh Jason, is a minor 67 minute programmer that merit's some consideration for being one of the very few films of the sound era where actor James Murray plays a prominent part. The name James Murray may be of little or no importance to anyone who's never seen him in the role he's most identified, THE CROWD (MGM, 1928), a silent drama directed by King Vidor. Although he appeared opposite such notables as Lon Chaney (THE BIG CITY, THUNDER) and Joan Crawford (ROSE MARIE) during his 1928-29 MGM period, Murray's career, which showed great promise in THE CROWD, drifted to obscurity, turning up in minor roles with or without screen credit, with occasional leads in poverty row features such as the one called HIGH GEAR.The plot revolves around Mark "High Gear" Sherrod (James Murray), whose career has reached its peak after five years as a race car driver. His popularity lands him an exclusive interview with Anne Merritt (Joan Marsh), a newspaper gal or "sob sister" for the Morning Eagle, with whom he becomes interested. During the big race, Mark's car, The Red Lion Special, meets with a serious accident, causing the death of Eddie Evans (Mike Donlan), his mechanic co-driver and best friend. Taking the responsibility in raising Eddie's young son, Jimmy (Jackie Searle), Mark keeps his friend's promise by raising the boy and enlisting him in military school. Unable to resume his profession, Mark, who has lost his nerve, gives up racing, earning his living driving cabs in order to help pay for Jimmy's tuition. Mark's new profession is exposed on radio after being spotted by Larry Winston (Theodore Von Eltz), a columnist and Mark's rival for Anne. To escape embarrassment from his fellow classmates, Jimmy leaves the academy to be with Mark, only to get himself caught in the middle of a taxi war between Mark and rival cabbies, leaving Jimmy with a fractured skull caused by a thrown wrench, and further complications for Mark.Somewhat inspired by James Cagney's racing drama, THE CROWD ROARS (Warners, 1932), where character reaches the downward path after the accidental death of his pal during a car race, HIGH GEAR indicates that while this James is no Cagney nor the film itself can't compare to the fast-pace action most associated with Warner Brothers, it starts off promisingly with its opening titles imposed over the live action of Jackie Searle holding stop watch as James Murray and Mike Donlin are seen driving the race car around the track, then shifts gears after an exciting race sequence over to the military academy, taxi stands and uninspired sentiment. HIGH GEAR does offer amusements, however, including one where news-gal (Marsh) makes way into man's (Murray) hotel room to get an interview, even when he's taking a shower. There's also comedy relief provided ethnic types, Mr. and Mrs. Cohen (Eddie Lambert and Ann Brody), the friendly landlords to the central characters. Though their Yiddish dialects and stereotypical manners were quite typical of the day, their performances sometimes get in the way of the story.Joan Marsh, a young blonde with a physical appearance of a then youthful Barbara Pepper or Mary Carlisle, is satisfactory as the news gal while Jackie Searle appears against type in a sympathetic role, though more natural playing a whining brat for which he is famous. James Murray on the other hand indicates what might have been had better roles been in his favor. Tragically, Murray, who was found dead through mysterious circumstances in 1936, never leaving any kind of legacy as James Dean or others who died at a young age.Seldom televised, HIGH GEAR did play part as a 45 minute featurette in the 90 minute PBS showing of "Matinee at the Bijou" of the 1980s preceded by newsreel, chapter serial, coming attraction and short subject. Although HIGH GEAR will never win any trophy cups for coming in first as screen entertainment, it's availability on home video and later DVD is a great opportunity in seeing and hearing the actor whose accomplishment made THE CROWD a classic it's become today. (*1/2)

Uneven drama about a racecar driver who's life spins out of control when his second in his racecar (when they had them in those dem days) dies, after a crash. You see, his partner's son was all hyped about going to military school, and after his partner dies, he adopts the kid ("Wanna stay with me?") and gives the kid his wish. But, because of the accident, he's slightly spooked about getting into a car again, and soon, because he needs to scrape by enough money for the kid's education, is forced to driving cars for a living.This is sort of confusing to follow (mainly because the print I saw is severely banged up), filled with annoying characters (That Italian couple got on me nerves!) and a sappy cloying child actor. Ugh.