The Speed King

“Probably the most interesting incident in this two-part drama, written by Philip Lonergan and featuring Arthur Ashley and Muriel Ostriche, shows the manner in which a perfectly honorable young man is suspected of cheating at cards. Alfred’s valet, bribed by his enemy, Ranston, has secreted a number of aces and kings in the lining of Alfred’s vest and at the psychological moment, he is, so to speak caught with the goods. His father disowns him, he is ostracized by his friends, his fiancée proves faithless, but the fiancée’s younger sister retains confidence in his innocence. Several years later Muriel’s trust is rewarded by proof of Alfred’s honesty, and she, of course, becomes his sweetheart. The picture gets its title from the automobile race, in which the hero drives the car to victory. These scenes, photographed at race at Brighton Beach, adds some excitement to the second reel.”

“Arthur Ashley, the new Thanhouser leading man, always has had the racing craze. When the bicycle was at the height of its popularity he tilted round the ring on the lightest and fastest machine used by any professional, describing his course in a blurred streak of gray and scarlet which resembled the Persian asp with his tail eternally in his mouth. Ashley’s first appearance in Thanhouser films will be in The Speed King, released in the Mutual Program January 12, in which he returns to his old daredevil self as driver of an 80 horsepower racer. If he was wont to send his audience home with thrills running up and down their spines from bicycle feats, this automobile antics will be sure to leave the gasping spectators more dead than alive. Most of the scenes were taken at the famous Brighton race tracks which adds to the interest. Another strong attraction of The Speed King is that Muriel Ostriche, youngest leading woman with Thanhouser, and one of the prettiest and most talented actresses on the screen, plays opposite Mr. Ashley.”