Volume II: Filmography

THE SPEED KING

Working title: THE WINNER WINS

January 12, 1915 (Tuesday)

Length: 2 reels (2,014 feet)

Character: Drama

Scenario: Philip Lonergan

Cast: Arthur Ashley (Alfred Atherton), Muriel Ostriche (Muriel Randall), Carey L. Hastings (her mother), Ethel Jewett, Morgan Jones

Location: Some scenes on the second reel were filmed at the Brighton race track, near Coney Island, New York.

Note: An expanded story based on the scenario of this film appeared in the February 1915 issue of The Photoplay Magazine.

ARTICLE, Reel Life, December 26, 1914:

"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."

SYNOPSIS, Reel Life, January 2, 1915:

"Alfred Atherton, an automobile enthusiast, is falsely accused by George Ranston, a rival in love, of cheating at cards. He is expelled from the club and disowned by his father and sweetheart, Lucy Randall. Mr. Randall, Lucy's father, however, gives the young man a chance to begin life anew in his automobile factory. Three years later, when Randall's daughters, Lucy and her younger sister Muriel, return from abroad they find Atherton greatly changed. He is no longer a young idler, but a dependable business man. A keen competition is instituted between the various automobile companies with the result that unless Randall's company wins the great race at the Brighton Motor Drome they will be forced to the verge of bankruptcy. Randall, however, is optimistic, as he has engaged the most skillful driver in the country. An accident at the last minute, however, disables the man. Atherton volunteers to take his place. He wins the race for the company and the love of Muriel. Soon after this the truth about the card cheating comes out. Arthur's [sic; character name Alfred intended] father asks his son's forgiveness and, cleared now before the world, he marries Muriel."

REVIEW, The Morning Telegraph, January 10, 1915:

"Atherton, automobile enthusiast and idler, is falsely accused of cheating at cards and expelled from the club, disowned by his father and spurned by his fiancée, Muriel Randall. The latter's father gives him a chance in his factory, and three years later when Muriel returns from abroad she finds that now a dependable young businessman. Her father's company must win the big race in order to boom sales for his car. Atherton drives, winning the race and the girl."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, January 23, 1915:

"A very pleasing two-reel story written by Philip Lonergan, with Arthur Ashley and Muriel Ostriche in the cast. The son of the auto manufacturer is made the victim of a frame-up in a card game, accused of cheating and shut out of the best society. Only the younger sister of the sweetheart remains true to him. Later the youth wins in a spirited auto race and his name is cleared of the stigma upon it by a confession of his former valet. This is presented in a lively fashion and the scenes are well photographed. The hero, of course, marries the younger girl."

REVIEW, The New York Dramatic Mirror, January 13, 1915:

"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."

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