The Devil Is Driving

The Devil Is Driving (TDID) is a little known pre-code movie that is currently available for viewing on the Criterion Channel. It is of interest to us today primarily because of its unusual casting. Traditionally offered leading man roles around that time, Edmund Lowe------known mainly to fans of old films for his salty Sergeant Quirt part in the acclaimed Raoul Walsh silent version of What Price Glory (1926) and as the sophisticated society doctor in the all-star MGM classic Dinner at Eight (1933)-------plays an ordinary nondescript auto mechanic (!) who just happens to get involved in some very extraordinary activities that take place in the garage where he works. And seasoned veteran comic actor James Gleason, who over the years accumulated a hefty resume of scene-stealing humorous wise-cracking character parts, plays it more or less straight as the garage's manager as well as a kindly and loyal husband, father and friend. Both Lowe and Gleason stand out in the fast moving and unusual film.

The garage forms the principal setting for this tale, and much credit must go to the director and cinemaphotographer for making TDID both highly realistic and very exciting. Much of the camera work is startling and inventive---well above the usual standard associated with what was probably budgeted as a "B" movie.

Wynne Gibson does her usual thing as the hard-boiled blond with a heart of gold. She was quite believable and effective as Lowe's love interest. A supporting juvenile part was very well played by the talented child actor Dickie Moore.

It is astonishing to realize that Paramount Studio likely produced this little gem as a minor programmer to be shown as the bottom end of a "double bill" theatrical presentation. Nonetheless, TDID is well plotted, absorbing and constantly interesting. TDID is definitely worth being checked out as one of the better pre-code "B" films of the period.