''The Pace That Kills'' (also known as ''Cocaine Madness'' and ''The Cocaine Fiends'') is a 1935 American

exploitation film An exploitation film is a film that tries to succeed financially by exploiting current trends, niche genres, or lurid content. Exploitation films are generally low-quality "B movies", though some set trends, attract critical attention, become hi ...

directed by William O'Connor. The film, starring

Lois January Lois January (October 5, 1913 – August 7, 2006) was an American actress and singer who performed small roles in several B-movies during the 1930s. Early life Born in McAllen, Texas, as Laura Lois January, she "was prodded into show busin ...

, tells the story of Jane Bradford, who gets involved with a

drug dealer A drug is any chemical substance that causes a change in an organism's physiology or psychology when consumed. Drugs are typically distinguished from food and substances that provide nutritional support. Consumption of drugs can be via inhalati ...

and becomes addicted to

cocaine Cocaine (from , from , ultimately from Quechua: ''kúka'') is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant mainly used recreationally for its euphoric effects. It is primarily obtained from the leaves of two Coca species native to South Ameri ...

. Similar to other movies of the genre, the final film was a reissued work with additional scenes, mostly using footage from the earlier silent '' The Pace That Kills'' (1928)."Detail: 'The Pace That Kills'."
''AFI''. Retrieved: May 18, 2016.

Plot

Small-town girl Jane Bradford (

) falls for Nick (

Noel Madison Noel Madison (born Noel Nathaniel Moscovitch; April 30, 1897 – January 6, 1975) was an American character actor in the 1930s and 1940s and appeared in 75 films, often as a gangster. Born in New York City, Madison was the son of actor M ...

), a guy from the big city who offers her the opportunity to escape her small-town life. He also offers her "headache powder" that she is unaware is really cocaine—and that Nick is a drug dealer. By the time they get to the city, she is hooked on her new medicine. When Jane's family back home doesn't hear from her for a year, her brother Eddie (Dean Benton) comes to the city to look for her. He gets a job as a drive-in carhop and is befriended by waitress Fanny (

Sheila Bromley Sheila Bromley (born Sheila LeGay; October 31, 1911 – July 23, 2003), (The reference work ''Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2003'' gave her birth date as October 31, 1907). sometimes billed as Sheila LeGay, Sheila Manners, Sheila Manno ...

). Fanny is one of Nick customers, and Fanny soon gets Eddie hooked on the "headache powder." This vice soon sends Eddie's and Fanny's lives downhill: they're both fired and unable to find new jobs. On the periphery of both Eddie and Jane's lives is Dorothy Farley (Lois Lindsay), a drive-in customer who dates Dan (Charles Delaney). She comes from a wealthy family, throws money around easily, and is willing to financially assist those in need. Fanny tells Eddie that she is pregnant. He tells her he really never loved her. She turns off the flame and lets the gas into the tenement. The song "All I Want Is You" is sung at the nightclub. Dorothy's father is exposed as a drug mobster and Jane, now known as Lil, shoots and kills Nick as the police arrive. Dan was an undercover cop and he and Dorothy are to marry.

Cast

as Jane Bradford aka Lil *

as Nick - The Pusher *

as Fanny * Dean Benton as Eddie Bradford * Lois Lindsay as Dorothy Farley *

Charles Delaney Charles Delaney (August 9, 1892 – August 31, 1959) was an American actor. Biography Delaney was born in New York City in 1892. He was originally a motor mechanic and having learned to fly during World War I, he started doing flying vaud ...

as Dan - the Detective - Dorothy's Boyfriend * Eddie Phillips as Manager of Dead Rat Club *

Frank Shannon Francis Connolly Shannon (27 July 1874 – 1 February 1959) was an Irish actor and writer. Career A stage actor and silent film pioneer, Shannon made his screen debut in 1913's '' The Artist's Joke''. He later appeared in dozens of film ...

as Mr. Farley *

Fay Holden Dorothy Fay Hammerton (26 September 1893 – 23 June 1973), known professionally as Fay Holden, was a British-born, American-based actress. She was known as Gaby Fay early in her career. Biography Holden was born in Birmingham, England. After ...

as Madame / Henchwoman * Maury Peck as himself - Master of Ceremonies * Nona Lee as herself - Vocalist * Gay Sheridan as Dorothy's Friend * Frank Collins as himself - Singing Waiter

Preservation status

*A copy is preserved in the Library of Congress collection.

Production

Typical of the other films that Willis Kent produced during the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s was a string of low-budget westerns and exploitation films, thinly disguised as cautionary tales. The plot also dealt with amorality and prostitution. Production began November 9, 1935.

Soundtrack

* Nona Lee - "All I Want Is You" * Frank Collins - "Towsee Mongalay" (Written by Grahame Jones)

Reception

''The Pace That Kills'' was released without a Code seal from the

Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America The Motion Picture Association (MPA) is an American trade association representing the five major film studios of the United States, as well as the video streaming service Netflix. Founded in 1922 as the Motion Picture Producers and Distribu ...

(MPPDA) and distributed via "State Rights" where local sales agents would then sell rights to individual theaters. The theater operators would then play the film as often as they desired in an attempt to make as much profit as possible.Hall and Neale 2010, p. 24. ''The Pace That Kills'' was re-issued in 1937 as ''The Cocaine Fiends''.

Re-use of footage

Footage from the film, including the song "All I Want Is You," was re-used in '' Confessions of a Vice Baron'' (1943).

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Cripps, Thomas. ''Hollywood's High Noon: Moviemaking and Society Before Television''. Baltimore, Maryland: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996. . * Hall, Sheldon and Stephen Neale, ''Epics, Spectacles, and Blockbusters: A Hollywood History''. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press, 2010. .

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Pace That Kills 1935 films American social guidance and drug education films American black-and-white films 1935 drama films 1930s exploitation films American drama films 1930s English-language films 1930s American films