''The Devil is Driving'' is a 1932 American pre-Code film directed by Benjamin Stoloff and starring Edmund Lowe. The film's title was typical of the sensationalistic titles of many pre-Code films.Doherty. pg 103 It runs a mere 63 minutes, and like many Pre-Code movies deals openly with issues like sex and violence. Lowe plays a chronic gambler who drifts into a life of crime.The Devil is Driving
tcm.com, accessed October 12, 2010. ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' gave the film a mixed review upon its release.Hall, Mordaunt
The Devil Is Driving (1932) Edmund Lowe and Wynne Gibson in a Story Dealing With the Activities of Automobile Thieves
''The New York Times, December 16, 1932, accessed October 13, 2010.

Plot

Orville "Gabby" Denton is an alcoholic

drifter A drifter is a vagrant who moves from place to place without a fixed home or employment. Drifter(s) or The Drifter(s) may also refer to: Films and television Films * ''The Drifter'' (1917 film), an American film directed by Fred Kelsey * ''Th ...

with a chronic gambling problem. Despite his flaws he is beloved by his family. Gabby's brother-in-law Beef gets Gabby work as a mechanic at the Metropolitan Garage. The shop is a front to a stolen car ring. Beef, who is otherwise honest, is aware of this. One day, Gabby is sent to pick up Silver, Jenkins's girl friend, whose car has broken down. They start a relationship and Silver leaves Jenkins. During a getaway, one of car thieves hits Gabby's nephew Buddy, who is in the street driving a toy car. The driver makes it to the garage, and Buddy receives treatment at a hospital. A witness points out the car to Gabby, and he understands it's the car that drove into the garage to be repainted. He investigates and discovers a piece of Buddy's little car in the wheel of the stolen car. When he confronts Beef, Beef gets drunk and confronts Jenkins and the head of the stolen car ring. They kill Beef and make his death look accidental. Photographer Bill Jones gives Gabby a photograph of Beef in the car before the accident, which shows Beef was already dead. Silver and Gabby confront Jenkins. The criminals drive away, but die in a car crash. With the hoodlums out of the way, Gabby marries Silver.

Cast

* Edmund Lowe as 'Gabby' Denton * Wynne Gibson as 'Silver' * James Gleason as 'Beef' Evans * Lois Wilson as Nancy Evans *

Alan Dinehart Mason Alan Dinehart Sr. (born Harold Alan Dinehart; October 3, 1889 – July 18, 1944) was an American actor, director, writer, and stage manager. Biography Dinehart initially studied to be a priest, but he turned to the theater instead. ...

as Jenkins * Dickie Moore as 'Buddy' Evans * George Rosener as The Dummy * Guinn "Big Boy" Williams as Mac

Reception

Mordaunt Hall Mordaunt Hall (1 November 1878 – 2 July 1973) was the first regularly assigned motion picture critic for ''The New York Times'', working from October 1924 to September 1934.The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' praised the performances of the actors and the film's brisk pace, but found the story highly implausible.

Allmovie AllMovie (previously All Movie Guide) is an online database with information about films, television programs, and screen actors. , AllMovie.com and the AllMovie consumer brand are owned by RhythmOne. History AllMovie was founded by popular-cult ...

gave the film a positive review stating that the picture provided a few genuine surprises and moved quickly.Eder, Bruce
The Devil Is Driving (1932)

AllMovie AllMovie (previously All Movie Guide) is an online database with information about films, television programs, and screen actors. , AllMovie.com and the AllMovie consumer brand are owned by RhythmOne. History AllMovie was founded by popular-cult ...

reprinted in ''The New York Times'', accessed October 12, 2010.

Notes

References

*Doherty, Thomas Patrick. ''Pre-Code Hollywood: Sex, Immorality, and Insurrection in American Cinema 1930-1934''. New York: Columbia University Press 1999.

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Devil is Driving 1932 films 1932 drama films American drama films Films directed by Benjamin Stoloff American black-and-white films Paramount Pictures films Films scored by Karl Hajos 1930s American films 1930s English-language films