The Speed Spook (1928)

Story of an American invention. A car that is driven by human will power. “It meets its owner at business - then spins dutifully home.“ Man walks down the steps of a building. A car approaches - there is no-one driving. Name painted on the side is “Speed Spook.“ Man gets into the car and steers it. L/S of car approaching the camera down a long drive. Two men climb out. They wave at the car and it reverses by itself, turns around and drives away. “It looks like a cheap way to solve the chauffeur problem.“ L/S of car driving along followed by two others. L/S of car driving down a country track. M/S of the car driving along a busy street - policeman directs traffic. “pinched!“ - (We knew there was a catch in it.)“ reads the intertitle. Policeman on a motorcycle stops the car. He lifts up the bonnet and a man climbs out - smiling. Good, silly, quirky stuff. Large scratch on picture unfortunately. Was item in Pathe Pictorial 359. FILM ID: A VIDEO FROM BRITISH PATHÉ. EXPLORE OUR ONLINE CHANNEL, BRITISH PATHÉ TV. IT’S FULL OF GREAT DOCUMENTARIES, FASCINATING INTERVIEWS, AND CLASSIC MOVIES. FOR LICENSING ENQUIRIES VISIT British Pathé also represents the Reuters historical collection, which includes more than 136,000 items from the news agencies Gaumont Graphic (1910-1932), Empire News Bulletin (1926-1930), British Paramount (1931-1957), and Gaumont British (1934-1959), as well as Visnews content from 1957 to the end of 1984. All footage can be viewed on the British Pathé website.