Geared to Go

"Geared To Go" is a fair-to-middling silent picture with lots of action and acrobatics by its star, Reed Howes, as mentioned the "Arrow Collar Man" of the early part of the last century. But despite lots of action and chase scenes the film falls flat and is ultimately not as good as it could have been.

Howes is the scion of a taxi cab empire which is locked in mortal combat with an independent taxi company, conveniently called the Independent Taxi Company. He is one of the Idle Rich but decides to take a stance after he sees some of his Dad's thugs beat up members of the Indys, and leaves home to seek an honest living. He is evidently very athletic and can be seen jumping from moving cars and from building to building during the picture, but the plot is formulaic and predictable. It takes place in a big city but I didn't recognize it - maybe L.A. or Chicago.

"Geared To Go" is not really that good and only of passing interest, but I could recommend it as a conversation piece for movie archaeologists.

How marvelous and unexpected this picture is! Reed Howes? Who was he? One of many former Arrow-Collar men, from what I could learn, but he also starred in over a dozen silent action pictures seemingly designed to please Saturday matinee attendees. I've seen another Howes silent, CYCLONE CAVALIER, also featuring Claudette Colbert look-alike Carmelita Geraghty, but GEARED is by far the more interesting of the two. No pun intended, but GEARED is non-stop action and fun. Everyone seems to be driving fast, including the young, hero-worshipping kid who tags along to help the hero expose the crooked taxi cartel. Howes does anything and everything your "A" budget hero, say, Doug Senior, could do, but here he clearly makes up for lack of budget with superior skill and breath-taking athleticism, and a youthful, self-effacing attractiveness that off-sets a remarkably contemporary appearance. Historically of little importance, nevertheless, GEARED TO GO provides constant, detailed entertainment for anyone who enjoys action, excitement, and tons of old cars.