diff --git a/direct/src/interval/Interval.py b/direct/src/interval/Interval.py
index 961137eff6..925298062b 100644
--- a/direct/src/interval/Interval.py
+++ b/direct/src/interval/Interval.py
@@ -170,6 +170,24 @@ class Interval(DirectObject):
     def isPlaying(self):
         return taskMgr.hasTaskNamed(self.getName() + '-play')
 
+    def getPlayRate(self):
+        """ Returns the play rate as set by the last call to start(),
+        loop(), or setPlayRate(). """
+        return self.__playRate
+
+    def setPlayRate(self, playRate):
+        """ Changes the play rate of the interval.  If the interval is
+        already started, this changes its speed on-the-fly.  Note that
+        since playRate is a parameter to start() and loop(), the next
+        call to start() or loop() will reset this parameter. """
+        
+        if self.isPlaying():
+            self.pause()
+            self.__playRate = playRate
+            self.resume()
+        else:
+            self.__playRate = playRate
+
     def setDoneEvent(self, event):
         self.doneEvent = event
 
diff --git a/direct/src/interval/cInterval.cxx b/direct/src/interval/cInterval.cxx
index 2faad02504..6bfda43e45 100644
--- a/direct/src/interval/cInterval.cxx
+++ b/direct/src/interval/cInterval.cxx
@@ -288,6 +288,37 @@ is_playing() const {
   return (index >= 0);
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: CInterval::get_play_rate
+//       Access: Published
+//  Description: Returns the play rate as set by the last call to
+//               start(), loop(), or set_play_rate().
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+double CInterval::
+get_play_rate() const {
+  return _play_rate;
+}
+
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: CInterval::set_play_rate
+//       Access: Published
+//  Description: Changes the play rate of the interval.  If the
+//               interval is already started, this changes its speed
+//               on-the-fly.  Note that since play_rate is a parameter
+//               to start() and loop(), the next call to start() or
+//               loop() will reset this parameter.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+void CInterval::
+set_play_rate(double play_rate) {
+  if (is_playing()) {
+    pause();
+    _play_rate = play_rate;
+    resume();
+  } else {
+    _play_rate = play_rate;
+  }
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: CInterval::priv_do_event
 //       Access: Published
diff --git a/direct/src/interval/cInterval.h b/direct/src/interval/cInterval.h
index 1d3b0414cb..083161e7fe 100644
--- a/direct/src/interval/cInterval.h
+++ b/direct/src/interval/cInterval.h
@@ -98,6 +98,9 @@ PUBLISHED:
   void clear_to_initial();
   bool is_playing() const;
 
+  double get_play_rate() const;
+  void set_play_rate(double play_rate);
+
   // These functions control the actual playback of the interval.
   // Don't call them directly; they're intended to be called from a
   // supervising object, e.g. the Python start() .. finish()