FREE AND EASY (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1930), directed by Edward Sedgwick, like many early sound films, happens to be a musical. And like many early sound films, this one, too, stars one of many from the silent screen era making a transition into the new phase known as "the "talkies." Not counting the all-star musical extravaganza appropriately titled "The Hollywood Revue of 1929" (MGM, 1929), FREE AND EASY marks the talking debut of Buster Keaton. As with so many silent movie comedians, ranging from Harold Lloyd to Harry Langdon being heard on screen for the first time, wondering whether or not their careers would resume in the same capacity as before, only Charlie Chaplin chose to remain silent a little while longer. For Buster, it wasn't how he spoke that slowly declined his promising career, but how the powers that be over at MGM used or misused his talents as both comedian and leading man. The selection of having Keaton's talking debut set mostly inside a movie studio is a sound idea, yet one wonders how the movie in general might have been had it been scripted and completely supervised by Keaton himself.
The basic plot involves Elmer J. Butts (Buster Keaton), a garage owner of Golpher City, Kansas, chosen by the Chamber of Commerce, to act as manager for Elvira Plunkett (Anita Page), winner of the "Miss Gopher City" contest. On their railroad trip to Hollywood, they are escorted by Elvira's overbearing mother (Trixie Friganza) who has a very low opinion of Elmer. Following a farewell committee at the station, Elvira encounters Larry Mitchell (Robert Montgomery), formerly Hymie Schwartz also of Kansas, now motion picture star on his way to attend the premiere of his latest motion picture, "The Love Call" at Grauman's Chinese Theater. Following a series of unexpected mishaps on the MGM lot while movie making is in progress, Elmer somehow is offered a position in the studio while Elvira encounters more than just a possible movie assignment and coping with her mother's constant insults against Elmer.
Song selections by Roy Turk, Fred E. Ahlert and William Kernell include" "It Must Be You" (sung by Robert Montgomery, sequence used in 1974's documentary of MGM Musicals, THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT); "It Must Be You" (reprise), "Penitenary Blues," "Ah King, Ah Queen" (performed by Buster Keaton and Trixie Friganza); "Free and Easy" (sung by Buster Keaton)," "Free and Easy" (sung by chorus); and "It Must Be You."
Though some song interludes weaken the promising concept of the story, FREE AND EASY benefits greatly from its assortment of MGM guest stars appearing as themselves, including that of child star Jackie Coogan, wiseacre comedian William Haines, Dorothy Sebastian (who co-starred opposite Keaton in 1929's SPITE MARRIAGE); Karl Dane in Cave Scene; John Miljan and Gwen Lee in Bedroom Scene. William Collier Sr. Appears acting as master of ceremonies during the motion picture premiere segment. Notable directors participate considerably into the storyline as well, including Fred Niblo; Lionel Barrymore (actor then turned director before returning to acting again); the legendary Cecil B. DeMille and David Burton. A pity that there wasn't consideration for some now prominent names as Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer, John Gilbert in cameo appearances as well.
Having watched FREE AND EASY numerous times whether it be on VHS, DVD, or one of many broadcasts from Turner Classic Movies, it's my guess that circulating prints appear to be missing some material mostly during the first half hour. There's really no plot development pertaining to the central characters (though whom they are and their background are briefly mentioned). The film simply opens at a train station with its central characters where the story gets going from there. A train sequence where Elvira talks to her mother about her meeting with actor Larry Mitchell ends abruptly, immediately followed by a movie premiere rather than a logical choice of the trio's arrival in Hollywood and what occurs next. Some sources list this at 106 minutes while other clock it to the current length of 93 minutes.
As much as some may claim the Keaton comedies for MGM cannot compare to those he starred in during the silent era, FREE AND EASY does contain some laughable moments, including one where his Elmer drives to a premiere but is unable to find a place to park his car until miles away near a cow pasture; and another where Elmer tries desperately memorizing his lines for a movie, driving director Fred Niblo and assistant director (Edward Brophy) to a point of mental exhaustion. Had FREE AND EASY been remade in the 1940s, chances are its leading players might have been Red Skelton, Gloria Graham, Frank Sinatra and Marjorie Main in place of Keaton, Page, Montgomery and Friganza.
Final notes: Television prints for FREE AND EASY were changed to "Easy Go," so not to confuse with MGM's non-remake 1941 comedy FREE AND EASY starring Robert Cummings and Judith Anderson. Though TNT and TCM formerly presented this long forgotten Keaton comedy as "Easy Go" in the past, the original title and has been restored. While Keaton played Elmer J. Butts again in WHAT, NO BEER! (MGM, 1933), whether it's the same character or another bearing the same name played by the same actor is anyone's free and easy guess. (***)
