Buster's MGM stay came close to destroying him. He persevered, played in poverty row shorts, was a gag man, married a good lady and finally got the recognition as a true genius.
Imagine having one of the most talented directors and performers of his generation and treating him like a dancing monkey until there's nothing left. I still lose sleep sometimes over it
🐱I just saw this movie today! I don't think this was his best work, but for his first talkie it's not completely terrible. I loved his voice, and reading some of the history behind the film, Buster was not to blame for how his performance came out. However, I just love him during this sequence along with it's reprise 💖💖💖. Thanks for posting this. P.S. I know it would have made no sense, but I wish Elvira chose him. He looked completely heart broken at the end😢.
MGM is often lambasted for relegating Buster Keaton, and his first talkie is not as much appreciated as what we consider as his applauded classic silent movies, but in my humble opinion, MGM could be vindicated to show Keaton being so versatile.
Buster had a fine singing voice, but MGM played him in this as a sad figure so audiences would feel sorry for him. Buster, in films he produced, never played for the audience's sympathy.
MGM didn't understand Buster or his talent at all. This wasn't a Buster Keaton film; it was an MGM film, and Buster was stuck in it. He's adorable here (of course!), but that part when he is suspended by wires and dressed like a clown was just totally weird and I'm sure he hated the whole thing.
He knew perfectly that did in this film. He shows how the major studio cinema bussiness treat to ALL artists. Only that it was showed in vaudevillian and comic form. Not everybody understand this.
ont ce dit sans aucune retenu que ces salots de la MGM ont détruits sont personnage . Buster Keaton ce fra viré de la MGM mais travaillera toujours pour des petites maisons de productions. Puis sera de nouveau médiatisé et fera des quantités de films et des shows télé en vedette entre temps il a rencontré Eleonore la femme de ça vie et sera relancé par raymond Rahauyer ces chefs d oeuvres dans les cinémas. Il travaillera jusqu' en 1965 et décédera en février 1966 . Buster keaton est éternel et intemporel pour des siecles.
No, I'd never make fun of Buster, even though he's a funny guy. It's just I've never seen him made up like a clown before.....it just seems different and odd from what he usually does.
Buster's MGM stay came close to destroying him. He persevered, played in poverty row shorts, was a gag man, married a good lady and finally got the recognition as a true genius.
POVERTY ROW IS RIGHT. YOU DONT GET ANY LOWER THAN EDUCATIONAL PICTURES.
I was delightfully surprised at how well Buster could dance!
But I shouldn't be so surprised seeing as how he's so athletic and agile
I think he's absolutely adorable! Soooooooooo talented! Could do it all!
Love Buster Keaton. He was cinema. He was beauty. He was talent. He was heartbreaking.
Concordo ❤
Kind sad...but shows what a great talent he was...
could watch Keaton all day dancing Free and Easy
I put this on a Loop for hours!
Love the 30s music this upbeat syncopation is great and the accent foot tap is perfect The intro was king .
I looove his voice... and that he can dance... *sighs*
One of my favorite Buster Keaton movies. It's a tie, with "The Cameraman" being the other.
he so cute...
Omg he’s singing!
3:31 how MGM treated Buster
Imagine having one of the most talented directors and performers of his generation and treating him like a dancing monkey until there's nothing left. I still lose sleep sometimes over it
Yes! Exactly! Absolutely tragic.
I LOVE THIS! Watched the Funny Movie when I was a teenager!
It must have been difficult to dance with that crazy outfit he has on.
🐱I just saw this movie today! I don't think this was his best work, but for his first talkie it's not completely terrible. I loved his voice, and reading some of the history behind the film, Buster was not to blame for how his performance came out. However, I just love him during this sequence along with it's reprise 💖💖💖. Thanks for posting this.
P.S. I know it would have made no sense, but I wish Elvira chose him. He looked completely heart broken at the end😢.
Yeah, once Buster went to MGM, all his creative control went out the window. It's really sad how they pretty much ruined him :-(
The orchestra starts with a Duke Ellington sound at 3:28! I LOVE IT!
MGM is often lambasted for relegating Buster Keaton, and his first talkie is not as much appreciated as what we consider as his applauded classic silent movies, but in my humble opinion, MGM could be vindicated to show Keaton being so versatile.
I LOVE THESE PRE CODE FILMS WITH THEIR FUN LOVING EARTHINESS. BEFORE THE HAYS OFFICE HAD TO GO AND SANITIZE EVERYTHING.
That's for sure. He IS the man with the steel face.
Is it bad if I think Buster looks sad and cute in his makeup all at the same time?
Glad I'm not the only one!
That is not Marion Shilling dancing with Buster Keaton in this scene...That is Doris McMahon!
Buster had a fine singing voice, but MGM played him in this as a sad figure so audiences would feel sorry for him. Buster, in films he produced, never played for the audience's sympathy.
this displays a consummate vaudevillian!
MGM didn't understand Buster or his talent at all. This wasn't a Buster Keaton film; it was an MGM film, and Buster was stuck in it. He's adorable here (of course!), but that part when he is suspended by wires and dressed like a clown was just totally weird and I'm sure he hated the whole thing.
He knew perfectly that did in this film. He shows how the major studio cinema bussiness treat to ALL artists. Only that it was showed in vaudevillian and comic form. Not everybody understand this.
That's what I've thought also.
What in the world did they do to Buster here??????
They should have had Buster wear his trademark baggy pants.
His very first talkie
It is Marion Shilling. Doris McMahon didn't play in 'free and easy'.
That's Doris McMahon, not Marion Shilling....
ont ce dit sans aucune retenu que ces salots de la MGM ont détruits sont personnage . Buster Keaton
ce fra viré de la MGM mais travaillera toujours pour des petites maisons de productions. Puis sera de nouveau médiatisé et fera des quantités de films et des shows télé en vedette entre temps il a rencontré Eleonore la femme de ça vie et sera relancé par raymond Rahauyer ces chefs d oeuvres dans les cinémas. Il travaillera jusqu' en 1965 et décédera en février 1966 . Buster keaton est éternel et intemporel pour des siecles.
MGM often used Keaton as a sad clown, for audience sympathy. He never did his earlier movies for sympathy.
Buster Keaton singing and dancing is like hiring Picasso to juggle.
Shameful MGM treatment.
LOL.
Making fun of him?
Sorry. You're wrong and so is IMDb.
No, I'd never make fun of Buster, even though he's a funny guy. It's just I've never seen him made up like a clown before.....it just seems different and odd from what he usually does.