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
Kind sad...but shows what a great talent he was...
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 ❤
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 .
One of my favorite Buster Keaton movies. It's a tie, with "The Cameraman" being the other.
I looove his voice... and that he can dance... *sighs*
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.
he so cute...
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!
I LOVE THIS! Watched the Funny Movie when I was a teenager!
I LOVE THESE PRE CODE FILMS WITH THEIR FUN LOVING EARTHINESS. BEFORE THE HAYS OFFICE HAD TO GO AND SANITIZE EVERYTHING.
Me too!
I prefer the Pre-Code era of Film Comedy!
Is it bad if I think Buster looks sad and cute in his makeup all at the same time?
That is not Marion Shilling dancing with Buster Keaton in this scene...That is Doris McMahon!
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.
That's for sure. He IS the man with the steel face.
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.
Glad I'm not the only one!
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.
It is Marion Shilling. Doris McMahon didn't play in 'free and easy'.
this displays a consummate vaudevillian!
That's Doris McMahon, not Marion Shilling....
That's what I've thought also.
What in the world did they do to Buster here??????
MGM often used Keaton as a sad clown, for audience sympathy. He never did his earlier movies for sympathy.
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.
Buster Keaton singing and dancing is like hiring Picasso to juggle.
Shameful MGM treatment.
His very first talkie
They should have had Buster wear his trademark baggy pants.
Making fun of him?
Sorry. You're wrong and so is IMDb.
LOL.
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.