Buster Keaton talks and it is... weirdly sad? My take on Free and Easy (1930)

Is it worth watching today?

Only if you really, really like Buster Keaton or if you are obsessed with how movies used to be made in the 1930s. If you want a fast-paced comedy that actually makes you laugh out loud, you should probably skip this one and watch The General instead.

It is definitely for the film nerds who want to see the exact moment a silent legend started to struggle with sound. Most people will probably find it a bit slow and annoying, especially when Buster has to talk too much.

I watched this on a Tuesday night when I couldn't sleep. It feels like a movie that was made by a committee that didn't understand why people liked the main actor in the first place.

The story is pretty basic. Elmer (Buster) and a girl named Elvira go to Hollywood because she won a contest. Elmer is her manager, but he is mostly just in the way.

One thing that hit me right away was how loud everything is. Since it was early sound, they didn't really know how to balance the noise yet. Every time a door slams or someone yells, it feels like it’s right in your ear. 👂

Buster looks a bit tired here. He has this little mustache that makes him look like a different person. Not the Great Stone Face we know from the 20s.

There is this one scene where he is trying to get into the studio and he keeps getting kicked out. It should be funny, but it feels a little bit desperate. You can almost feel the movie trying too hard to prove that Buster can still do physical stunts while talking.

I did like the cameos, though. You see Cecil B. DeMille and Lionel Barrymore just hanging around. It’s like a time capsule of the old MGM lot.

There is a weird dance number in the middle. Why did every early sound movie think they needed a giant musical sequence? It goes on for way too long and has nothing to do with the plot.

The girl, Dorothy Sebastian, is actually pretty good. She has a nice chemistry with Buster, even if the script makes her act a bit like a cardboard cutout sometimes.

I noticed a small thing in the background during the studio tour. There are some extras dressed as soldiers who look like they are completely bored out of their minds. One of them is literally leaning against a fake wall that wobbles when he moves.

It reminded me a bit of the vibe in His Royal Highness, but with less charm. There is a lot of walking around in circles.

The climax of the movie is this big opera scene where Elmer ruins everything. It’s the most "Buster" part of the film. He falls through things and breaks stuff, and for a second, you forget he’s in a talkie.

But then he starts talking again. His voice is deep and a bit gravelly. It doesn't really match the bouncing, chaotic energy of his body movements. 🤷‍♂️

It’s funny how they try to make him a romantic lead. It doesn't quite work. He’s better when he is just a lone guy fighting a machine or a train.

I found myself checking how much time was left during the second half. The pacing is just all over the place. One scene will be five minutes of talking in a room, and then suddenly there’s a massive parade.

If you have seen Smilin' Through, you know how these early 30s movies can sometimes feel a bit heavy with the drama. This movie tries to avoid that, but it feels empty instead.

It’s not a bad movie, it’s just a frustrating one. You can see the old Buster trying to get out from under the heavy cameras and the microphones.

The ending is kind of a bummer, too. It’s supposed to be sweet, I guess? But it just felt like Elmer lost and everyone else moved on. Not the kind of happy ending that feels earned.

Random notes I took:

• The mustache really is distracting. Why did they do that?
• The sound of the gravel under the cars is louder than the dialogue sometimes.
• Buster’s fall over the chair in the office was definitely real. You can hear the thud.
• The opera costumes are ridiculous in a good way.
• The way the director stares at Elmer is exactly how I feel watching some of these scenes.

I think I’ll go watch Sherlock Jr. after this just to remember what it’s like when he has total control. This one feels like he’s a guest in his own movie.

It's weirdly similar to how The Impersonation handles its main character. Everyone is just misunderstanding each other for an hour and a half.

Anyway, if you want to see a piece of history, give it a look. If you want to laugh, maybe look elsewhere. It’s a fascinating mess at best. 🎬