Free and Easy (1930)
It’s commonly known that many silent film stars saw an end to their careers with the advent of talking pictures. After all, when the audience has fallen in love with a face and imagined how he or she would sound like, it could be jarring to discover that face talks with an accent, a nasal pitch, a low tone, etc. When watching Buster Keaton’s movies, it’s not uncommon to imagine him having a meek sounding voice, to match his character. In his first talking picture, Free and Easy, he shocked audiences by sounding like a Midwestern, chain-smoking truck driver.
I don’t think Buster Keaton’s career declined because of the sound of his voice in Free and Easy. I don’t think it had anything to do with his slow timing during his spoken lines, because during the sequences when he was given silent, physical direction, his timing was once again flawless. Audiences could have forgiven him getting used to talking pictures, since they themselves had to get used to them. However, something happened in Free and Easy that had never happened in a Buster Keaton movie before or since—and I’ve seen every feature-length silent film he ever made, as well as every talkie in which he was the lead. For sake of spoilers, I can’t tell you what it is, but it’s jarring and upsetting. I found myself speaking aloud during the final scene, “This can’t be the end. This can’t be the end.” I can imagine audiences feeling terrible after the film, not wanting to return to see it, and their negative reaction was translated to a false opinion that folks didn’t like Buster in talkies.
If you’re a Buster Keaton fan and want to support his career by watching his first talkie, you can rent this movie. Just be prepared that it’s not like his usual movies. You will get a few treats out of it: Buster shows a new physical talent by dancing and singing the title song, and Robert Montgomery shows off a singing voice to rival John Boles, which no one knew he had. Bob’s very unlikable in this movie, though, so if you want a better first impression, try Night Must Fall instead—I’m not kidding. Bob plays a typical cad who tries to lure the beautiful Anita Page into his arms with no intention of pursuing a relationship. If you want to support Buster Keaton but don’t want to put yourself through this one, rent Parlor, Bedroom and Bath, a far superior film in every way.
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Buster Keaton movies here!
I don’t think Buster Keaton’s career declined because of the sound of his voice in Free and Easy. I don’t think it had anything to do with his slow timing during his spoken lines, because during the sequences when he was given silent, physical direction, his timing was once again flawless. Audiences could have forgiven him getting used to talking pictures, since they themselves had to get used to them. However, something happened in Free and Easy that had never happened in a Buster Keaton movie before or since—and I’ve seen every feature-length silent film he ever made, as well as every talkie in which he was the lead. For sake of spoilers, I can’t tell you what it is, but it’s jarring and upsetting. I found myself speaking aloud during the final scene, “This can’t be the end. This can’t be the end.” I can imagine audiences feeling terrible after the film, not wanting to return to see it, and their negative reaction was translated to a false opinion that folks didn’t like Buster in talkies.
If you’re a Buster Keaton fan and want to support his career by watching his first talkie, you can rent this movie. Just be prepared that it’s not like his usual movies. You will get a few treats out of it: Buster shows a new physical talent by dancing and singing the title song, and Robert Montgomery shows off a singing voice to rival John Boles, which no one knew he had. Bob’s very unlikable in this movie, though, so if you want a better first impression, try Night Must Fall instead—I’m not kidding. Bob plays a typical cad who tries to lure the beautiful Anita Page into his arms with no intention of pursuing a relationship. If you want to support Buster Keaton but don’t want to put yourself through this one, rent Parlor, Bedroom and Bath, a far superior film in every way.
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Buster Keaton movies here!