A bumbling manager tries to get a small town beauty contest winner into the movies.A bumbling manager tries to get a small town beauty contest winner into the movies.A bumbling manager tries to get a small town beauty contest winner into the movies.
Jack Baxley
- Train Conductor
- (uncredited)
Edward Brophy
- Benny - The Stage Manager
- (uncredited)
Richard Carle
- Eunuch Crowning Elmer
- (uncredited)
Louise Carver
- Big German Woman
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaTalkie debut for Buster Keaton.
- GoofsWhen Larry orders his car, a visible mike descends from the upper right hand corner of the frame while he says his line, then rises out of sight again.
- Quotes
Ma: From now on we're going to manage ourselves, Mr. Butts! Oh, I've never been so humiliated in my life. I'm ashamed to show my face.
Elmer Butts: I don't blame ya.
- ConnectionsAlternate-language version of Estrellados (1930)
- SoundtracksThe Free And Easy
(1930) (uncredited)
Lyrics by Roy Turk
Music by Fred E. Ahlert
Played during the opening credits
Sung and danced by Buster Keaton, Doris McMahon and chorus
Copyright 1930 Robbins Music Corporation
Featured review
Keaton The Schnook
Free And Easy is another variation on the Merton of the Movies type film where unknown schnook goes to Hollywood and winds up a comedy star. It worked fine for Glenn Hunter on stage and Stu Erwin on the screen. The lead in Free And Easy was a part that was perfect for Eddie Cantor. But Buster Keaton got it and it wasn't quite right for him.
Keaton, known in Hollywood as the Great Stone Face, was one of the greatest pantomimists the screen ever knew. Why you would star someone in a film that has musical numbers, though you would not classify it as a musical is beyond me. That title song which Keaton croaks would have been perfect for Eddie Cantor.
In watching it I thought I recognized the plot of this film. It was part of the story line of Pepe, the great Cantinfas all star production from thirty years later. Keaton is in love with young Anita Page who is the young screen hopeful from his home town. But she's got eyes for the flawed young movie star Robert Montgomery.
Like Pepe, a number of folks on the MGM lot made guest appearances as themselves. One of the most interesting was William Haines who at that time competing with Robert Montgomery for juvenile parts. Haines of course was one of the first film stars outted as gay and his fall was a lucky break for Montgomery's career.
Best in the film is Trixie Friganza, a great vaudeville star who played Page's number. She really harries and harasses poor Keaton. Page has won some kind of contest and for reasons I can't explain the Chamber of Commerce of their hometown has appointed Keaton as her agent and manager. Like they have the right and the power. No wonder Trixie's mad at him.
If you've seen Pepe, you know how this turns out.
Keaton, known in Hollywood as the Great Stone Face, was one of the greatest pantomimists the screen ever knew. Why you would star someone in a film that has musical numbers, though you would not classify it as a musical is beyond me. That title song which Keaton croaks would have been perfect for Eddie Cantor.
In watching it I thought I recognized the plot of this film. It was part of the story line of Pepe, the great Cantinfas all star production from thirty years later. Keaton is in love with young Anita Page who is the young screen hopeful from his home town. But she's got eyes for the flawed young movie star Robert Montgomery.
Like Pepe, a number of folks on the MGM lot made guest appearances as themselves. One of the most interesting was William Haines who at that time competing with Robert Montgomery for juvenile parts. Haines of course was one of the first film stars outted as gay and his fall was a lucky break for Montgomery's career.
Best in the film is Trixie Friganza, a great vaudeville star who played Page's number. She really harries and harasses poor Keaton. Page has won some kind of contest and for reasons I can't explain the Chamber of Commerce of their hometown has appointed Keaton as her agent and manager. Like they have the right and the power. No wonder Trixie's mad at him.
If you've seen Pepe, you know how this turns out.
helpful•70
- bkoganbing
- Nov 2, 2007
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Easy Go
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $500,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 32 minutes
- Color
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