Speak Easily

It’s a sad thing to see silent film’s brightest talent reduced to starring in such drab material. Keaton, in the midst of battles with alcohol and studio heads, and with no creative control, shows only crumbs of his comedic brilliance in a buttoned-up role. Thelma Todd is the only cast member who shines; Jimmy Durante stinks.

Durante is overbearing and annoying, Keaton had all the life sucked out of him by MGM and Natalie Talmadge and the writing is simply stupid and dull. This movie is a horribly perverted and watered down version of what could have been (sound) an awesome addition to Keaton's movies.

Surprisingly decent Keaton's talkie. Even Durante was enjoyable to watch. While scene of Keaton getting drunk is more disturbing than funny, knowing his problems with alcohol at the time, most of the slapstick is really amusing. Speak Easily was kind of Springtime for Hitler thirty-something years earlier. I am not sure what, but there's something really sexy about those pre-code Hollywood broads. Enjoyable film.

It's a fine comedy. Not something original or what one would call a Buster Keaton style comedy. But Buster adjusts well to the standard MGM format. He fits the character as the reclusive professor who stumbles into show biz. He gets to do some of his slapstick and even be a drunk (which he was at the time) so you get some of his talents displayed. Durante however is more in the way then helping in this one. Thelma Todd as the vamp is the other reason to watch this middle of the road comedy.