Free and Easy
About Free and Easy
Elvira Plunkett wins a trip to Hollywood for an MGM screen test. Her mother and Elmer J. Butts, a gas-station attendant who loves her and calls himself her manager, go with her. On the train they meet contract actor Larry Mitchell, who wants Elvira and can open doors on the lot. Elmer wrecks productions and cannot get his test line out. Elvira becomes the star, Elmer and her mother are signed, and when he tries to say he loves her she hears advice about how to tell Larry.
Cast & crew
More about Free and Easy
Edward Sedgwick directed Buster Keaton’s first leading role in a talkie. Richard Schayer is credited as the writer. MGM released it on 22 March 1930. Leonard Smith photographed it. Keaton sings the title song in a production number. Fred E. Ahlert is credited with the music.
Themes
Making
The gag is Keaton, newly heard, failing a spoken line and still ending up under contract.
Look
Leonard Smith shot the MGM lot, including the screen test Elmer cannot finish.
Music
Fred E. Ahlert is credited with the music. Keaton sings the title song.
Notes
- Anita Page plays Elvira. Trixie Friganza plays her mother. Robert Montgomery plays Larry Mitchell. Keaton is Elmer.
- Lionel Barrymore appears as a director. Fred Niblo, William Haines, and Cecil B. DeMille appear as themselves.
- Elmer and Mrs. Plunkett are put into a comic opera together.
- It is a pre-Code comedy, shot on the MGM lot rather than on a backlot dressed as a different studio.
Scenes
- Elmer misses his line in the screen test.
- Keaton sings the title number.
- Elvira takes his confession as advice to tell Larry she loves him.
