MGM felt its star Buster Keaton needed a funnier foil for his comedies. His last opposite, actor Cliff Edwards, didn't quite work out in his three movies with Keaton. The co-star appeared daily on the studio set pretty well soused with alcohol on his breath. MGM turned to vaudeville and radio personality Jimmy Durante as its choice to pair him with Buster, who was seeing his private life crumbling right before his eyes. The Keaton-Durante team appeared in three films together, the first, February 1932's "The Passionate Plumber." Their second, August 1932's "Speak Easily," turned out to be their highest critically-acclaimed movie. Film reviewer Doug Sarnecky picked it as "my favorite of Keaton's MGM talkies. Keaton does star in the role well with an excellent supporting cast."
When the studio hired Keaton, MGM made sure to have its scriptwriters adapt published plays and novels for his movies. "Speak Easily" was no exception. Clarence Kelland's 1932 story was used to follow introverted college Professor Post (Keaton) as he gets fooled by a letter his assistant forged in order get him out of the stifling confines of the university to see the world. The letter stated the teacher had inherited a large sum of money. On a train ride out of town, Post meets James (Durant), a manager of a dance troupe, who convinces him to finance a Broadway show.
Even though "Speak Easily" was categorized as a comedy and not a musical, Durante belts out several tunes, interspersed with a few of his typical corny jokes. Jimmy's schtick harkens back to his early years playing on the New York City piano bar circuit. Durante, born and raised in the Lower East Side Manhattan, plied his raw song-and-joke talents after dropping out of seventh grade before teaming up with childhood friends Lou Clayton and Eddie Jackson on the vaudeville stage and in radio. Durante got his big break in acting appearing on Broadway in Cole Porter's 1930 'The New Yorkers,' where Hollywood scouts recognized his high energy.
Critics praise Keaton's drunken scene with veteran comedic actress Thelma Todd, playing Eleanor Esprere, a gold digger who believed Professor Post actually did inherit a fortune. Cine Outsider Slarek praised "Speak Easily," writing "some inspired physical comedy alternate with some of the funniest drunk acting I can readily recall. Keaton's vocal delivery is at its best, suggesting that with the right script he could have made that transition after all." The clever script delivered such lines as "Have you ever seriously considered marriage?" coos Eleanor as she makes her first serious move on the professor. "Yes," he replies. "That's why I'm single."
Playing a drunk in the scene reflected Keaton's off-screen personal life as his troubles mounted. His ten-year marriage to Natalie Talmadge was officially over, and with his bouts of drunkenness becoming increasingly volatile, she gained sole custody of their two sons. The comedian gave up his prized home, 'The Italian Villa' in Beverly Hills and much of his life savings to her. "Speak Easily" was a hit for Keaton, however, and MGM put up with his despondent drinking to allow him to make another movie in the following year as his contract was nearing completion.
Even though "Speak Easily" was categorized as a comedy and not a musical, Durante belts out several tunes, interspersed with a few of his typical corny jokes. Jimmy's schtick harkens back to his early years playing on the New York City piano bar circuit. Durante, born and raised in the Lower East Side Manhattan, plied his raw song-and-joke talents after dropping out of seventh grade before teaming up with childhood friends Lou Clayton and Eddie Jackson on the vaudeville stage and in radio. Durante got his big break in acting appearing on Broadway in Cole Porter's 1930 'The New Yorkers,' where Hollywood scouts recognized his high energy.
Critics praise Keaton's drunken scene with veteran comedic actress Thelma Todd, playing Eleanor Esprere, a gold digger who believed Professor Post actually did inherit a fortune. Cine Outsider Slarek praised "Speak Easily," writing "some inspired physical comedy alternate with some of the funniest drunk acting I can readily recall. Keaton's vocal delivery is at its best, suggesting that with the right script he could have made that transition after all." The clever script delivered such lines as "Have you ever seriously considered marriage?" coos Eleanor as she makes her first serious move on the professor. "Yes," he replies. "That's why I'm single."
Playing a drunk in the scene reflected Keaton's off-screen personal life as his troubles mounted. His ten-year marriage to Natalie Talmadge was officially over, and with his bouts of drunkenness becoming increasingly volatile, she gained sole custody of their two sons. The comedian gave up his prized home, 'The Italian Villa' in Beverly Hills and much of his life savings to her. "Speak Easily" was a hit for Keaton, however, and MGM put up with his despondent drinking to allow him to make another movie in the following year as his contract was nearing completion.