Speak Easily (1932)

A timid professor inherits a large sum of money and decides to fund a terrible musical.

Director:

Edward Sedgwick

Writer:

Clarence Budington Kelland (from the story by)

Stars:

Buster Keaton, Jimmy Durante, Ruth Selwyn

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Buster Keaton	...	Professor Timoleon Zanders Post
Jimmy Durante	...	James
Ruth Selwyn	...	Pansy Peets
Thelma Todd	...	Eleanor Espere
Hedda Hopper	...	Mrs. Peets
William Pawley	...	Griffo
Sidney Toler	...	Stage Director
Lawrence Grant	...	Dr. Bolton
Henry Armetta	...	Tony
Edward Brophy	...	Reno

Storyline

Naive, bookish Professor Post (of Potts College) inherits a huge amount of money and decides that now he can afford to go out and enjoy life. He falls for a dancer in a bad stage show, and with his new money decides to buy the show and take it to Broadway. Will the Professor prove too nice to succeed in show business? Or will he triumph over bill-collectors, critics, and sexy vamp Eleanor Espere?

---

Plot Keywords:

professor | new york city | manhattan new york city | inheritance | broadway manhattan new york city | 

---

Taglines:

See it and laugh to your heart's content!

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Three years after its first film appearance in The Hollywood Revue of 1929 (1929), the song "Singin' in the Rain" is played and referred by Jimmy Durante. Although the characters imply the song was famous at the time, it wasn't until 1952 when Gene Kelly performed it in the film of the same name (Singin' in the Rain (1952)) and gave it its worldwide fame that continues to this day.

---

Goofs

In the scene where Buster and Thelma get drunk, he gets undressed and goes into the bathroom. There's a cut to Thelma, then back to Buster, who's still in his underwear but soaking wet. The presumption is that he took a shower with his clothes on, but there's no such scene, nor has enough time has passed for him to have taken one. Evidently the scene was filmed but cut, and whoever did so just hoped no one would notice.

---

Quotes

James: Well, how are you, Professor? For the love of Mike, how did you get here?
Professor Post: Oh, I was vibrated here in a most unusual vehicle.

---

Connections

Featured in Buster Keaton: A Hard Act to Follow (1987)

---

Soundtracks

Singin' in the Rain
(1929) (uncredited)
Lyrics by Arthur Freed
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Performed by Jimmy Durante

User Reviews

Underrated gem worth another viewing

I watched 'Speak Easily' one night and thought it was o.k., but missing something. Maybe Buster Keaton strangely speaking threw me off, or the labored line delivery of a leading lady. The next day I kept thinking about the movie, though. I couldn't get Durante's song out of my head, I kept trying to better remember Thelma Todd's first scene, I considered that maybe Keaton did do some funny falls and physical comedy. The next night I watched a scene with Thelma Todd as a conniving chorus girl trying to impress Buster and Jimmy with her sex appeal. A very funny scene, the actors excellent, their faces, their eyes, their silly expressions. So I watched another scene, their show is opening on Broadway. Buster in his blissful innocence botches every act. Again, I was laughing out loud, appreciating Keaton's clowning and tumbling. So the next night I watched the whole movie again, and this time I see it for the first time: It's Stupendous! It's Sensational! It's Sublime! Three great comedians! Todd dances! Durante sings! Keaton speaks! Sure it ain't poifect...but there's a lot of laughs in this picture.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 August 1932 (USA)

Also Known As:

Speak Easily

Filming Locations:

Chatsworth Depot, Chatsworth, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min (Turner library print) 82 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1