Speak Easily

1887. SPEAK EASILY (1932-USA). WITH BUSTER KEATON, JIMMY DURANTE, RUTH SELWYN, THELMA TODD, HEDDA HOPPER, SIDNEY TOLER, HENRY ARMETTA. BUSTER KEATON IS AT HIS BUM BLING, ACROBATIC BEST AS PROfESSOR T.Z. “TIMMY” POST, A STAID, CONSTANTLY BEFUDDLED INSTRUCTOR AT POTTS COLLEGE, POST IS A LONER; HE OBSERVES THAT HE WOULD RATHER STAY AT HOME AND READ ARISTOTLE THAN PARTAKE IN CAMPUS SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, JENKINS, HIS LOYAL BUTLER, TELLS HIM, “IF YOU’LL ONLY GO OUT AND FIND LIFE YOU’LL ENJOY LIVING IT,” BUT THE PROfESSOR CLAIMS HE IS UNABLE TO DO SO BECAUSE Of HIS LACK Of FUNDS. THIS PROBLEM DISAPPEARS WHEN HE RECEIVES A LETTER INFORMING HIM THAT HE HAS INHERITED $750,000. POST PROMPTLY QUITS HIS JOB, AND SETS OUT TO SEE THE WORLD. ENTER JIMMY DURANTE, PLAYING A BRASH, FOREVER ANIMATED LOUDMOUTH WHO CRACKS CORNBALL JOKES AND HEADS A HILARIOUSLY INEPT TOURING THEATER COMPAÂNY. THE PROfESSOR FINKS UP WITH HIS CREW, AND BECOMES ROMANTICALLY INVOLVED WITH A PAIR Of VERY DIFÂFERENT DAMSELS: PANSY PEETS, A GIRL-NEXT-DOOR TYPE; AND ELEANOR ESPERE THE “PERSONALITY GIRL,” WHO IS; SEXPOT AND GOLDDIGGER (AND IS PERFECTLY PLAYED BY THELMA TODD, A FINE COMEDIENNE WHO BECAME FOOTNOTE TO HOLLYWOOD HISTORY WHEN SHE DIED IN HER PARKED CAR UNDER MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES A: AGE 30 IN 1935). THE FILM IS MOST ENTERTAINING WHEN THE STARS DO WHAT THEY DO BEST: DURANTE POUNDS AWAY ON THE PIANO AND FRACTURES THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, WHILE KEATON HANGS FROM A MOVING TRAIN, PLAY; A CLEVERLY DEVISED PANTOMIME-SEDUCTION SCENE WITH TODD, AND STUMBLES ACROSS A STAGE BEFORE AND DURING AN OPENING NIGHT PERFORMANCE. LEONARD MALTIN CALLS THIS “ONE Of KEATON’S BEST TALKIES, WITH DURANTE IN GOOD FORM, TODD A WONDERFUL VAMP…” 81 MINUTES. KEATON