Watch Free and Easy

Free and Easy is a 1930 American comedy film, directed by Edward Sedgwick and starring silent film legend Buster Keaton, along with Anita Page and Trixie Friganza. The film is a somewhat unusual hybrid of the silent and sound eras, as Keaton was still most famous for his silent film work. The film tells the story of Elmer (Keaton), a naive and innocent young man from rural Arkansas who travels to Hollywood hoping to make it as an actor. When he gets there, he's taken in by a pair of con men who promise to make him a star, but they really just want to take his money. Elmer soon learns that his supposed big break is actually just an extra role in a movie being produced by the shady duo.

As he navigates the confusing world of movie-making, Elmer also finds himself falling for actress Betty (Page), who is similarly disillusioned with the shallow and superficial nature of Hollywood. Together, they go on a wacky adventure, trying to evade the con men and make a life for themselves in a world that seems determined to crush their dreams.

Despite the fact that Free and Easy is a talkie, Keaton's trademark physical comedy is still on display in full force. He invents absurd contraptions to help him with various tasks, frequently falls down and gets back up in hilarious ways, and generally plays the affable fool.

One notable scene involves Keaton trying to put on a suit while riding a unicycle, a feat that looks nearly impossible but that he manages to pull off with his characteristic grace and agility. Another involves a giant prop spacecraft crashing through a movie set, causing chaos and destruction in its wake.

Overall, the film is a charming and entertaining look at the Hollywood of the early sound era, with all of its glitz and glamour balanced out by Keaton's down-to-earth sensibility. While it may not be as well known as some of Keaton's earlier silent work, Free and Easy is definitely a worthwhile watch for fans of classic comedies.

Free and Easy is a 1930 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.5.