''Free and Easy'' is a 1941 film directed by

George Sidney George Sidney (October 4, 1916May 5, 2002) was an American film director and producer who worked primarily at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. His work includes cult classics '' Bye Bye Birdie'' (1963) and ''Viva Las Vegas'' (1964). With an extensive backgr ...

, and starring

Robert Cummings Charles Clarence Robert Orville Cummings (June 9, 1910 – December 2, 1990) was an American film and television actor who appeared in roles in comedy films such as '' The Devil and Miss Jones'' (1941) and ''Princess O'Rourke'' (1943), and in ...

and

Ruth Hussey Ruth Carol Hussey (October 30, 1911 – April 19, 2005) was an American actress best known for her Academy Award-nominated role as photographer Elizabeth Imbrie in '' The Philadelphia Story''. Early life Hussey was born in Providence, Rhode I ...

. The film is a remake of MGM's ''

But the Flesh Is Weak ''But the Flesh Is Weak'' is a 1932 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Jack Conway and written by Ivor Novello based on his 1928 play '' The Truth Game''. The film stars Robert Montgomery, Nora Gregor, Heather Thatcher, Edward Everett ...

'' (1932) with Robert Montgomery and C. Aubrey Smith as the son-and-father team. Both films are based on the 1928 play ''

The Truth Game ''The Truth Game'' is a comedy play by the British writer Ivor Novello, first staged in 1928. Film adaptations In 1932 Novello went to Hollywood to adapt the play for MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-M ...

'' by Ivor Novello.

Cast

as Max Clemington *

as Martha Gray *

Judith Anderson Dame Frances Margaret Anderson, (10 February 18973 January 1992), known professionally as Judith Anderson, was an Australian actress who had a successful career in stage, film and television. A pre-eminent stage actress in her era, she won two ...

as Lady Joan Culver *

C. Aubrey Smith Sir Charles Aubrey Smith (21 July 1863 – 20 December 1948) was an English Test cricketer who became a stage and film actor, acquiring a niche as the officer-and-gentleman type, as in the first sound version of ''The Prisoner of Zenda'' (1937) ...

as Duke Colver *

Nigel Bruce William Nigel Ernle Bruce (4 February 1895 – 8 October 1953) was a British character actor on stage and screen. He was best known for his portrayal of Dr. Watson in a series of films and in the radio series ''The New Adventures of Sherlock ...

as Florian Clemington * Charles Coleman as Powers, Culver's butler *

Reginald Owen John Reginald Owen (5 August 1887 – 5 November 1972) was a British actor. He was known for his many roles in British and American films and television programs. Career The son of Joseph and Frances Owen, Reginald Owen studied at Sir Herbert ...

as Sir Kelvin * Teresa Maxwell-Conover as Lady Ridgeway

Plot

Max (Cummings) and his father (Bruce) are both looking to marry wealthy women, which would be easier if either one of them had any money of their own. Max decides on Martha (Hussey), but Martha says no when he says that he is poor as she admits she is also. So she accepts the proposal of Sir Kelvin (Owen), but changes her mind by the next day. When Florian tries to win money gambling for Max's wedding, he loses a bundle. When Max finds out about the debt, he decides to marry the wealthy Lady Joan (Anderson) to keep Florian out of jail.

Production

It was George Sidney's first feature as director. "Nobody else on the lot would do it," he later said.DIRECTED SUBTLY BY G. SIDNEY: Flat-Foot Sidney Testing Self Criticism By BARBARA BERCH. New York Times 28 Oct 1945: X3. He had worked at MGM since 1931 and been directing studio shorts and screen tests; two of his shorts won Oscars - ''Quicker 'n a Wink'' (1940) and ''Of Pups and Puzzles'' (1941). This enabled him to move up to features. Sidney had directed Robert Cummings in a screen test in 1935. Cummings was borrowed from Universal in December 1940. Filming started in late December 1940. The week before filming

Edward Buzzell Edward Buzzell (November 13, 1895 – January 11, 1985) was an American film actor and director whose credits include '' Child of Manhattan'' (1933); ''Honolulu'' (1939); the Marx Brothers films '' At the Circus'' (1939) and '' Go West'' (1 ...

was to direct. However then Sidney stepped in. Filming ended in January 1941 though there were some reshoots later in the month.

Reception

Critical

The ''Los Angeles Times'' said Cummings plays "a likable cad who isn't too likable outside of his own natural effervescence." The ''New York Times'' said it was made with "a lack of success... only Robert Cummings, as the bouncing hero, gives the impression of enjoying himself. And Mr Cummings's enthusiasm is of the bouncing, juvenile sort. So the whole thing adds up to a vapid and completely inconsequential charade." In 1945 George Sidney told a reporter doing a profile on him that "I'm sure you missed

he film He or HE may refer to: Language * He (pronoun), an English pronoun * He (kana), the romanization of the Japanese kana へ * He (letter), the fifth letter of many Semitic alphabets * He (Cyrillic), a letter of the Cyrillic script called ''He'' ...

and you were lucky if you did." One of Sidney's obituaries called it "a feeble comedy."Obituary: George Sidney: Stylish director from Hollywood's golden age of musicals Bergan, Ronald. The Guardian 7 May 2002: 1.16. However it did launch his career.

Box office

According to MGM records the film earned $205,000 in the US and Canada and $128,000 elsewhere resulting in a loss of $33,000.

References

External links

* * {{George Sidney 1941 films 1941 romantic comedy films American black-and-white films 1941 directorial debut films Films directed by George Sidney American films based on plays Films set in London American romantic comedy films Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films 1940s English-language films 1940s American films