Keaton & Durante

>I`ve heard a lot about the poor pairing but the films on TCM showed them
>as a congenial duo. I liked Durante`s, " I always stand up for the
>mayonnaise".

Congenial sounds like the perfect word for Keaton and Durante. Jimmy Durante
was a sweet human being, and I am certain that he and Keaton got along just
fine on and off the screen. From what I have read, it was more of their styles
in performing just not matching that Keaton complained about in his memoirs.
Jimmy was so loud, bombastic and broad, and Keaton playing the lost little soul
seemed all the more forlorn and helpless. They are indeed an odd combination.
Still, there is a goofy charm to "Speak Easily." Jimmy Durante's warmth comes
across especially well in the piano numbers, and the last scenes in the film
where Keaton manages to demolish the stage show are as funny as one could hope
for.
A side note was that Jimmy Durante in his enthusiasm used to poke and punch
Keaton in the arm of chest to puncuate his dialogue, and Keaton was not the
sort to complain even as he was getting bruised at the end of Jimmy's
sentences.
--Kay