Coney Island (1917)

Roscoe tries to dump his wife so he can enjoy the beach attractions. Buster arrives with Alice who is taken away from him by Al who loses her to Roscoe. Bathing beauties and Keystone Kops abound.

Director:

Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle (uncredited)

Stars:

Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle, Buster Keaton, Joe Bordeaux

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle	...	Fatty

Storyline

A rotund young man and his wife are spending the day at the beach at Coney Island. Feeling restless and wanting to go to the amusements at Luna Park, he ditches his wife. At the amusement park, he meets a pretty young woman. She arrived at the amusement park with one man, went in with another who had money to pay her entrance, before she ends up spending much of the day with the rotund husband, who managed to get the second man arrested. As the husband and the pretty young woman get into one misadventure after another, the first two men try to win back the affection of the pretty young woman, while the wife goes searching for her husband. The wife and the second man, who are old friends, team up in their quest, which leads to further misadventure for all five and the police.

---

Plot Keywords:

slapstick comedy | beach | amusement park | police | keystone kops | 

---

Genres:

Short | Comedy

---

Certificate:

TV-G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 October 1917 (USA)

Also Known As:

Fatty at Coney Island

Filming Locations:

Luna Park, Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Comique Film Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

25 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is one of the very first times in film history where the fourth wall is broken, as "Fatty" directs the camera to shoot higher up while he's is disrobing. This gag was previously used by Arbuckle in the 1914 Keystone comedy 'The Knockout.'

---

Goofs

The first title screen wrongly identifies Coney Island's Luna Park as 'Luma Park'. At 00:03:52 the entrance to Luna Park is clearly seen.

---

Quotes

Bathing suit renter: [to Fatty] We can't fit you, hire a tent.

---

Connections

Featured in So Funny It Hurt: Buster Keaton & MGM (2004)

User Reviews

Fun with Fatty, Buster and Al

New York City's beach-side Coney Island amusement park is the setting. Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle plays in the sand with inattentive wife Agnes Neilson. Fatty leaves her and goes to enjoy the rides and attractions at Luna. Fatty's friendly rivals Buster Keaton and Al St. John are there, causing laughter. The three men vie for the attentions of pretty Alice Mann. Fatty's yen for women's clothing increases the merriment and a few Keystone Kops later join in the fun. The cast is in good form, with the men famously physical. Keaton's stunts are the most daring. He also cries and laughs herein, well before his character's non-emotional "stone face" was cemented. This two-reel short seems cobbled, but is recommended more for its cast, setting and physical comedy.

****** Coney Island (10/29.1917) Roscoe Arbuckle ~ Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle, Buster Keaton, Al St. John, Agnes Neilson