Producer Mack Sennet at Keystone Studios loved to use New York City's parks and other visually stunning vistas for free backdrops. Roscoe Arbuckle continued that tradition by getting permission to film inside the city's amusement venue Luna Park for his October 1917 "Coney Island." Cited as one of his best short films, "Coney Island" shows some unusual rides at Luna Park amidst a hectic plot of the (again) philandering Fatty trying this time to make it with Buster Keaton's girlfriend.
One unique ride which amazes viewers today is the park's Witching Waves. Scooter-style cars are propelled by underneath rollers. This ride became so popular that it was installed in several other amusement parks in the early 1900's.
Arbuckle's direction by this time has achieved a certain amount of sophistication. His breaking the so-called fourth wall, where he addresses the camera to look the other way while he's changing into a woman's bathing suit, is unique. Cross-dressing was somewhat a popular schtick for movie comics in early cinema, but what's so unusual here is that Fatty finds himself in a woman's changing area, becoming quite the voyeur.
Produced over the summer of 1917, "Coney Island" reflects the rapid pace Keaton has learned his new craft, and how much of a quick study he has become. For Arbuckle, his career and films never looked better, earning him not only praise from critics but also bulging his already fat wallet.
One unique ride which amazes viewers today is the park's Witching Waves. Scooter-style cars are propelled by underneath rollers. This ride became so popular that it was installed in several other amusement parks in the early 1900's.
Arbuckle's direction by this time has achieved a certain amount of sophistication. His breaking the so-called fourth wall, where he addresses the camera to look the other way while he's changing into a woman's bathing suit, is unique. Cross-dressing was somewhat a popular schtick for movie comics in early cinema, but what's so unusual here is that Fatty finds himself in a woman's changing area, becoming quite the voyeur.
Produced over the summer of 1917, "Coney Island" reflects the rapid pace Keaton has learned his new craft, and how much of a quick study he has become. For Arbuckle, his career and films never looked better, earning him not only praise from critics but also bulging his already fat wallet.