Coney Island (1917)
A riotous silent comedy short from 1917, uniting Roscoe Arbuckle and a young Buster Keaton at the famous amusement park.
Coney Island - Movie Information
- Original Title: Coney Island
- Release Year: 1917
- Directed by: Roscoe Arbuckle
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Comedy
- Age Rating (US): NR
- Runtime: 25m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: No Language
- Release Date (Theatrical): October 29, 1917 (United States - NR)
- Alternative Titles: ファッティとキートンのコニー・アイランド（デブ君の浜遊び） (JP)
- Production Companies: Comique Film Company
- Production Countries: United States of America
Coney Island - Plot
Arbuckle escapes the watch of his domineering wife and heads for Coney Island. Keaton arrives that same day with his attractive, and rather easy, girlfriend, who is immediately stolen from him by St. John.
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Coney Island - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Roscoe Arbuckle
Main Cast
- Roscoe Arbuckle
- Al St. John
- Buster Keaton
- Alice Mann
- Agnes Neilson
- Joe Bordeaux
- Alice Lake
- Jimmy Bryant
Writers
- Roscoe Arbuckle
Producers
- Joseph M. Schenck
Coney Island - FAQs
What is Coney Island (1917) about?
Coney Island follows Roscoe Arbuckle as he slips away from his overbearing wife for a day of fun at the famous amusement park. Meanwhile, Buster Keaton arrives with his girlfriend, only to have her promptly stolen by Al St. John. Chaos, disguises, and slapstick mayhem ensue in this breezy 25-minute silent comedy.
Is Coney Island one of Buster Keaton's first films?
Yes! Coney Island is among the very first films Buster Keaton ever appeared in. He had just been introduced to Roscoe Arbuckle in 1917, and this short was part of their early collaboration for the Comique Film Company — a formative chapter in Keaton's legendary career.
Where can you watch Coney Island (1917)?
You can find streaming and viewing options for Coney Island on JustWatch, which lists all available platforms in your region. As a public domain silent short, it also turns up on various free streaming and archive sites from time to time.
Who directed and wrote Coney Island (1917)?
Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle both directed and wrote Coney Island, as he did for many of the Comique Film Company shorts of this era. His creative control over these productions gave them a loose, improvisational energy that made them hugely popular with audiences at the time.
What makes Coney Island historically significant?
Beyond its laughs, Coney Island holds a special place in film history as one of the earliest screen appearances of Buster Keaton. It captures the freewheeling spirit of silent-era slapstick and showcases the natural chemistry between Arbuckle and Keaton that would define their short-lived but celebrated partnership.
Who are the main cast members in Coney Island?
The film stars Roscoe Arbuckle as Fatty, Buster Keaton as his rival (and a mustachioed cop), and Al St. John as the scheming friend who steals Keaton's girl. Agnes Neilson plays Fatty's domineering wife, with Alice Lake and Alice Mann rounding out the cast.
Is Coney Island (1917) a silent film?
It is — Coney Island is a silent short film, running just 25 minutes. Produced by the Comique Film Company and released in October 1917, it relies entirely on physical comedy, expressive performances, and intertitles to tell its story, with no spoken dialogue.
Are there similar films fans of Coney Island might enjoy?
Fans of this kind of early slapstick comedy would likely enjoy other Arbuckle-Keaton collaborations from the same period, as well as Charlie Chaplin's The Immigrant (1917). The Great Buster: A Celebration (2018) is also a wonderful documentary for anyone wanting to dive deeper into Keaton's remarkable life and career.
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