the fact that films like this have over time morphed into complex tales with twists of irony and cynicism is kind of odd when you think about it. here you have old fashion pie eyed classic American values vs today's films which go as far as dogma or south park. the leap seems almost unimaginable. if this film has no other redeeming qualities it at least serves as beautiful archival footage of a time and place forever lost. new york city before the crash, the chrysler building, and king kong. outside of the plot and character, what unfolds on screen is a beautiful look at new york when horses and trolley cars still competed for space on the streets. and some wonderfully personal scenes of coney island. with in the movie is a typical harold comedy, complete with under cranked camera work in order to give the illusion of speed and early acting of physical comedy and choreography that has jackie chan as a distant offspring. the weird thing to think about during the film is that at this point in time everyone on screen has probably been dead for over fifty years! the comedy when it hits can be amusing, but nothing like the marx brothers or stooges would later achieve. llyod is a pioneer in that respect and often over shadowed by chaplin. the fight seen towards the end (what's new york without a huge riot?) goes on a bit too long and pushes the movie up to 85 min. which was rather long for that era. worth seeing once, at least 7 out of 10
