User Reviews

This short in Hal Roach's series of two-reelers teaming the vivacious Thelma Todd with the vague and willowy ZaSu Pitts is one of the best-remembered, because due to a cameo at the end, which is quite a funny and surprising (if, unlike me when I watched it, you are not already aware of it) way to end the short with a nod at the running gag that is its premise: that Thelma and ZaSu are sick to death of dates who think they are being original by taking them over and over again to Coney Island. A lot of the best little moments are Thelma Todd's exasperated looks at the camera after once again pretending to be enjoying herself.

On its own it is a very fun short indeed. It's more breezy, cheerful, and very enjoyable to watch than it is laugh-out-loud funny most of the time, and it almost feels at certain points as if the filmmakers all took a trip to Coney Island, had a ball, and made a comedy in the process. Billy Gilbert has one of his funnier character roles here as a fey fashion designer who can't seem to find the words to describe anything he designs, and has a penchant for nearly groping his customers. There's also a nice running gag in which ZaSu's date continually ends up with another woman accidentally in his arms.

An added bonus is the plentiful footage of Coney Island in 1931, which is genuinely fascinating as a curiosity. This is thoroughly fun and breezes past -- a great example of how Hal Roach's studios seemed to make putting out joyful little films seem almost effortless in this era.

Getting their clothes splashed by mud gets working class girls Thelma Todd and Zasu Pitts not only a fashionable new wardrobe, but dates with two dandy bachelors, John Loder and Claud Allister. Just where do you think that two members of the upper-crust decide to take them? That swell resort of Coney Island, of course, and they get put through one hell of a time, especially in a delightful fun house where every possible gag is utilized in this fun and racy short comedy by Hal Roach. There's a lot of sexual innuendo and some incidents that just a few years later would be considered taboo in the movies. Of course, any good old fashioned fun house has a wind machine which blows up ladies' skirts, and an audience awaits with hysterical laughter over each incident where a ladies' dainties are exposed. Allister, who is Loder's very effeminate best friend, ends up with Pitts, but for some reason keeps up ending in the arms of blonde Dorothy Layton and her boyfriend, Otto Fries, showing a bit more of a delight when he ends up in the macho man's arms. To add to the subtle hint of gay men there is also portly Billy Gilbert going down Franklin Pangborn territory as a very prissy host at a fashionable dressing store who suddenly goes "macho" on his models when he demands that they get out there immediately.

The fun house scene is the highlight, though, with shots of some of the classic parts of it-the spinning tube where those inside can barely walk to get to the other side, the whirling circle like contraption which shoots those off who can't hold on, and a giant slide that ends up as a trap for Todd and a lolly pop lost by a young boy rider who literally climbs inside Todd's skirt to retrieve it. "This thing cost me a nickle!", he barks at her hysterically, not giving a hoot or a holler about the sights he's just witnessed taking this unplanned ride. Then, a water ride goes awry which is pretty much the end for Thelma and Zasu who return home in exhaustion, only to get a sudden invitation by two surprise guests who show up in the final minute. Hysterical beyond belief, it may be short on plot, but it's long on laughs, and you may not have a breath left after its all over.

At this site, but not in the film credits, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy are listed as the stars. They aren't, although they finish the film in typical L&H fashion, to seal the point that the girls are sick of their dates dragging them to Coney Island. This is a Zasu Pitts and Thelma Todd comedy short, produced and directed by Hal Roach. This is one of a series of Zasu and Thelma comedies produced by Hal. Their dates, played by John Loder, and Claud Allister, are the male leads. I would list Dorothy Layton as a supporting actress, since she keeps popping up for a few seconds, getting tangled up with Claud in the various Coney Island amusements........ We begin with the irony that the 2 British chaps who bought them dresses to replace those that they splashed with mud, decided to take them to Coney Island.: exactly where the didn't want to go, having been there many times recently with other dates. But, they felt obligated to go, not putting up an objection. thus we get to experience some of the amusements at Coney at that time. Other players worth mentioning include: Billy Gilbert, as the dress maker and chooser. Also, Charlie Hall as the shooting gallery attendant, where Thelma demonstrats her impressive shooting skill, no doubt derived from lots of practice there. Otto Fries keeps popping up as Dorothy's boyfriend?, who is jealous of the fact that Claud keeps winding up clinging to Dorothy(if not himself). Finally, in the rolling tube, he wants to rough up Claude. But Thelma socks him on the chin, and he quiets down. ........I noticed that Zasu and Thelma were sleeping in the same bed, perhaps to facilitate their bedtime conversation. Also, on the street, they walked arm in arm. I suspect these scenes would have been censored a few years later.......If you are satisfied with a generally lowkey comedy, as opposed to the usual slapstick-filled L&H comedies, I can recommend it.

Thelma and Zasu are sick and tired of going on dates with cheapskates who insist on taking them to Coney Island instead of a real fancy date. So, when they meet up with a couple sophisticated Englishmen, they assume (incorrectly) that they're going some place swanky. Instead, you see them endure yet another day at this park by the sea.

The biggest star of this film was its location--Coney Island. Here in the 21st century, it's a real nostalgic treat, as you get to see an amusement park of yesteryear--with it's great fun houses and rides. The other big plus was the film's gentle nature that didn't feature the usual forced laughs, but was more like a leisurely stroll. Plus it didn't hurt that it had a surprise cameo towards the end of the short film.

The fact that I gave this short a 7 is a minor miracle, as I usually hate the Thelma Todd/Zasu Pitts (as well as Thelma Todd/Pasty Kelly) films. This was a third-string comedy team with Hal Roach Studios and most of their films are unfunny duds. However, this one has a lot going for it--even if it isn't chock full of laughs.

I've been watching the Thelma Todd - Zasu Pitts shorts these last couple of weeks, and I have only two more to go. Most of them are quite primitive not just by today's but even by 1930's standards, and although Todd (who was an extremely beautiful woman by any decade's standards) and Pitts make a good team with a genuine affection for each other, they're often not given enough comic material to work with. "On The Loose", however, may just be the best of their shorts; it's almost certainly their most risqué one, as we get to see Thelma in her underwear, Thelma and Zasu sleeping in the same bed (!), a kid picking a lollipop from inside Thelma's dress, two men who constantly find themselves hugging, and other stuff like that. It's also kind of a feminist short several decades before feminism became "official": Thelma's character shoots and punches better than the men! There is not much of a story, but there is a liberating sense of fun as people from another era are having a ball in the Coney Island amusement park. Laurel and Hardy's appearance at the end is just the icing on this rather tasty cake. **1/2 out of 4.

They may have been in it for only forty one seconds, but this film seems to be seen as a film starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, it is even included in their full film collection. Basically Zasu (Zasu Pitts) and Thelma (Thelma Todd) reminisce on how many times they have been to Coney Island, and the amount of china ornaments they have won proves it, and they are saying they don't want to go again for a long time. While walking, they get sprayed by a mud puddle by the car of Mr. Loder (John Loder), and as an apology, he offers to buy them new clothes, and take them for a day out with his friend (Claud Allister) to somewhere original. In fact, it is not original in any way, it is Coney Island, and rather than complain they go through the shaking shack, rolling tunnel, spinning (roundabout) floor, slides, rocking bridge and water cart with a fake smile. The final scene of the film sees them returned home, and Stan and Ollie come in to invite them for a day out at Coney Island, and they retreat from the girls throwing ornaments at them. Also starring William Gilbert as Pierre the Dressmaker, Gordon Douglas as Fun House Worker, Otto Fries as Belligerent Bully and Jack Hill as Fun House Worker. Even in their few seconds, Laurel and Hardy add a good moment of humour, the rest of the film isn't too bad either. Worth watching!