Vitaphone Corporation
Narrator: Robert L. Ripley
Synopsis: This was episode 4 of the second series of Believe It or Not short films released to theaters. In this episode, little Billy (Billy Hayes) is scolded by his mother for reading a Ripley’s Believe It or Not book instead of doing his homework. He falls asleep and dreams that Mr. Ripley escorts him through a giant book of his strange finds.
Poor Kitty: The last segment in this episode is about a cat named Thomasina who is said to smoke three cigarettes a day. Ripley explains that she had been born in a dog kennel in New York and picked up the habit from the customers. The poor thing is seen laying on her back on a pillow in the lap of her owner, Serge Detouloff, who literally is physically holding the cat’s paws down (as well as her head, at first) while she “smokes.”
Needless to say poor Thomasina looks anything but relaxed and comfortable during this, so it’s pretty clear the cat doesn’t even really tolerate having the cigarette in her mouth, let alone enjoy smoking it. At least Thomasina appears wise enough not to inhale.
Final Mewsings: Humans shouldn’t force their disgusting habits on animals!
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