Siren of the Tropics (1927)

Mar 28, 2026

by Linda Kay

Original Title: La sirène des tropiques

Directed by: Henri Étiévant, Mario Nalpas

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: The gorgeous and vivacious Josephine Baker makes her feature film debut in this melodrama set in the tropics. A local of the Antilles, the childlike and innocent Papitou (Baker) falls for the dashing André Berval (Pierre Batcheff) after he is sent to the island to prospect for rare minerals, not realizing his boss, Le Marquis Severo (Georges Melchior) has sent him there to get rid of him since he wants to marry Severo’s godchild Denise (Queenie Thomas) whom Severo disgustingly wants for himself.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): Early in the film Papitou and her faithful dog Bamboula spot a group of boys throwing a poor small tabby cat into a well.

Siren of the Tropics - boys preparing to put tabby cat into well

Papitou is quick to retrieve the cat using a bucket and then hurries the kitty inside her home.

Siren of the Tropics - Papitou Josephine Baker and dog Bamoula saving tabby cat from well
Siren of the Tropics - Papitou Josephine Baker rescuing little tabby cat from well with dog Bamboula animated gif
Siren of the Tropics - Papitou Josephine Baker and dog Bamoula bringing soaked tabby cat into home with father Adolphe Candé

As she attempts to revive the poor drenched tabby, Bamboula incredibly holds the cat’s head in his mouth as Papitou rubs the kitty’s body.

Siren of the Tropics - dog Bamoula holding head of tabby cat in his mouth

As gentle as the dog is being with the cat, Papitou still has to pry his jaws from the kitty’s skull.

Siren of the Tropics - Papitou removing dog Bamoula's jaws from head of tabby cat
Siren of the Tropics - dog Bamoula with little tabby cat
Siren of the Tropics - Papitou prying jaws of dog Bamboula from head of little tabby cat animated gif

Papitou then grabs a brush and grooms the grateful kitty.

Siren of the Tropics - Papitou Josephine Baker brushing little tabby cat with dog Bamboula
Siren of the Tropics - Papitou Josephine Baker brushing little tabby cat with dog Bamboula
Siren of the Tropics - Papitou Josephine Baker brushing little tabby cat with dog Bamboula
Siren of the Tropics - Papitou Josephine Baker brushing little tabby cat with dog Bamboula
Siren of the Tropics - Papitou Josephine Baker brushing little tabby cat with dog Bamboula animated gif

Eventually she sets the cat next to Bamboula who licks the cat’s fur (one wonders what was rubbed on the cat actor to get the dog to lick him).

Siren of the Tropics - little tabby cat being licked and cleaned by dog Bamboula
Siren of the Tropics - little tabby cat being licked by dog Bamboula animated gif

Papitou sits next to her father (Adolphe Candé) and states that having “little cat” will make her happy.

Siren of the Tropics - Papitou Josephine Baker looking at little tabby cat with dog Bamboula and her father Adolphe Candé

Later in the film when Papitou decides to leave to follow André back to Paris, she writes a note to her father saying she will miss “Little Kat, Bamboula, and you.”

Siren of the Tropics - Papitou Josephine Baker holding little tabby cat with dog Bamboula

Josephine Baker was reportedly a great lover of animals. Early biographies stated that she had a menagerie when she was young (or currently owned, depending on the reporter) which included seven dogs, three cats, a pig and a parrot. The articles stated that the only reason she didn’t have more cats in the mix was because her father forbade her to give shelter to the mongrel alley cats who didn’t get along with him or the dogs. She even owned a cheetah named Chiquita.

Siren of the Tropics - various photos of Josephine Baker with cats

Final Mewsings: Cats appreciate being saved but not having their heads stuck in dogs’ mouths.

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