The King of Pelicania (1928)

Original Title: Kongen af Pelikanien

Directed by: Valdemar Andersen

This review contains a slight Kitty Carnage Warning!

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

Synopsis: Theatre prompter Pat (Carl Schenstrøm) and make up artist Patachon (Harald Madsen) assist Lola (Elisabeth Frederiksen), an exiled Princess turned stage star, to return to her home of Pelicania.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): Both Pat and Patachon are enamored of the beautiful Princess Lola and watch her adoringly when she is on stage. The stage doctor, Ove (Gorm Schmidt) is in love with her and is always yelling at Patachon. When Lola returns to her dressing room there is a teeny tiny tabby and white kitten on a chair beside her dressing table.

The King of Pelicania - Lola Elisabeth Frederiksen at dressing table with tabby and white kitten on chair
The King of Pelicania - tabby and white kitten on chair
The King of Pelicania - Lola Elisabeth Frederiksen at dressing table looking at tabby and white kitten on chair animated gif

Lola picks up the kitten and cuddles it.

The King of Pelicania - Lola Elisabeth Frederiksen at dressing table holding tabby and white kitten

Patachon prepares to do Lola’s makeup but she asks if they can wait because her eyes are tired. The kitten is now on the dressing table.

The King of Pelicania - Lola Elisabeth Frederiksen at dressing table with tabby and white kitten beside her and Patachon Harald Madsen approaching
The King of Pelicania - Lola Elisabeth Frederiksen at dressing table with tabby and white kitten beside her and Patachon Harald Madsen

Slight Kitty Carnage Warning: Patachon reaches over and picks up the kitten. The kitten has dug its tiny claws into the cloth on the table so he has to pull a little bit to lift the kitten.

The King of Pelicania - Lola Elisabeth Frederiksen at dressing table with Patachon Harald Madsen trying to pick up tabby and white kitten

Patachon then kisses the kitten and places it in his pocket.

The King of Pelicania - Lola Elisabeth Frederiksen at dressing table with Patachon Harald Madsen holding tabby and white kitten
The King of Pelicania - Patachon placing tabby and white kitten in his pocket
The King of Pelicania - Patachon placing tabby and white kitten in his pocket
The King of Pelicania - Lola Elisabeth Frederiksen at dressing table with Patachon Harald Madsen placing tabby and white kitten in his pocket animated gif

Patachon is concerned about the doctor when he leaves the room and tells the female attendant what he plans to do. Sure enough, when he walks out of the room the doctor is right there to yell at him again.

The King of Pelicania - Patachon Harald Madsen about to leave dressing room with tabby and white kitten in his pocket

With the kitten still in his pocket, Patachon walks away then spots the doctor’s hat and coat on a chair. He turns the hat so the opening is up and then places the kitten inside and walks away.

The King of Pelicania - tabby and white kitten in Patachon's pocket
The King of Pelicania - Patachon Harald Madsen placing tabby and white kitten in the doctor's hat
The King of Pelicania - Patachon Harald Madsen placing tabby and white kitten in the doctor's hat animated gif

He watches as the woman the doctor was speaking with finds the kitten in his hat.

The King of Pelicania - Patachon Harald Madsen watching as woman finds tabby and white kitten in the doctor's hat Gorm Schmidt

She then turns the hat over to let some liquid pour out (obviously the kitten peed in the man’s hat). Patachon laughs and says to another girl “De’ va’ katten!” (which we’ve roughly translated as “Cats will be cats!”)

The King of Pelicania - Patachon Harald Madsen watching as woman and doctor Gorm Schmidt see what the tabby and white kitten left in the doctor's hat

You can view the film in its entirety on the Danish Silent Film site.

The King of Pelicania - tabby and white kitten in Patachon's pocket

Final Mewsings: Always check your hat if a kitten has been sitting in it.

Many thanks to the Danish Silent Film site for letting us know about the adorable kitten in this film!

Relevant Links:

IMDb logo




To discuss this film and other cats in movies and on television, join us on Facebook and Twitter.

Share this with your cat and movie loving friends!