Movie spotlight
Kitty and the World Conference
The setting is Lugano (Switzerland), where an apparently very important world conference takes place. The film tells the story of the young Kitty (Hannelore Schroth), who works as a manicurist at the Eden Hotel, and who in the course of events gets to know both a young journalist (Christian Gollong) and the English minister of economics (Fritz Odemar). A lot of wild mix-ups, comic situations, a love story and occasional singing ensue, and in the end most of the VIPs have gained their share of laughter… There’s also a great performance by Paul Hörbiger as the hotel porter. For a 1939 film made in Germany, “Kitty” is remarkably irreverent and satirical about politics.
Insights
Plot Summary
A British cat, known as 'Kitty,' travels to Geneva to attend a world conference. Upon arrival, she finds the delegates are all dogs who are arguing incessantly. Kitty attempts to bring order to the chaotic meeting, but her efforts are met with further disruption.
Critical Reception
This animated short is a lesser-known piece from the Golden Age of American animation, often appreciated for its anthropomorphic humor and satirical take on international relations during a tense geopolitical period. While not as widely discussed as contemporary Disney or Warner Bros. shorts, it holds a niche appeal for animation enthusiasts and historians.
What Reviewers Say
Amusing anthropomorphic satire with a distinct British flavor.
A charming, if somewhat simple, commentary on political discourse.
Features early voice work that adds to its historical interest.
Google audience: Information on Google user reviews for this specific short film is not readily available.
Fun Fact
The short was produced by a relatively small studio and distributed by RKO Radio Pictures, making it a less prominent entry in the theatrical animation landscape of its era.
AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources