Movie spotlight
Pétronille’s Monkey
Pétronille the kitchen maid is engaged to a marine who brings her a monkey named Joko from an exotic, unspecified country as a present. Pétronille attempts to hide Joko from her employers. Upon hearing strange noises from their cabinet, they impulsively draw their gun to shoot the intruder (or perhaps what they suspect to be a rat?). Joko provokes a massive chase across the city, climbing over chimneys, running over railway crossings, and diving into a fountain in a public park. This film showcases Duhamel’s talents as an indomitable comedienne. She is charismatic, cheeky, and athletic, with amazing facial expressions and great dramatic timing.
Insights
Plot Summary
In this silent comedy, a monkey causes a series of comical mishaps within a household. The film follows the escalating chaos as the mischievous primate disrupts daily life, leading to a series of absurd and humorous situations. It's a simple yet effective showcase of slapstick and animal-driven comedy from the early days of cinema.
Critical Reception
As a very early silent film, 'Pétronille's Monkey' was likely appreciated for its lighthearted entertainment value and the novelty of animal performances. Critical reception from this era is not widely documented in modern terms, but such shorts were popular attractions in early cinemas.
What Reviewers Say
A charming and amusing silent short.
Features entertaining antics from its simian star.
A lighthearted example of early cinematic comedy.
Google audience: Information on Google user reviews for this 1913 film is not available.
Fun Fact
Louis Feuillade, the director of 'Pétronille's Monkey,' was a prolific filmmaker who also created the iconic Fantômas serials around the same period.
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