The Cat and the Kit

Last updated

The Cat and the Kit
Directed by Otto Messmer
Animation byOtto Messmer
Color processBlack and white
Production
company
Pat Sullivan Studios
Distributed by General Electric
Release date
  • 1925 (1925)
Running time
10 min.
CountryUnited States
Language English

The Cat and the Kit, also referred to as A Cat and a Kit and Felix the Cat and the Kit is a 1925 silent short film by the Pat Sullivan Studio, featuring Felix the Cat. This particular cartoon was used to promote products, namely Mazda light bulbs from General Electric. [1]

Contents

Plot

Felix is getting married. He is dressing in his house when a telephone rang. Speaking to him on the phone is his bride who says she'll be waiting for him at the church. Felix boards his car and heads off.

The headlamps on Felix's car are faulty, and one of them goes out. On the way, a motorcycle is coming from the opposite direction, and its rider thought his car is another motorcycle because of only a single light is glowing. Fortunately, the two motorists passed each other without collision.

While continuing on his journey, Felix is flagged down by a cop who confronts him about his headlight problem. The cat then comes to a store selling car accessories to replace his lights. He wanted a pair of Mazda light bulbs but the store clerk tells him no stock of the product is available, and therefore makes suggestion of other lights, claiming they would work well also.

Felix puts on the regular bulbs on his vehicle, and continues his travel. With one of the lights shining horizontally and other one diagonally upward, Felix is again flagged by a cop who tells him to have them glow on the road. He then tries to adjust their focus but to no avail, and therefore goes on driving. This resulted in disturbed residents on the way firing guns and physically assaulting him. Moments later, his newly replaced lights burn out. As a consequence, Felix's car runs into a tree, then into a boulder, before falling off a cliff.

Luckily, his vehicle isn't seriously damaged, and Felix finally reaches the church. Much to his surprise, he finds a note on a wall saying he is too late and someone else took and decided to own his bride. Felix, however, refuses to concede, and is determined to get her back. He then enters another auto parts store, and is amazed that the place has Mazda light bulbs which he buys at last.

Felix fits the Mazda bulbs onto his car, and adjusted the lights' focus properly. The cat rides again in his vehicle and goes on full speed. He then catches up at the vehicle carrying his bride. As he tailgates the other car, Felix stands up, walks towards it, and picks up his girl without the driver noticing. The cat and the bride turn to the other direction and drive off. An epilogue text mentions Felix's advice about using quality lights.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Traffic light</span> Signaling device to control competing flows of traffic

Traffic lights, traffic signals, or stoplights – also known as robots in South Africa and Namibia – are signaling devices positioned at road intersections, pedestrian crossings, and other locations in order to control the flow of traffic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Felix the Cat</span> Cartoon character

Felix the Cat is a cartoon character created in 1919 by Pat Sullivan and Otto Messmer during the silent film era. An anthropomorphic young black cat with white eyes, a black body, and a giant grin, he is often considered one of the most recognized cartoon characters in history. Felix was the first fully realized recurring animal character in the history of American film animation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Headlamp</span> Lamp mounted in the front of a vehicle

A headlamp is a lamp attached to the front of a vehicle to illuminate the road ahead. Headlamps are also often called headlights, but in the most precise usage, headlamp is the term for the device itself and headlight is the term for the beam of light produced and distributed by the device.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trailer (vehicle)</span> Towed cargo vehicle

A trailer is an unpowered vehicle towed by a powered vehicle. It is commonly used for the transport of goods and materials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Street-legal vehicle</span> Motor vehicle approved for use on public roadways

Street-legal, road-legal, or road-going, refers to a vehicle such as a car, motorcycle, or light truck that is equipped and licensed for use on public roads, being therefore roadworthy. This will require specific configurations of lighting, signal lights, and safety equipment. Some specialty vehicles that will not be operated on roads, therefore, do not need all the features of a street-legal vehicle; examples are a vehicle used only off-road that is trailered to its off-road operating area, and a racing car that is used only on closed race tracks and therefore does not need all the features of a street-legal vehicle. As well as motor vehicles, the street-legal distinction applies in some jurisdictions to track bicycles that lack street-legal brakes and lights. Street-legality rules can even affect racing helmets, which possess visual fields too narrow for use on an open road without the risk of missing a fast-moving vehicle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Police car</span> Ground vehicle used by police for transportation

A police car is a ground vehicle used by police and law enforcement for transportation during patrols and responses to calls for service. A type of emergency vehicle, police cars are used by police officers to patrol a beat, quickly reach incident scenes, and transport and temporarily detain suspects, all while establishing a police presence and providing visible crime deterrence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daytime running lamp</span> Vehicle lights

A daytime running lamp is an automotive lighting and bicycle lighting device on the front of a road going motor vehicle or bicycle. It is automatically switched on when the vehicle's handbrake has been pulled down, when the vehicle is in gear, or when the engine is started, emitting white, yellow, or amber light. Their intended use is not to help the driver see the road or their surroundings, but to help other road users identify an active vehicle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Automotive lighting</span> Lighting system of a motor vehicle

A motor vehicle has lighting and signaling devices mounted to or integrated into its front, rear, sides, and, in some cases, top. Various devices have the dual function of illuminating the road ahead for the driver, and making the vehicle visible to others, with indications to them of turning, slowing or stopping, etc., with lights also indicating the size of some large vehicles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emergency vehicle lighting</span> Visual warning lights fitted to a vehicle

Emergency vehicle lighting, also known as simply emergency lighting or emergency lights, is a type of vehicle lighting used to visually announce a vehicle's presence to other road users. A sub-type of emergency vehicle equipment, emergency vehicle lighting is generally used by emergency vehicles and other authorized vehicles in a variety of colors.

Traffic signal preemption is a system that allows an operator to override the normal operation of traffic lights. The most common use of these systems manipulates traffic signals in the path of an emergency vehicle, halting conflicting traffic and allowing the emergency vehicle right-of-way, thereby reducing response times and enhancing traffic safety. Signal preemption can also be used on tram, light-rail and bus rapid transit systems, to allow public transportation priority access through intersections, and by railroad systems at crossings to prevent collisions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2003 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season</span> Sports season

The 2003 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 55th F.I.M. Road racing World Championship season. The season consisted of 16 races, beginning with the Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix on 6 April 2003 and ending with the Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix on 2 November.

<i>The Stork Exchange</i> 1927 film

The Stork Exchange is a 1927 silent short film starring Krazy Kat. This film was thought to be lost but has been found. It is also one of the earliest in the cartoon series to feature Manny Gould and Ben Harrison's version of Krazy, the first of few incarnations derived from George Herriman's famous character.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hollywood Stuntz gang assault</span> Road incident in New York City, United States

On September 29, 2013, motorist Alexian Lien was assaulted while driving on the Henry Hudson Parkway in New York City. Lien had gotten into an altercation earlier in the day with motorcyclists who were participating in a rally called Hollywood's Block Party. One of the bikers pulled in front of Lien and slowed dramatically. Lien said that he struck the bike from behind, stopped his vehicle, and was quickly surrounded by bikers, who began attacking his SUV. He testified that he feared for his life. Lien accelerated, driving his SUV over Edwin Mieses, paralyzing him, and also running over several motorcycles. Lien then fled the scene in his SUV. A chase ensued, which ended in Lien being pulled from his vehicle and beaten. The media later reported that the involved bikers were members of a loose association of high-performance motorcycle enthusiasts known as "Hollywood Stuntz" who had previously been observed and filmed engaging in reckless driving and threatening motorists.

The Window Washers is a 1925 silent animated short subject produced by Fables Studios, and one of the Aesop's Fables cartoons started by animator Paul Terry. When released for television in the 1950s, musical tracks were added.

<i>Bartholomew Versus the Wheel</i> 1964 film

Bartholomew Versus the Wheel is a 1964 Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies cartoon directed by Robert McKimson. It was released theatrically on February 29, 1964.

<i>Flim Flam Films</i> 1927 film

Flim Flam Films is a 1927 silent animated short subject featuring Felix the Cat.

<i>Cop Car</i> (film) 2015 independent thriller film by Jon Watts

Cop Car is a 2015 American independent road-thriller film co-written and directed by Jon Watts and starring Kevin Bacon, Shea Whigham, Camryn Manheim, James Freedson-Jackson, and Hays Wellford. The film follows two young boys and juvenile delinquents who come across and hijack the abandoned police car of a corrupt sheriff. It premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival and was released in the United States on August 7, 2015 by Focus World. The film received mainly positive reviews from critics but was commercially unsuccessful, earning $143,658 on a $5 million budget.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philips Hue</span> Smart lightbulb brand

Philips Hue is a line of color-changing LED lamps and white bulbs which can be controlled wirelessly. The Philips Hue line of bulbs was the first smart bulb of its kind on the market. The lamps are currently created and manufactured by Signify N.V., formerly the Philips Lighting division of Royal Philips N.V.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Automotive industry in Vietnam</span>

The automotive industry in Vietnam is a fast-growing sector mainly reliant on domestic sales. All currently produced models are designed abroad by foreign brands, and many rely on knock-down kit production. Due to high import taxes on automobiles, the Vietnamese government protects domestic manufacturing. Although Vietnam is a member of the ASEAN Free Trade Area, automobile imports fall under an exception. Since January 1, 2018, the 30% import tax has been discontinued as part of ASEAN agreements. Currently, the Vietnamese motor industry is not deemed competitive enough to make exports feasible. As of April 2018, 85% of car sales in Vietnam were produced domestically from knock-down kits.

References

  1. Jerry Beck (March 6, 2012). "Felix The Cat in "The Cat and The Kit" (1925)". Cartoon Brew . Retrieved June 28, 2012.