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4.8/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 4.8/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. King Kelly of the U.S.A. remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Is this movie worth your time today? Only if you're the kind of person who enjoys watching old movies that feel like they were filmed in a high school gym.
If you like fast-talking 1930s guys and character actors who look like they belong in a cartoon, you’ll have a good time. If you need real production value or a plot that makes sense, you're gonna hate this so much.
I actually watched this on a rainy Tuesday while eating cold pizza. It was the perfect vibe for it.
Guy Robertson plays James Kelly, and man, he is loud. He’s the kind of guy who enters a room and you just know he’s going to try and sell you a vacuum cleaner or a used car.
He’s a showman, but the movie starts with him basically failing his way through Europe with a theatrical troupe. They end up in Belgardia, which is one of those fake movie countries where everyone wears shiny helmets and capes.
The twist? Belgardia is completely broke. Like, "can’t afford to pay the palace guards" broke.
Most movies would make this a tragedy, but here it’s just an excuse for Kelly to act like he owns the place. He’s got this weird energy where he thinks being American means he can fix anything with a song and a dance.
It reminds me a bit of the frantic energy in French Fried, but with more singing and fewer actual jokes that land.
There is a scene where Kelly tries to sell mops to the king. Yes, mops. Actual cleaning supplies.
He performs a whole musical number about how great these mops are. The dancers are literally waving mops around like they are magic wands or something.
One of the dancers in the back looks like she’s about to hit the person next to her with the mop handle. She looks genuinely terrified for about three seconds.
I love these little moments where you can see the budget straining. The sets are so thin you can almost see them wobbling when someone slams a door.
The King, played by Ferdinand Gottschalk, is my favorite part. He’s got this tiny mustache and a crown that looks like it was bought at a party supply store.
He plays the role like he’s perpetually confused about why he’s in the movie. It’s great.
You might recognize Hattie McDaniel in a small role here. This was a few years before she won her Oscar, and she’s basically doing what she always did back then—being the smartest person in the room while the white leads act like idiots.
She doesn't get enough to do. Nobody in this movie gets enough to do except Guy Robertson.
Franklin Pangborn shows up too! If you've watched any movies from this era, you know him. He’s the guy who always looks like he just smelled something bad.
He’s a highlight every time he’s on screen. He has this way of blinking his eyes that just makes me laugh for no reason.
The movie is a bit like His Majesty, the Scarecrow of Oz in terms of how much it relies on just being strange to keep you interested.
The songs are not exactly hits. I forgot them the second they were over.
There is one song about "Belgardia" that they sing over and over. By the third time, I was ready to move to a different fake country.
But there’s a charm to it. It’s so sincere in its cheapness.
One reaction shot of a guard lingers for way too long. He’s just standing there looking at the camera like he’s waiting for someone to tell him to go home.
I think he was actually just waiting for his paycheck.
I still can’t get over the mop thing. The movie really wants you to think that mops are the key to international diplomacy.
Kelly uses the mops to trick the army into doing drills. It’s meant to be clever, but it just looks like a bunch of dudes cleaning a floor in unison.
It’s oddly satisfying to watch, in a weird way. Like a 1930s version of those "oddly satisfying" TikTok videos.
The movie ends exactly how you think it will. There are no surprises here.
But it has this clunky, human heart that I really liked. It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s not trying to be.
It’s just a bunch of people in 1934 trying to make a buck and have a little fun. You can tell they were probably having a blast on set, even if the script was written on a napkin.
If you've seen things like Tall Timber, you know the vibe of these lower-budget features. They have a specific texture that you just don't get anymore.
The film is a mess, honestly. The editing is choppy and some of the jokes are just... bad.
But I’d rather watch this than another boring, perfect blockbuster. At least this has a song about mops.
So yeah. Watch it if you like weird history. Skip it if you hate fun. 🧹👑
IMDb 7.2
1912
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