DbcultAccessing Vault...
5.4/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.4/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. The King remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
You should probably watch this if you have twenty minutes to kill and you like seeing a grown man act like a confused toddler. If you want a serious historical drama, The King is going to make you very angry.
It’s one of those early sound shorts where everyone is shouting because they aren't sure where the microphones are hidden. Harry Langdon is the lead, and he’s playing his usual 'man-child' character, which is definitely an acquired taste.
The plot is basically just a bedroom farce. The King is supposed to be this big royal figure, but he's really just a dimwit chasing a lady-in-waiting around the curtains.
The Queen catches him, and instead of a divorce, she just cuffs him to the bed. It’s a very 1930s solution to infidelity.
There is this one bit where Harry is trying to hide while still being attached to the furniture. He moves with this slow, agonizing hesitation that makes you want to reach into the screen and nudge him along.
Thelma Todd is in this too. She’s always the best part of these movies because she actually feels like a real person surrounded by cartoons.
The movie reminds me a bit of Stupid, But Brave, but with more silk pajamas and less dirt. Everything feels very cramped, like they only had one set and maybe three light bulbs to work with.
I noticed the King’s crown keeps slipping over his ears. I can’t tell if it was a gag or if the prop was just too big for Harry's head.
There’s a lot of door slamming. Actually, maybe too much door slamming.
The Minister character shows up and things get even more crowded. It’s like a game of sardines but with more royal capes and bad mustaches.
The dialogue is pretty clunky. "Oh, your majesty!" followed by a loud thud as someone falls over a chair.
One thing I liked was the weird silence between the jokes. Because it's such an early 'talkie,' the background noise is just this constant hiss that never stops.
It makes the whole thing feel like you're watching a haunted broadcast from a basement. Harry’s face is so pale he looks like he’s made of unbaked bread dough.
There is a moment where he tries to be sexy and it’s just deeply uncomfortable. He does this little wiggle with his eyebrows that feels like it lasts a whole minute.
If you've seen The Married Flapper, you know the vibe of these domestic comedies. But this one is weirder because of the royal setting.
The King isn't really a king, he's just a guy in a costume who wants a snack and a nap. I think that’s why people liked Langdon back then; he wasn't a hero.
He was just a guy who was constantly confused by doors and women. The ending is sort of abrupt and doesn't really 'end' so much as it just stops when they run out of film. 🛏️
I wouldn't call it a masterpiece. But it’s a funny look at how they made people laugh before they figured out how to use a camera properly.
Watch it for Thelma Todd's reactions. She looks like she’s wondering how she ended up in this bedroom with these idiots.
It’s better than The Poverty of Riches if you want a quick laugh. Just don't expect it to make much sense logically.
The King’s pajamas are remarkably shiny. I spent at least three minutes just looking at the fabric instead of the acting.
Anyway, it's short. If you hate it, you only lost twenty minutes of your life. 👑