The Animal Kingdom

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Niles B I was surprised and somewhat disappointed having read many less than stellar reviews of the Animal Kingdom (1932) starring Leslie Howard, Ann Harding, and Myrna Loy. This movie examined internal struggles which many thoughtful people experience in their own lives: * The tension between a life centered around creativity versus one motivated by pecuniary considerations. * The tension between choosing a mate based upon raw sexual attraction versus a mate who touches one's soul. * The tension between obeying directions dictated by family and social expectations versus forging one's own path. Each of these struggles is artfully examined in this film. Tom, played by Leslie Howard, is torn between the life dictated by his father and newly married wife, Cecilia, played by Myrna Loy, and the life he could have had with his once lover, Daisy, played by Ann Harding. Each of these these actors plays his/her part beautifully - each having an influence upon the other two, as in a celestial three-body configuration. Tom is expected to take his place in society, but it becomes immediately apparent in his unconventional choice of butler, Regan, played by William Gargan, that Tom pays little attention to social expectations. In a revealing metaphor at the end of the film, having made a choice, Tom places something of no small import on a mantelpiece, though we leave it to the viewer to appreciate the gesture. This viewer, for one, was most impressed with and moved by this wonderful movie. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/25/24 Full Review Steve D The story is fine but Harding makes it better. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 12/28/23 Full Review acsdoug D I'm not used to seeing Myrna Loy play a conniving, manipulative character. She did just fine, I just found the story rather dull, despite a promising premise. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 09/06/23 Full Review Audience Member Subtle pre-code (realistic) drama, starring the magnificent and stunning actors Ann Harding, Myrna Loy, and Leslie Howard. This is a gem of a movie, and receives extra points for being filmed during the technological backwardness of 1932. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Audience Member Stagy film adaptation of a stage play.of the same name. Leslie Howard plays a magazine publisher in love with artist Ann Harding, but instead marrying manipulative socialite Myrna Loy instead. There is some pre-code naughtiness that helps to make this otherwise talky and not so dramatic of film watchable, mainly how open the film is about sex and sexuality, but the main credit goes to the great Myrna Loy for holding my interest. Loy wasn't a major star yet when she made this film and actually received third billing, but she steals every scene she's in and is almost a proto-femme fatale. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Myrna Loy is amazing in this though the movie fails to wrap up its intended message. It has some good dialogue but never goes anywhere other than that. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Animal Kingdom

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