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      The Male Animal

      Released Apr 4, 1942 1h 41m Comedy List
      Reviews 58% 100+ Ratings Audience Score On the weekend of the big football game at a large Midwestern university, English professor Tommy Turner (Henry Fonda) unexpectedly gets embroiled in a free-speech controversy. When a trustee (Eugene Pallette) learns that Tommy intends to read a letter by convicted anarchist Bartolomeo Vanzetti in class, he threatens the professor's job. Meanwhile, Tommy's unhappy wife (Olivia de Havilland) is wooed by her visiting college boyfriend, ex-football star Joe Ferguson (Jack Carson). Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

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      ashley h The Male Animal is an okay film. It is about Homecoming weekend at Midwestern University. Henry Fonda and Olivia de Havilland give decent performances. The screenplay is a little slow in places. Elliott Nugent did an alright job directing this movie. I liked this motion picture because of the humor and romance. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member The best comedy movie ever made! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review dave j Tuesday, July 22, 2014 (1942) The Male Animal COMEDY DRAMA Totally outdated which wouldn't be watchable had I not recognized it's two veteran actors of Henry Fonda and Olivia De Havilland. Adapted from the play by James Thurber and Elliott Nugent, which involves English professor, Tommy Turner (Fonda) refusing to be dictated by school board, allowing one of his students, Michael Barnes (Herbert Anderson) to publish controversial editorial. Meanwhile, both Tommy and his wife, Ellen Turner (Olivia de Havilland) are also inviting an old colleague, named Joe (Jack Carson) who used to be one of Michigan's biggest football college stars. And Joe conveniently had just broken up with his wife too. Did I mention that this movie is outdated since most testosterone guys these days, particularly jocks enjoy sleeping around even if they're married. 2 out of 4 stars Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member predictable but enjoyable enough, with actors who are fun to watch. I know the free-speech/academic plot is mentioned first in most reviews, but in my sleepy state I mostly followed the romantic bits. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review Audience Member This is a highly regarded classic, and I am not sure why I am not enthralled with it. It?s okay, but I just don?t see anything special with it. There is no chemistry between Henry Fonda and Olivia de Havilland. Fonda is great, but de Havilland gets very irritating, as does Jack Carson. Eugene Pallette and Hattie McDaniel provide excellent support. Otherwise, it?s pretty routine. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member This is a highly regarded classic, and I am not sure why I am not enthralled with it. It's okay, but I just don't see anything special with it. There is no chemistry between Henry Fonda and Olivia de Havilland. Fonda is great, but de Havilland gets very irritating, as does Jack Carson. Eugene Pallette and Hattie McDaniel provide excellent support. Otherwise, it's pretty routine. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      The Male Animal

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      Critics Reviews

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      Elena de la Torre Cine-Mundial Henry Fonda and Olivia de Havilland have achieved two triumphal performances in this delightful movie. [Full Review in Spanish] Sep 12, 2019 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews The stagebound film has its amusing moments, solid performances and a still timely message about academic freedom. Rated: B Mar 27, 2009 Full Review Louis Proyect rec.arts.movies.reviews A surprisingly relevant movie on academic freedom in light of Ward Churchill and pro-Palestinian professors being victimized today. Aug 31, 2008 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis On the weekend of the big football game at a large Midwestern university, English professor Tommy Turner (Henry Fonda) unexpectedly gets embroiled in a free-speech controversy. When a trustee (Eugene Pallette) learns that Tommy intends to read a letter by convicted anarchist Bartolomeo Vanzetti in class, he threatens the professor's job. Meanwhile, Tommy's unhappy wife (Olivia de Havilland) is wooed by her visiting college boyfriend, ex-football star Joe Ferguson (Jack Carson).
      Director
      Elliott Nugent
      Screenwriter
      Stephen Morehouse Avery, Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein, Elliott Nugent, James Thurber
      Distributor
      Warner Bros.
      Production Co
      Warner Bros.
      Genre
      Comedy
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Apr 4, 1942, Wide
      Release Date (DVD)
      May 8, 2009
      Runtime
      1h 41m
      Sound Mix
      Mono