Undescribable Perfection

Sorry, this movie sucks

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

The IMDb billing on this film lists it as a comedy and drama, in that order. But for a few witty lines in it, "Animal Kingdom" has no trappings of humor. The sometimes funny relationship between Tom (played by Leslie Howard) and Red (played by William Gargan) could hardly lift this to a comedy level. Surely not above the drama. There is an outside chance that this really is a sophisticated comedy – but then it's over my head (a distinct possibility, I admit). But from the story, script and dialog, I don't see that. Rather, I see the main plot as a drama. Tom is a well-to-do son who has been living a carefree lifestyle with few responsibilities. He has been living and mixing with artists and writers who work at their trades while living a bohemian lifestyle. Tom has a small publishing house that prints artistic and cultural works, but it doesn't earn him much money. This has gone on for some years. Tom's father, Rufus Collier (played by Henry Stephenson) considers his son a wastrel. He is anxious that he settle down and take on the responsibility associated with his wealthy class. Two women are prominent in Tom's life. Daisy, played by Ann Harding, has been Tom's friend and bohemian consort for his many carefree years. Daisy is an artist and aspiring painter. She and Tom have worked on publications together over the years. Tom had proposed to her in the past, but she declined. Cecelia, or "Cee" is played by Myrna Loy, and is Tom's fiancé. Daisy had been away in Europe for a long time, and Tom had just recently met and fallen in love with Cee. Other players have their parts – friends of one or the other main characters. Rufus likes Cee and is glad that she and Tom are getting married. This story plays out with pathos as Tom parts from his friends. Daisy returns to New York, now hoping to marry Tom. Tom tells her he is in love with Cee, but he wants to remain friends with Daisy for life. We don't see the wedding, but after Tom and Cee are married, Cee influences him to a sale/merger of his printing house to produce dime novels that make money instead of the works of quality he had preferred. Daisy decides it's best to break completely with Tom's friendship, and she does so. Tom is left without much desire or hope, and we see him give in to Cee's every wish. Tom has become a most pitiable person.Owen Fiske (played by Neil Hamilton) is an attorney for Rufus. He is attracted to Cee. At one point, he says to Cee, "Hang it all, Cee! Tom doesn't want to sell the Bantam." Cee says, "Tom doesn't know what he wants?" In another scene, Red serves Cee a drink and says, "You're a strange girl, Cee. And a pretty cruel one too." And in another scene, Daisy says to Tom, "I pity you will all my heart."There is more – with Cee showing signs of infidelity. She now seems to disdain her husband, whom she sees as a weak person. She is a woman who wants wealth and power. In the end, Tom signs over a very hefty check his father had made out to him. He leaves it on the fireplace mantle for Cee, and walks out. We are left to imagine that he is going off to find Daisy, lost freedom and true love.Perhaps a scene in which we learn of the title of this play and film will help us better understand it. This is after Daisy returns from Europe and Tom tells her he plans to marry. Daisy says, "Tom! Tom, do you have to marry here?" Tom replies, "I want to marry here." Daisy: "I thought maybe you just wanted her, or wanted her most awfully." Tom: "No, no, no. It's more than that. Much more." Daisy: "I don't see how you can quite tell that. For all our big talking, you know, we do still belong to the animal kingdom."This film has some big name stars of its day. Leslie Howard was an established actor in England and the U.S. He was an RAF pilot and was killed when his plane was shot down during World War II. Harding and Loy had been around a while and would have many more roles and much better performances. Only Howard seemed to put much life into his role in this film. Harding, in particular, seemed wooden and flat. Still, for an interesting story and overall good cast, "Animal Kingdom" is an enjoyable watch.

It's fair to call this a "chick flick" on the basis of its romantic plot, but it's also a theatrical film. It's obviously done in stage play format, with the sort of characters one usually envisions on stage.There is a romantic triangle of Leslie Howard and two women. It does take a while before we realize how it must play out emotionally, so there is some suspense. Handsome Neil Hamilton comes out of the lion's mouth to provide the possible fourth, and I won't spoil it by saying how far he gets. I must say that when I found a movie called "The Animal Kingdom" with the hunter who met Tarzan on two safaris before becoming cat food, I thought this might be more of an adventure.Sadly, a lot of it dragged. That's the "chick flick" part, but it's also good drama. It's most conversation, but well blocked. The comic relief character of the ex boxer provides some relief from what often becomes melodramatic. Trouble is, there are long spurts in which he probably should have been inter-spliced more often.Still, it is a nice story, and best for viewing with company.

Philip Barry wrote many "smart" comedies of drawing room manners, champagne, martinis and sophisticated marital discord. This is the story of a Bohemian young man (Leslie Howard) who gives up his artist lover (Ann Harding) to marry into society. The wife to be is Myrna Loy, playing a manipulative, calculating passive/aggressive socialite who seems easy going at first. Indeed, she likes the buffoonish butler (William Gargan) at first but once married to Howard demands he be fired for constant drunkenness. In contrast, Harding isn't instantly likable, spewing subtle frustration when Howard ends things with her; He simply leaves her apartment while she continues to talk to the air. But in time, Howard misses his old life, beginning to see Loy for who she really is and starts to see Harding again socially.Loy doesn't play a totally one dimensional bitch; She has lady-like moments of kindness but like real people, switches back and forth naturally depending on the circumstances. Harding, "Queen of the Bun", is a husky voiced pre-code star who was sometimes confused with Irene Dunne, RKO's other major star of classy women's pictures. Harding's career in Hollywood had a brief hiatus in the late 30's, and when she returned, it was in character roles that made people forget she was once a major star. Gargan is very funny as the butler whom nobody will ever confuse with Arthur Treacher. The movie gets a little stagy in spots, but is never sleep-inducing. Howard is very good and sexy, a far cry from many of the other British leading men (such as Clive Brook) who were mostly too stiff upper lipped and overly dull. While not as remembered as "Holiday" or "The Philadelphia Story" (Barry's other plays successfully adapted for the screen), "The Animal Kingdom" is a pleasant marital drama with fine performances and amusing moments.

Leslie Howard, Ann Harding, and Myrna Loy are all members of "The Animal Kingdom" in this 1932 film based on the play by Phillip Barry. Barry in his way was a transitional playwright - he wrote about the upper class, usually negatively, but always gave a nod to the lower class - they were the ones that had more fun. Just a little bit later, plays about the upper class would go by the wayside for plays about the working class - Waiting for Lefty, Awake and Sing - as America moved through the depression.Leslie Howard plays a member of said upper class who has engaged in a Bohemian lifestyle, living with an intelligent artist (Harding). They have a no attachment, open relationship, and he takes her at her word and gets himself engaged to a gorgeous, wealthy young woman (Myrna Loy) just as Harding decides she wants to settle down and have a family. She accepts his decision, but not his offer of continuing friendship.There is a line about the "animal kingdom" in the film, but I prefer to think the title has to do with baser instincts. If Howard passionately desired Ann Harding, he wouldn't have wanted to be friends - and it's her desire of him that makes her reject his "just friends" suggestion. Let's face facts - Loy turns him on and knows it. In fact, she uses sex as a manipulative weapon, and he's putty in her hands. It's more blatant in this film than, say, "Harriet Craig" which was done under the code - but the power of sex is there.Of course, a relationship based on sexual desire and nothing else eventually grows tired, and Howard finds himself going back to talk with Harding and spend time with her. She smartly keeps running. Clearly, Howard is a man who wants to have his cake and eat it, too.Harding was an interesting leading woman - she was attractive but not beautiful and had a very low, distinctive speaking voice. She came from the Broadway stage, and her heyday in films was through the mid-thirties, though she worked consistently in films and television until the mid-60s. As was the case back then, at 31 years of age, her time as a leading lady was drawing to a close, and soon would be turned over to people like the younger Loy. Her performance in "The Animal Kingdom" is a very honest one. Loy is absolutely ravishing and wears beautiful clothes. She essays the part of the glamorous wife beautifully, reminiscent of Gene Tierney later on with the ultra-feminine facade hiding the steel underneath. Howard is handsome and thoughtful in the lead, and one can see it slowly occurring to him that he made a mistake.Very good.