The Animal Kingdom
by Edward H. Griffith, George Cukor
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Ann Harding, Leslie Howard, Myrna Loy, Neil Hamilton, William GarganDirector: Edward H. Griffith, George Cukor
Brand: Bayside ENT Dist
Cinematographer: George J. Folsey
Writer: Edward H. Griffith
Producer: David O. Selznick
Writer: Adela Rogers St. Johns
Writer: Horace Jackson
Writer: Philip Barry
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Black & White, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 85 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-05-25
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Alpha Video
Movie Reviews of The Animal Kingdom
Movie Review: "for all our big talk, you know, we still do belong to the animal kingdom"
Summary: 5 Stars
The Animal Kingdom sports some mighty terrific acting by a wonderful cast. The plot of this pre-code drama moves along at a very good pace; it could have been edited just a little but this is very minor. The cinematography is very well done throughout the film; and the choreography works best in crowded scenes including the surprise birthday party. There are two very minor disappointments: The quality of the print could have been a little bit better; and once or twice there was the very obvious and distinctly different noises of the two cameras that were rolling when a scene involved two people talking.
When the action starts, we quickly meet the somewhat bohemian Tom Collier (Leslie Howard) who happily owns and runs The Bantam Press, a small independent publishing company. He lives with his girlfriend Daisy Sage (Ann Harding); Tom and Daisy snub the conventional wisdom of the time that a man and a woman had to be married before they could live together. Tom's father Rufus Collier (Henry Stephenson) has nothing but disdain for Tom's lifestyle; but it is the pretty society girl Cecilia "Cee" Henry (Myrna Loy) who steals Tom from Daisy when Daisy is away for a while. In fact, as the picture begins, Daisy is sailing into New York harbor that night only to find out that Tom, who she still thinks is her man, will be marrying "Cee" very soon.
Daisy certainly does take it very badly, although she admits along with Tom that they never had any real strings attached to their relationship. Tom still wants to be friends with Daisy and see her from time to time; but Daisy angrily refuses and Tom leaves without even taking his belongings. After Tom marries "Cee," he never sees his old friends anymore; his quirky butler and friend "Red" Regan (William Gargan) stays on--but only for a while. "Red" can't take the stuffiness of life in Connecticut with "Cee" and Tom so he leaves just as "Cee" has convinced Tom to fire him anyway.
Tom eventually simply shows up at Daisy's Manhattan apartment and they quickly rekindle their friendship--and their old flame, too. Tom doesn't tell all of this to "Cee;" but "Cee" decides to test how everything is going by throwing a surprise birthday party for Tom--and "Cee" makes sure to invite Daisy as well as Tom's old friends "Franc" Schmidt (Leni Stengel) and Joe Fiske (Don Dillaway).
What happens at that party? "Cee" has also invited a man who has not so secretly wanted her for a long time, a fellow named Owen (Neil Hamilton)--how will he figure into all this? Will "Cee" and Daisy get along that night? What will happen if "Red" has trouble on his new job and wants to return to his old job working for Tom and "Cee?" Watch and find out!
The DVD comes with nothing in the way of extras except scene selection; but with these budget DVDs that's the way it goes, I guess.
The Animal Kingdom showcases the fabulous talents of Leslie Howard, Ann Harding and Myrna Loy. Look for a wonderful performance by William Gargan as "Red" the butler, too. Most if not all of the plot could even take place in these times so the film remains relevant despite the passage of time. I highly recommend this film for classic movie buffs; and of course people who are fans of the actors in this movie will want this DVD as well.
Summary of The Animal Kingdom
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