The Animal Kingdom
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Movie Reviews of The Animal Kingdom
Movie Review: Wonderful Acting
Summary: 4 Stars
The Animal Kingdom features one of the more shocking elements of the pre-code era. It revolves around a man, his former mistress, and his current wife. Leslie Howard plays Tom Collier, a wealthy man whose family wishes he would settle down and be more dignified. He does so with Cecilia (Myrna Loy), a somewhat haughty, controlling woman from high society. However, in order to make his marriage work, his mistress Daisy (Ann Harding) breaks ties with him. He is hurt by the separation and begins to pursue her without realizing his true feelings for her.
The relationships between the characters are very believable and engrossing. It helps that the stars are phenomenal actors. Howard is particularly wonderful. His acting is subtle but charming, intelligent, and powerful. Everything he says seems important and thoughtful, even if he's delivering a casual response. Harding complements him well. Although some of her gestures seem very overt and stereotypical, it is difficult not to believe them to be true. She is entirely genuine and agreeable.
Movie Review: Above average print, but where's the Radio Pictures studio logo opening?
Summary: 4 Stars
Alpha's release of this early pre-code RKO classic is definitely above average compared with their other releases. But that's not to say the source material is anything spectacular, either.
My only complaints are the lack of contrast (the faces of Myrna Loy and Ann Harding often look washed out and over-lit), and the fact that Alpha always chops off the studio logos at the beginning of their pictures. Other than those two things, I suppose I'm content with this DVD until at some point Time Warner releases it under their own banner using the original film elements as the source material.
Well worth the purchase if the price is less than 7 or 8 bucks.
Movie Review: Unusual romantic comedy (sort of)
Summary: 4 Stars
We expected a much lighter-weight movie than this turned out to be--Leslie Howard plays a wealthy young man with a sort of free-love relationship with an independent artist, but while the artist is out of town he falls for Myrna Loy and decides to marry her. The movie is surprisingly frank about the complexities of these relationships, including sexual complexities, and the end is MOST unusual when you are used to Hollywood endings.
Worth seeing for excellent dialogue, performances, etc., but not least the unusual details of the plot, and also seeing (very young) Myrna Loy in a less-than-sympathetic role.
Movie Review: Timeless story about true love
Summary: 3 Stars
Stodgy is the best word to describe this classic starring Leslie Howard with Myrna Loy in a supporting role. There is little comedic action and what is intended as such has not improved with age. Based on a stage play by Philip Barry who later wrote The Philadelphia Story, this screenplay has been eclipsed by the decline and fall of morals and marriage, which makes the alleged wanton behavior seem trite and ponderous.
The source print used by Alpha is far better than the usual used by Alpha. Although it is clean with only a couple of missing frames, it is soft and the contrast is thin, which means some scenes are washed out, so to speak.
When released during 1932, this pre-code film produced by David Selznick, was a shocker due to it's blunt and realistic portrayal of romance and marriages of convenience. But, what was schocking during 1932, is common today and therefore the drama now seems trivial. Historically it is interesting but the entertainment quotient is average at best.
Movie Review: It's okay
Summary: 3 Stars
I liked the movie because it has Myrna Loy. But I am a happy endings sort of person, so I didn't care for the ending. But, over all it is okay to watch.