The unusual theme for this very intelligent and enjoyable film has the decent self sacrificing mistress (Ann Harding) pitted against the merciless, social climbing wife (Myrna Loy).
In 1932 Ann Harding was at the peak of her career and this film has become her most popular. She was the epitome of style and class, with her silvery long blonde hair (done in a bun on the nape of her neck), natural beauty and low husky voice. She was a very unconventional beauty for the period. She was also RKO's most prestigious star - until Constance Bennett came along with a more down to earth appeal. So fans, going to see her in "The Animal Kingdom" knew exactly what to expect. Myrna Loy, also had not found her "Nora Charles" persona and was still being given roles that required her to be anything but nice. Karen Morley was producer Selznicks' first choice for Cecilia but Leslie Howard demanded Myrna Loy.
After Tom's father (Henry Stephenson) finishes bemoaning the fact that Tom (Leslie Howard) has wasted his life, Cecilia (Myrna Loy, looking completely ravishing) confesses that she is going to marry Tom. Tom is in an "unconventional relationship" with Daisy Sage (Ann Harding), a free spirited artist, and the night of his engagement, he feels he must tell her. Daisy also has some news - she feels she has real talent as an artist, and she wants to marry Tom so she can have children!!! Once she realises Tom is about to marry Cecilia she finds she cannot continue their old relationship.
Once they are married Cecilia tries desperately to mold Tom to fit in with her circle of boring friends. She convinces him to publish a potboiler, a book Tom is ashamed of - but it becomes a best seller among her friends. She then convinces him to fire Regan (William Gargan is just stunning in the role he originated on stage). Regan is an old friend of Tom's, an ex prize fighter who Tom keeps on as a butler. He is very funny - he gets drunk and mingles with the guests, much to Cecilia's disgust.
The dialogue is pretty racy - "a foolish virgin me - well foolish anyway" says Daisy, when she learns of Tom's engagement. Rather than resume their old relationship Daisy flees to Canada. When she returns Cecilia rings her to invite her to a surprise party. Cecilia feels that by getting all his old friends together Tom will realise what a lot of riff raff they are. The party is not a success - Daisy spends her time reading a new novel that Tom is due to publish and realises how low he has fallen. Behind his back Cecilia convinces Owen (Neil Hamilton), an old flame and also a successful publisher to buy Tom out and take over the Bantam press. Daisy overhears and also sees Cecilia's behaviour towards Owen and realises that Cecilia is not good enough for Tom and is also the cause of his loss of high ideals and integrity.
Cecilia believes that Tom has excepted a huge cheque from his father and shows herself as she really is. Tom is surprised at how much the room she has decorated resembles a London brothel he had visited. Even though it is only suggested, it is pretty racy dialogue even for pre- code times. He then realises that she is acting like a high class prostitute - promising him privileges that she had been withholding (the locked bedroom door, his desire for children etc) because of the money she thinks will be hers.
I thought it was a super film, quite shocking in it's suggestions, even for the time. The ending was also in keeping with the pre-code code and I can heartily recommend this entertaining and intelligent movie.
Highly Recommended.
In 1932 Ann Harding was at the peak of her career and this film has become her most popular. She was the epitome of style and class, with her silvery long blonde hair (done in a bun on the nape of her neck), natural beauty and low husky voice. She was a very unconventional beauty for the period. She was also RKO's most prestigious star - until Constance Bennett came along with a more down to earth appeal. So fans, going to see her in "The Animal Kingdom" knew exactly what to expect. Myrna Loy, also had not found her "Nora Charles" persona and was still being given roles that required her to be anything but nice. Karen Morley was producer Selznicks' first choice for Cecilia but Leslie Howard demanded Myrna Loy.
After Tom's father (Henry Stephenson) finishes bemoaning the fact that Tom (Leslie Howard) has wasted his life, Cecilia (Myrna Loy, looking completely ravishing) confesses that she is going to marry Tom. Tom is in an "unconventional relationship" with Daisy Sage (Ann Harding), a free spirited artist, and the night of his engagement, he feels he must tell her. Daisy also has some news - she feels she has real talent as an artist, and she wants to marry Tom so she can have children!!! Once she realises Tom is about to marry Cecilia she finds she cannot continue their old relationship.
Once they are married Cecilia tries desperately to mold Tom to fit in with her circle of boring friends. She convinces him to publish a potboiler, a book Tom is ashamed of - but it becomes a best seller among her friends. She then convinces him to fire Regan (William Gargan is just stunning in the role he originated on stage). Regan is an old friend of Tom's, an ex prize fighter who Tom keeps on as a butler. He is very funny - he gets drunk and mingles with the guests, much to Cecilia's disgust.
The dialogue is pretty racy - "a foolish virgin me - well foolish anyway" says Daisy, when she learns of Tom's engagement. Rather than resume their old relationship Daisy flees to Canada. When she returns Cecilia rings her to invite her to a surprise party. Cecilia feels that by getting all his old friends together Tom will realise what a lot of riff raff they are. The party is not a success - Daisy spends her time reading a new novel that Tom is due to publish and realises how low he has fallen. Behind his back Cecilia convinces Owen (Neil Hamilton), an old flame and also a successful publisher to buy Tom out and take over the Bantam press. Daisy overhears and also sees Cecilia's behaviour towards Owen and realises that Cecilia is not good enough for Tom and is also the cause of his loss of high ideals and integrity.
Cecilia believes that Tom has excepted a huge cheque from his father and shows herself as she really is. Tom is surprised at how much the room she has decorated resembles a London brothel he had visited. Even though it is only suggested, it is pretty racy dialogue even for pre- code times. He then realises that she is acting like a high class prostitute - promising him privileges that she had been withholding (the locked bedroom door, his desire for children etc) because of the money she thinks will be hers.
I thought it was a super film, quite shocking in it's suggestions, even for the time. The ending was also in keeping with the pre-code code and I can heartily recommend this entertaining and intelligent movie.
Highly Recommended.