The Animal Kingdom | |
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Theatrical release poster
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Directed by |
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Produced by | David O. Selznick |
Screenplay by |
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Based on |
The Animal Kingdom by Philip Barry |
Starring | |
Music by | Max Steiner |
Cinematography | George J. Folsey |
Edited by | Daniel Mandell |
Production
company |
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Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures |
Release date
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Running time
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85 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $458,000 |
Box office | $528,000 |
The Animal Kingdom (also known as The Woman in His House in the UK) is a 1932 American pre-Code comedy-drama film directed by Edward H. Griffith based upon a comedy of manners of the same name by Philip Barry.
The film stars Leslie Howard, Ann Harding, Myrna Loy, William Gargan, Ilka Chase, and Neil Hamilton. Howard, Gargan, and Chase also starred in the play when it opened on Broadway on 12 January 1932.
In 1960, the film entered the public domain (in the USA) due to the claimant's failure to renew its copyright registration in the 28th year after publication.
The film is based on a play, of the same name, set in 1930's New York and Connecticut.
Tom Collier (Leslie Howard) is a book publisher who has been living in the city with his best friend and lover Daisy Sage (Ann Harding) without being married. His wealthy father, Rufus Collier (Henry Stephenson), wants him to live a respectable life. While Daisy is away for her job, Tom falls in love with Cecelia (Myrna Loy). Although their lawyer and friend Owen (Neil Hamilton) is in love with Cecelia, he doesn’t have enough financial resources to maintain her interest.
Cecelia tries to get Tom to sell out without his realizing it. She talks him into publishing bad books that will make money and getting rid of his old friends, including “Red”, his prize-fighter friend and butler. She wants Tom to sell his publishing company, live in the city with his father as a "proper gentleman" and take their place in society, which Tom has been fighting all his life.