The Male Animal (1942)
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- A wonderful comedy about a mild-mannered college professor who has his whole world turned topsy-turvy by an ill considered campus editorial and the return of his wife's football-hero ex-bow. Great acting, lively script and fine direction keep you engrossed throughout its entirety.
- Actors:
- Henry Fonda, Olivia De Havilland, Joan Leslie, Jack Carson, Eugene Pallette, Herbert Anderson, Hattie McDaniel, Ivan F. Simpson, Don Defore, Jean Ames, Minna Phillips, Regina Wallace, Frank Mayo, William B. Davidson, Bobby Barnes, Tod Andrews, Sam Ash, Raymond Bailey, Leah Baird, William A. Boardway
- Directors:
- Elliott Nugent
- Producers:
- Hal B. Wallis
- Writers:
- Julius J. Epstein, Stephen Morehouse Avery, James Thurber, Elliott Nugent
- Aka:
- Tú eres mi hombre
- Genres:
- Classics, Comedy, Romance
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Reviews (1) of The Male Animal
Political Comedy - The Male Animal review by Steve
Fascinating political comedy, from a James Thurber play, which exposes the deep divide between US academics... and the capitalists who disguise their motives in patriotism. Henry Fonda is a literature professor at a midwest university who wants to read out a composition by so-called anarchist Bartolomeo Vanzetti.
He is opposed by the head of the trustees (Eugene Palette) who raises cash for athletic facilities. Any academic theory at variance with corporate interest is labelled communism and suppressed. This predicts the communist witch-hunt of the ’50s, and articulates a defence of liberalism which it would attempt to shut down.
It was released in 1942 with fascism ascendant in Europe. And it presents a polarised society quick to form into mobs. It all plays out against a college football game which brings an all American great (Jack Carson) back to campus, the ex-flame of former cheerleader (Olivia de Havilland) now married to… Fonda.
This is a witty, funny film which never gets choked by its political themes. Carson is a joy as his usual amiable klutz. Fonda is a likeable hero. Hattie McDaniel gets laughs as… the sassy maid... It's a comedy about the need to fight for free speech, which is what the world was doing in ’42, but invites the US to look inside its own conflicts.