This week’s mystery movie was the 1932 RKO picture The Animal Kingdom, with Ann Harding, Leslie Howard, Myrna Loy, William Gargan, Neil Hamilton, Ilka Chase, Henry Stephenson, Leni Stengel and Donald Dilloway.
Screenplay by Horace Jackson.
From the play by Philip Barry.
Photographed by George Folsey.
Settings by Van Nest Polglase.
Music direction by Max Steiner.
Recorded by D.A. Cutler.
Edited by Daniel Mandell.
Directed by Edward H. Griffith.
More on the history of The Animal Kingdom is available from the AFI Catalog.
The Animal Kingdom is available on DVD from Critics’ Choice Video.
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This week’s mystery movie was a toughie in terms of finding what looked like a good film and then locating a decent print. I spent several hours going through the trades, finding what sounded like an interesting or unusual film, only to discover that I didn’t have the movie in the Daily Mirror’s vault and I couldn’t find a decent or even passable print anywhere. Fortunately, Super Fan didn’t post 600 screen captures of The Animal Kingdom on IMDB. At least not yet.
I’m going to guess The Animal Kingdom falls in Mordaunt Hall territory and that having originated on the stage, with Leslie Howard in the lead, he liked it.
Nailed it – Well, OK, Hall had some quibbles. (The New York Times, Dec. 30, 1932):
The smaller theatre in Radio City — the RKO Roxy — was opened last night with a most pleasing stage show, during which Emil Boreo, an amusing European, officiated as master of ceremonies, and a splendid pictorial version of Philip Barry’s play The Animal Kingdom. Judging by the generous applause for the various numbers, it was a good evening for the gathering in what Mr. Rothafel pleases to call an intimate house, but which seats 3,700.
… in justice to this film it can be said that it holds its own with Mr. Rothafel’s glamorous footlight numbers…
… Never has Mr. Howard been seen to better advantage, for having acted so long in the play, he was well at home in his part, that of Tom Collier, who starts in an unconventional fashion and after marrying a young woman who frowns upon his ideas of life, returns to his first love.
For Monday, we have a mysterious woman.
Update: This is Ilka Chase, who appeared in the Broadway production.
For Tuesday, our mysterious woman has a mysterious companion!
Update: This is Leni Stengel, left, and Ilka Chase.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery woman), Suzanne Stone (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery woman), Sheila (Monday’s mystery woman) and B.J. Merholz (very funny)!
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have this mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Neil Hamilton.
We also have this mysterious fellow.
Update: This is William Gargan, who appeared in the Broadway production.
Brain Trust roll call: Jenny M (mystery movie and both mystery women), Howard Mandelbaum (Tuesday’s mystery woman) and Mike Hawks (mystery movie and both mystery women.
For “Aha Thursday,” we have this mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Henry Stephenson.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Blackwing Jenny (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Greg (mystery movie and all mystery guests, plus peering into the future for today’s and Friday’s mysterious guests), Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mystery guests), Sheila (mystery movie, Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mysterious guests), Mike Hawks (Wednesday’s mystery guests), Anne Papineau (Wednesday’s mysterious guest No. 1), L.C. (mystery movie and mysterious cast), Incredible Inman (mystery movie and Monday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Barb (Wednesday’s mysterious guest No. 1), Thom and Megan (mystery movie and all mystery guests) and Benito (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mysterious guests).
For Friday, we have a woman of mystery.
Update: This is Myrna Loy.
We also have a mysterious couple.
Update: This is Ann Harding and Leslie Howard.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mysterious gent), Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery fellow), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery fellow) and Anne Papineau (mystery movie and Thursday’s mystery guest).
ladailymirror.com 
Ilka Chase in THE ANIMAL KINGDOM (1932).
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Ilka Chase…..in “The Animal Kingdom”?
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Ilka Chase?
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I’m not confident enough to make a pun so I’ll just guess Vera Vague’
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Movie- The Animal Kingdom (1932)
Mon- Ilka Chase
Tue- Leni Stengel and Ilka Chase
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Leni Stengel.
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Leni Stengel and Ilka Chase in THE ANIMAL KINGDOM.
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THE ANIMAL KINGDOM.Ilka Chase Monday, Chase and Leni Stengel Tuesday, and Neil Hamilton and william Gargan today.
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Ilka Chase! And Ilka Chase with Leni Stengel, and Neil Hamilton and William Gargan in “The Animal Kingdom”.
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Monday is Ilka Chase. Tuesday’s women are Leni Stengel and Ilka Chase. Hm Wednesday stars Neil Hamilton and William Gargan. The movie is “The Animal Kingdom”. Myrna Loy, Ann Harding, Henry Stephenson, and Leslie Howard will be appearing later.
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Neil Hamilton; William Gargan.
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Leni Stengel, Neil Hamilton, William Gargan, ‘The Animal Kingdom’
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Neil Hamilton and William Gargan.
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On Wednesday, might that be Neil Hamilton in “The Woman in Room 13”?
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The Animal Kingdom (1932) w/Myrna Loy, Leslie Howard, Neil Hamilton, Ilka Chase, Ann Harding, William Gargan, Leni Stengel, Don Dillaway…
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Ilka Chase, Neil Hamilton and William Gargan, making this “The Animal Kingdom.”
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Is the Wednesday suave gentleman on the sofa Neil Hamilton?
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Our movie is The Animal Kingdom with Ilka Chase, Leni Stengel, Neil Hamilton, and William Gargan.
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Neil Hamilton and Wm Gargan. Izzat THE ANIMAL KINGDOM 1932, frequently remade thereafter?
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Good old Henry Stephenson.
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Henry Stephenson.
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Henry Stephenson.
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Henry Stephenson in “The Animal Kingdom”?
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Murray Loy, Ann Harding (never understood why she was popular), and Leslie Howard.
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I think the powers that be in thee early sound era wanted “class” with stage-trained actresses, since they needed more than looks and gestures. Bland Ann Harding filled the bill, but the public preferred more vivacious women soon enough.
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Had no idea until the final images.
The Animal Kingdom – 1932
Monday – Ilka Chase
Tuesday – Ilka again sitting with Leni Stengel. The “suit” behind Ilka, is Neil Hamilton
Wednesday – Neil Hamilton (of Batman fame) and William Gargan
Thursday – Henry Stephenson
Friday – Myrna Loy, Ann Harding and Leslie Howard
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Myrna Loy; Leslie Howard, Ann Harding.
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Myrna Loy, Ann Harding and Leslie Howard.
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