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The Female Animal

The Female Animal

  • Status: Released
  • 22-01-1958
  • Runtime: 84 min
  • Score: 5.6
  • Vote count: 12

Jaded movie star Vanessa Windsor, saved from a studio accident by handsome extra Chris Farley, pursues him, and soon he's the 'caretaker' of her beach house. Vanessa's sexy, alcoholic adult daughter Penny accidentally meets Chris, who rescues her from an 'octopus' boyfriend. Before you know it, Chris is involved with both mother and daughter, and his only way out is to take a job in a Mexican picture about man-eating orchids...

Hedy Lamarr

Vanessa Windsor

Jane Powell

Penny Windsor

Jan Sterling

Lily Frayne

George Nader

Chris Farley

Jerry Paris

Hank Lopez

Gregg Palmer

Piggy

Mabel Albertson

Irma Jones

James Gleason

Tom Maloney

Richard H. Cutting

Dr. John Ramsay

Ann Doran

Nurse

Yvonne Peattie

Hairdresser

Max Showalter

Charlie Grant

Douglas Evans

The Director

Aram Katcher

Mischa Boroff

Gertrude Astor

Actress on Movie Set (uncredited)

Richard Avonde

Lily's Gigolo Pepe (uncredited)

Robert Brubaker

Bartender (uncredited)

Hal K. Dawson

Assistant Director Eddie (uncredited)

Isabelle Dwan

Masseuse (uncredited)

William Henry

Delivery Man (uncredited)

George Hickman

Observer at Lighting Accident (uncredited)

Walter Kelley

Assistant Director (uncredited)

Kenner G. Kemp

Stagehand (uncredited)

William Meader

Barnes the Chauffeur (uncredited)

Laurie Mitchell

Manicurist (uncredited)

Almira Sessions

Mabel (uncredited)

Frank Sully

Taxicab Driver (uncredited)

John Truax

Observer at Lighting Accident (uncredited)

Sailor Vincent

Observer at Lighting Accident (uncredited)

Robert Wegner

Coffee-Wagon Attendant (uncredited)

CinemaSerf

Somehow this might have had more impact had the squabbling women been arguing over Errol Flynn or Clark Cable. George Nader, well he just doesn't really cut it as the hunky object of the desires of the fading Hollywood star "Vanessa" (Hedy Lamarr) whom he has saved from an accident at the studio. Quickly, his allure extends to that women's dipso daughter "Penny" (June Powell) whom he also manages to rescue - this time from a guest at a party who has wandering hands. What now ensues sees poor old "Chris" try to juggle the affections of both women whilst keeping safely distant from some hungry man-eating flowers. It probably isn't quite fair to describe this soap, but it isn't far off. The plot has the odd, semi-comic, twist as we head down a well travelled road of familial discord, a little bit of familial rivalry before an ending that offers little by way of innovation. There is something honest about Lamarr here, though. Perhaps her role suited her actual declining status in Hollywood, so she maybe felt free to let the badger loose a bit. Also worth noting is Jan Sterling's rather acerbic contribution as "Lily" - a woman never far away from her next put-down. Oddly enough, I found myself wondering how much better this might have been had it been made pre-code, and the strong - almost salacious - sexual elements of the plot been permitted to develop a bit more, bit as it is, it is all rather procedural. Watchable, though.