Review of The Female Animal

First, be advised that this is not the 1970 adult film of the same title, for which the title is better suited. Both films are available at YouTube. As the title applies to the present film, I assume that it is referring to the sexually aggressive personalities of the two lovely leading ladies, played by Heddy Lamarr(Vanessa) and Jane Powell(Penny). Vanessa is the mother and Penny is the troubled alcoholic daughter, who resents her mother's celebrity and the fact that she was adopted, hence feeling that she had not received the same attention had she been her mother's native daughter........... Eventually, both fall for the hunk, Chris Farley, played by a generally stiff, formal, and charmless George Nader. He was less so with Penny than Vanessa. The film would have been much better if someone more talkative and charming had taken his place.......... Perhaps it was due to some plastic surgery and make up, but I thought Heddy was more beautiful than in her early career. Especially, her eyes look different and more expressive than in some of her earlier films. It's too bad that this was her final Hollywood film, at age 45. Before, she had not made a film by a major studio since1951. I'm not familiar with most of her films, but I get the impression that she generally was not a very exciting actress. Here, like Chris, Venessa isn't much fun. She's too formal in her pursuit of Chris, in a role that was minimally challenging...........Much has been written in other reviews about the supposed miscasting of 29yo Jane Powell, as 45yo Heddy's daughter. True, she seems older than the 20ish daughter she's portraying. But, she had the most animate and difficult role, and still had a great figure and her special -looking eyes. Her glory MGM days were long gone, and she hadn't made a film for a few years. In fact, like Heddy, 1958 saw her last Hollywood films made, although the present film was not her last. I think she did a great job in her difficult role, playing a young drunk who was almost molested by Piggy, getting shoved in the shower when half asleep, by Chris,to try to wake her up so she could go home, and fighting like a wildcat to get out of the shower. On another occasion, again, they happen to meet in Vanessa's beach house, and Penny is coming onto Chris. Suddenly, she lays on top of his prone body, like she's ready to make love. Chris pushes her off and gives her a good spanking, as he was then somewhat involved with Vanessa. They argued and fought, and she cried, before kissing Chris: Quite an emotional rollercoaster! Chris still didn't know she was Vanessa's daughter. But, he found out when he visited Vanessa at home, and was introduced to Penny, who was shocked. Later, Vanessa would be shocked when she found out that Penny was the woman she suspected Chris had entertained at the beach house(of which he was now the caretaker)...........Several times, Vanessa proposes to Chris. But, Chris says the man should do the proposing, and he should be ready to support his wife and any kids that come along.(Yes, things have changed in recent years). He complained that if they were to marry now, he would feel like a legalized gigolo or boy toy. Vanessa says she thought she could dictate who and when she would marry, like other things in her life, but found out that wasn't the way things work......... Presumably, Chris and Penny patched up their inauspicious introduction, and perhaps married.