The Female Animal (1958)
Overview
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...
Cast
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
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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.
