The Male Animal (1942) in Color — Starring Henry Fonda & Olivia de Havilland

The Male Animal (1942) — Buy This Classic in Color

Discover The Male Animal, the 1942 comedy-drama directed by Elliott Nugent and starring Henry Fonda, now available as a professionally colorized version. The trustees of Midwestern University have forced three teachers out of their jobs for being suspected communists. Trustee Ed Keller has also threatened mild mannered English Professor Tommy Turner, because he plans to read a controversial piece of prose in class. Tommy is upset that his wife Ellen also suggested he not read the passage. Meanwhile, Ellen’s old boyfriend, the football player Joe Ferguson, comes to visit for the homecoming weekend. He takes Ellen out dancing after the football rally, causing Tommy to worry that he will lose her to Joe. This comedy-drama combines academic freedom with domestic comedy as a professor must stand up for his principles while defending his marriage. Own this classic movie in color as a DRM-free MP4 digital download for just €15.00.

Plot Summary

The trustees of Midwestern University have forced three teachers out of their jobs for being suspected communists. Midwestern University is in turmoil as conservative trustees purge faculty members suspected of radical political views. Three teachers have already lost their positions for being suspected communists, creating an atmosphere of fear and self-censorship on campus. English Professor Tommy Turner, a mild-mannered and idealistic academic, finds himself under pressure to conform and avoid controversy.

Trustee Ed Keller has also threatened mild mannered English Professor Tommy Turner, because he plans to read a controversial piece of prose in class. Keller, a wealthy and politically powerful trustee, objects to a passage Tommy has announced he will read to his English class. The passage is controversial because it challenges patriotic orthodoxy and asks students to think critically about cherished beliefs. Keller threatens Tommy’s job, making it clear that academic freedom is expendable when it conflicts with the trustees’ political views.

Tommy is upset that his wife Ellen also suggested he not read the passage. When even Ellen, who usually supports him, advises caution, Tommy feels isolated and betrayed. Ellen fears the practical consequences of losing his job and does not want to see her husband destroyed by a fight he cannot win. Her doubts wound Tommy’s pride and make him question whether he is being stubborn rather than principled.

Meanwhile, Ellen’s old boyfriend, the football player Joe Ferguson, comes to visit for the homecoming weekend. He takes Ellen out dancing after the football rally, causing Tommy to worry that he will lose her to Joe. Joe Ferguson, the famous football hero and Tommy’s former classmate, represents everything Tommy is not – athletic, charming, and physically imposing. His presence on campus for homecoming weekend stirs up old feelings in Ellen and makes Tommy acutely aware of his own insecurities.

The film builds to a climax during the homecoming events, where Tommy must decide whether to back down from reading the controversial passage or stand up for academic freedom at the risk of his career and marriage. His personal jealousy and professional courage become intertwined as he realizes that being ‘the male animal’ means defending both his principles and his relationship. The resolution affirms that integrity and love can coexist when a man has the courage to stand by what he believes.

Cast & Crew

Director: Elliott Nugent

Stars: Henry Fonda, Olivia de Havilland, Jack Carson, Joan Leslie, Eugene Pallette

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

The Male Animal was originally filmed in black and white, with cinematography that captured the autumnal campus atmosphere of homecoming weekend and the cozy domestic interiors where Tommy and Ellen argue about courage and compromise. This professionally colorized restoration enhances every scene with frame-by-frame precision, from the leafy quads and ivy-covered buildings to the boisterous football rally and the candle-lit faculty rooms. The colorized version reveals new visual richness in the film’s settings, where the period-accurate 1940s university clothing, collegiate architecture, and homecoming decorations gain authenticity that transports viewers to a classic American campus. Henry Fonda’s legendary screen presence gains additional dimension in color, his performance conveying both the bookish idealism of a professor and the quiet resolve of a man defending his beliefs. Now also available in colour.

Buy The Male Animal in color today for just €15.00. Your DRM-free MP4 download is available for instant access.

Historical Significance

Released in 1942, The Male Animal represents the era of wartime comedies that still managed to address serious political themes such as academic freedom, anti-communist hysteria, and the responsibilities of citizenship. The film was based on a play by James Thurber and Elliott Nugent, which had already generated controversy for its sharp satire of trustees and political interference in education. The movie adaptation arrived during World War II, a period when questions of freedom and democracy carried extra weight.

The film’s depiction of a university board persecuting faculty for suspected communist sympathies reflected real tensions in American higher education during the late 1930s and early 1940s. The debate over whether professors should be free to discuss controversial ideas or whether they must conform to the political views of wealthy trustees was a live issue. Tommy Turner’s decision to read the controversial passage becomes a small but significant act of resistance against institutional power.

Henry Fonda, known for his portrayals of principled ordinary men, was perfectly cast as Tommy. Olivia de Havilland brought warmth and intelligence to the role of Ellen, and Jack Carson provided comic contrast as the brawny but good-natured Joe Ferguson. The film’s blend of campus comedy, political satire, and marital farce made it one of the more sophisticated comedies of its era. Through modern colorization, this wartime campus comedy reaches new audiences who can appreciate Henry Fonda’s performance, its defense of academic freedom, and its place in the history of American cinema. Now also available en couleur.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 / MKV digital download
• Resolution: HD 720p
• Colorized: Professionally colorized from original black and white
• Audio: English original mono
• Runtime: 101 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — watch on any device
• Instant download: Available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Who stars in The Male Animal?
A: Henry Fonda stars as Professor Tommy Turner, with Olivia de Havilland, Jack Carson, Joan Leslie, and Eugene Pallette in supporting roles.

Q: Is The Male Animal a comedy?
A: Yes, the film is a comedy-drama that blends academic politics, marital comedy, and wartime-era social satire.

Q: What is the plot of The Male Animal?
A: A professor faces pressure from trustees and his wife not to read a controversial text in class, while his old football-hero rival visits for homecoming and threatens his marriage.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as MP4 and MKV files that play on virtually any device.

Q: Is there DRM on the file?
A: No. The download is completely DRM-free so you can watch it on any device without restrictions.

Q: How quickly can I watch after purchase?
A: Your download link is available instantly after payment, so you can start watching within minutes.

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