Kitty Foyle: The Natural History of a Woman (1940)

Director:

Sam Wood

Writers:

Christopher Morley (novel)
Dalton Trumbo (screenplay)

Release Date:

27 December 1940 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

The natural history of a woman.

Plot:

Ginger Rogers, a hard-working white-collar girl from a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania low, middle-class family...

Plot Keywords:

Socialite | Department Store | Marriage | Divorce | Philadelphia Pennsylvania

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 4 nominations

Cast

Ginger Rogers	...	Kitty Foyle
Dennis Morgan	...	Wynnewood 'Wyn' Strafford VI
James Craig	...	Dr. Mark Eisen
Eduardo Ciannelli	...	Giono (as Edward Ciannelli)
Ernest Cossart	...	Pop
Gladys Cooper	...	Mrs. Strafford
Odette Myrtil	...	Delphine Detaille
Mary Treen	...	Pat
K.T. Stevens	...	Molly (as Katharine Stevens)
Walter Kingsford	...	Mr. Kennett
Cecil Cunningham	...	Grandmother
Nella Walker	...	Aunt Jessica
Edward Fielding	...	Uncle Edgar
Kay Linaker	...	Wyn's Wife
Richard Nichols	...	Wyn's Boy

Also Known As:

Kitty Foyle (USA) (short title)

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:15 | UK:A | USA:Approved (PCA #6639)

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

Ginger Rogers was initially reluctant to take on the lead role, as the novel the film was based on contained explicit sexuality and Kitty has an abortion in it. Rogers' mother advised her to wait until she sees a screenplay before making up her mind, pointing out that the production code wouldn't allow most of the material Rogers found objectionable to be seen in films anyway. Sure enough, the adapted screenplay was "clean" enough for Rogers.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Tom Foyle's waste basket catches fire Kitty pours whiskey on it to put it out, yet the fire doesn't flare up.

Quotes:

Kitty Foyle: Don't you worry about me, Pop. Because I can take care of myself all right. Good-bye, Pop. (Exits)
Tom Foyle: Take care of yourself. By Judas Priest, you're going to break your heart.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Kitty Foiled (1948)

Soundtrack:

Three Little Words

Probably Ginger Roger's best film

While I still prefer a Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire film like TOP HOT, this film is probably her best film because she is clearly THE star and the film gives her a good chance to show her acting ability. In fact, for this film she earned the Best Actress Oscar, though I really think that both Bette Davis' performance in THE LETTER and Katherine Hepburn's in PHILADELPHIA STORY were both better. Perhaps she won that year because KITTY FOYLE is a very sentimental film or perhaps the other two actresses lost because they'd both already received that award. The bottom line is Rogers is very good and compared to her other films, this one really stands out--even after all these years.

The film is a romance, though instead of being taught in the traditional linear fashion, it starts near the end and then is told in a long series of flashbacks. This really works well--especially because what you THINK Kitty is about to do at the beginning of the film isn't exactly what you might think. Additionally, these flashbacks are written and directed very deftly and so many little touches help to give this movie a heart. Especially touching were the ballroom dancing sequence with Dennis Morgan as well as the weepy section that soon follows. The bottom line is that this is a complex, well written and acted film that might require you keep a box of Kleenex nearby--just in case.