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

User Rating:

7.1/10   

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 | Divorce | Philadelphia Pennsylvania | Marriage | Department Store

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:

Dr. Mark Eisen: You know the first thing I thought of when I saw you this afternoon?
Kitty Foyle: Yes.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Bad Luck Blackie (1949)

Soundtrack:

Three Little Words

Outstanding- Rogers and Morgan are great.

A love story, mostly drama, some comedy, set in the backdrop of Philadelphia main line society in the 1920s/1930s. Rogers is great as the working girl heroine- Kitty Foyle, but so is Morgan as the wealthy socialite, Wynn Stafford. Rogers won the Oscar for her role. I don't know why Morgan doesn't get more recognition for his role; he was always underrated. James Craig is perfect as the other man in the triangle- the earnest, struggling young doctor. A warm, romantic movie- the kind which is rarely made today.