Kit Kittredge: An American Girl (2008)

Set in Cincinnati at the height of the Great Depression, Kit Kittredge, a resourceful young girl, helps her mother run a boardinghouse after her father loses his job.

Director:

Patricia Rozema

Writers:

Ann Peacock, Valerie Tripp (Kit Kittredge stories)

Stars:

Abigail Breslin, Julia Ormond, Joan Cusack

1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Abigail Breslin	...	Kit Kittredge
Julia Ormond	...	Margaret Kittredge
Chris O'Donnell	...	Jack Kittredge
Jane Krakowski	...	Miss Dooley
Wallace Shawn	...	Mr. Gibson
Max Thieriot	...	Will Shepherd
Willow Smith	...	Countee
Glenne Headly	...	Mrs. Howard
Zach Mills	...	Stirling Howard
Kenneth Welsh	...	Uncle Hendrick
Madison Davenport	...	Ruthie Smithens
Joan Cusack	...	Miss Bond
Stanley Tucci	...	Jefferson Berk
Dylan Smith	...	Frederich
Douglas Nyback	...	Billy

Storyline

'Kit Kittredge: An American Mystery' centers around a young girl living in the struggles of the Great Depression. 10 year old Kit lives in a boarding house her parents own in Cincinnati, Ohio. She has a passion for writing, & dreams of having something of hers put in the local paper someday. With the help of her friends, Sterling & Ruthie, will her dream finally come true?

---

Plot Keywords:

great depression | girl | ohio | boarding house | 10 year old | 

---

Genres:

Drama | Family

---

Certificate:

G

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 July 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

An American Girl Mystery

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$220,297 (USA) (20 June 2008)

Gross:

$17,655,201 (USA) (3 October 2008)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Picturehouse Entertainment, New Line Cinema, HBO Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Madison Davenport dyed her blonde hair brown for her role as Ruthie Smithens.

---

Goofs

Kit's dad is seen leaving for Chicago in a Flxible Clipper bus, which was not produced until 1937, three years after the movie's 1934 setting.

---

Quotes

Jefferson Jasper Berk: Miss Bond? I have never levitated a mobile librarian before.
Miss May Dooley: Have you ever levitated a dance instructor?
Jefferson Jasper Berk: Yes, but that's a long story.

---

Connections

Referenced in 2007 MTV Movie Awards (2007)

---

Soundtracks

"Don't Fence Me In"
Written by Cole Porter
Performed by Josh Turner
Courtesy of MCA Nashville

User Reviews

Kit Kittredge proves there are a few talented people left in Hollywood

Abigail Breslin is headed for Oscar nomination in this move and I would not be surprised to see this movie receive and Oscar nod for best character set. Let me explain a bit more. Some movies has characters/actors that give very strong performance but do not play well with other characters/actors within a storyline. Yes, Abigail Breslin does maintain a strong presence but without EQUAL interaction with the other characters, the movie would not have played so equal across the scenes.

The story is based in 1934, just a few years into the Great Depression. The Depression scenes plays out it injustice(s) in total disregard to social status, property possessions, job description and of course, the haves and the have not. I've been told stories from people who have lived through the Great Depression and I can tell you that the film comes pretty darn close to reality.

Abigail Breslin and her cohorts has this not so secret clubhouse in the family's yard. Secret initiation ceremonies, secret oath and secret chit-chat dominate the playtime of this secret club. As the movie progresses, we see the club forming ideas to help the less fortunate on the street where they live.

Movies like Kit Kittredge gives me hope that there are a few Hollywood idea men that are left who can present to the world, movies laced with a healthy dose of 'nice' and topped off with a dollop of a kindred spirit.