Kitty Foyle (1940)

A hard-working, white-collar girl from a middle-class family meets and falls in love with a young socialite, but she soon clashes with his family.

Director:

Sam Wood

Writers:

Christopher Morley (A novel by), Dalton Trumbo (screen play)

Stars:

Ginger Rogers, Dennis Morgan, James Craig

Won 1 Oscar. Another 1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ginger Rogers	...	Kitty Foyle
Dennis Morgan	...	Wyn Strafford
James Craig	...	Dr. Mark Eisen
Eduardo Ciannelli	...	Giono (as Edward Ciannelli)
Ernest Cossart	...	Tom Foyle
Gladys Cooper	...	Mrs. Strafford
Odette Myrtil	...	Delphine Detaille
Mary Treen	...	Pat Day
K.T. Stevens	...	Molly (as Katharine Stevens)
Walter Kingsford	...	Mr. Kennett
Cecil Cunningham	...	Grandmother
Nella Walker	...	Aunt Jessica
Edward Fielding	...	Uncle Edgar
Kay Linaker	...	Veronica Strafford
Richard Nichols	...	Wyn Strafford VII

Storyline

A white collar worker from a blue collar family, Kitty Foyle has spent her so far short adult life in her hometown of Philadelphia or New York City. She has had two serious relationships, one associated with each city and each man with who she falls in love but in vastly different ways. "Philadelphia" is blue blooded Wyn Strafford VI. Wyn hires Kitty to be his secretary, he the editor for his pet project, a magazine, which is funded by family money. Kitty's now deceased father, despite liking Wyn as a person, warned Kitty against falling in love with him, regardless of his outward intentions, as his type always returned to his own kind. If she believes her father, Kitty may come to the realization that if a union with Wyn were to ever happen, it would not only be to him but to his family and their traditions, they who may have some say in the matter. After the magazine folds, it not making any money, Kitty is forced to look for another job, she feeling she would have more ...

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Plot Keywords:

philadelphia pennsylvania | snowglobe | single mother | new york city | flashback | 

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Taglines:

You'll Know Her Better Than You Know Your Wife! (Print Ad- Richmond County Journal, ((Rockingham, NC)) 10 April 1941)

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ginger Rogers wore a dress in the film that instantly became so popular that to this day, the style is known within the garment trade as a "Kitty Foyle" dress. Characteristically, this would be a sleeved dress in black or navy with a white or ecru collar and cuffs.

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Goofs

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

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Quotes

Kitty Foyle: There's a lot of living to do in this world. And if you're worthwhile, you get hurt.

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Connections

Referenced in Alfred Hitchcock: More Than Just a Profile (2005)

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Soundtracks

Happy Days Are Here Again
(1929) (uncredited)
Music by Milton Ager
Lyrics by Jack Yellen
Sung by the patrons at the speakeasy when Roosevelt is elected in 1932

User Reviews

Another Philadelphia Story

This must have been the year for the City of Brotherly Love. James Stewart wins his Academy Award for The Philadelphia Story and Ginger Rogers who he was going out with at some point, wins Best Actress for Kitty Foyle, a film also set in Philadelphia. Too bad neither the Athletics or the Phillies won the World Series that year, but neither of them came close.

Although Stage Door more than amply demonstrated Ginger Rogers's abilities at serious drama, this particular film cemented her as dramatic actress. Most of Ginger's films up to this point had been musicals, mostly with Fred Astaire. After Kitty Foyle she rarely did any musicals.

The story is told in flashback after Ginger engages in some dialog with her alter ego in the mirror. That one in the mirror is usually the one person you cannot fool. So the ego narrates the ups and downs of the life of Kitty Foyle.

Ginger's a working class Irish lass whose got two men going for her big time, young earnest doctor James Craig, and mainline millionaire heir Dennis Morgan. Morgan's family name is Stratton and no doubt the Strattons socialized with the Lords of The Philadelphia Story. But they're definitely not as fun a group.

Ginger's alter ego narration and her scene upon being told she suffered a miscarriage probably are what won her the Academy Award. She's very effective in those scenes and in her scene where her father, Ernest Cossart dies.

Kitty Foyle is good soap opera material, I'm surprised it's characters weren't used in one. It still holds up well after over 60 years.

As well as that other Philadelphia Story.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 December 1940 (USA)

Also Known As:

Kitty Foyle

Filming Locations:

RKO Studios - 780 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1