Kitty *** (1945, Paulette Goddard, Ray Milland, Patric Knowles) – Classic Movie Review 9973

Director Mitchell Leisen’s 1945 historical comedy drama stars Ray Milland as English lord Sir Hugh Marcy, who turns saucy common girl Kitty (Paulette Goddard) into a lady, in this amusing 18th-century My Fair Lady-style story.

There are vivacious performances all round: Goddard is beguiling, Milland is polished and solid, and the support lovely – Cecil Kellaway as the artist Thomas Gainsborough, Constance Collier as a boozy duchess Lady Susan Dowitt, Reginald Owen, Patric Knowles, Dennis Hoey, Sara Allgood, and Eric Blore once again as a butler, Dobson.

It is a lavish Paramount Pictures production, directed with flair and style by Leisen. It doesn’t seem to matter that the story is so old because they have brought it up looking as fresh as a daisy with a sleek, shiny, glossy surface.

Also in the cast are Michael Dyne, Gordon Richards, Edgar Norton, Patricia Cameron, Mary Gordon, Anita Bolster, Heather Wllde, Charles Coleman, Mae Clarke, Ann Codee, Douglas Walton, John Rice and Doris Lloyd.

Kitty is directed by Mitchell Leisen, runs 104 minutes, is made and released by Paramount Pictures, is written by Darrell Ware and Karl Tunberg, based on the novel by Rosamond Marshall, is shot in black and white by Daniel L Fapp, is produced by Karl Tunberg, is scored by Victor Young, and designed by Hans Dreier and Walter Tyler.

Leisen also made Suddenly It’s Spring (1947) with Goddard and Arise, My Love (1940) with Milland.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9973

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