With Oscar fever every spring comes a reminder that so many films from the past also attained those lofty goals. Kitty Foyle: The Natural History of A Woman is among Warner Home Video's remastered seven films that earned 11 Academy Awards   - Cimarron, The Champ, Captains Courageous, The Good Earth, Johnny Belinda and Lust for Life. Kitty Foyle, starring Ginger Rogers, Dennis Morgan and James Craig, is an intriguing drama of a woman's struggle over which man she really loves.

Ginger Rogers

Kitty Foyle (Ginger Rogers) is a determined working-class girl looking to make her place where she recently moved. With the song lyrics "I Want A Girl" and "Just like the Girl that Married Dear Ole Dad," playing, the opening monologue of the 1900s suggest we think of Kitty as a woman of that time. The quite confusing subtitle of the film, The Natural History of A Woman, is far from an explanation of what this film is about - an emotional journey of love.

Unfortunately an old-fashioned girl probably didn't have to fret over losing the love of her life, as Kitty has to do with Wynnwood Strafford VI (Morgan) - because he refuses to leave his wife. So she ducts away from her Philadelphia society and takes a real job.

While getting back into the groove, Kitty meets Dr. Mark Eisen (Craig). She admires his goodness, the way he is with kids and families, and agrees to marry him. Acknowledging when he asks, that she is indeed over - "that man" in Philadelphia.

On the very night she's to marry the doctor, she rushes back to her hotel to pack and finds Wyn waiting for her. He wants her to leave the country with him. He can't get a divorce, but they can be together he assures her. Blinded by her love for him, Kitty says okay. As he leaves to make arrangements, Kitty packs her bag. Then she looks into her snow globe and goes into the past with scenes from her upbringing with her dad, who insisted she have a sense of values.

So Kitty goes to work for Mark's company, falls in love with him and gets married. The reception by his family is appalling, and Kitty eventually leaves him, only to find out she's pregnant. That's when she meets Dr. Eisen, and the story of their relationship unfolds.

Dennis Morgan & Ginger Rogers

Kitty Foyle, based on Christopher Morley's novel, details class differences that were a common problem in earlier centuries, and to some degree that's what this film is about. Wyn's family safeguards his money and sends Kitty into a "By Judas Priest" tirade that confirms she and Wyn are on two different shores.

Ginger Rogers' fans of the 1940 weren't so sure how she would do in this role since she had been type cast as a dancer, comedian and Fred Astaire's partner. But once she took home the Oscar for her role in Kitty Foyle, there was no denying that Rogers had the ability to play multiple genres.

Special Features  

• Classic cartoons: Kitty Foiled, a 1948 Hanna-Barbera Tom and Jerry cartoon and Bad Luck Blackie, a 1949 Tex Avery work with some funny stuff.
• Two radio productions with Ginger Rogers
• Theatrical trailer
• Subtitles: English, FranƧais & EspaƱol (Feature Film Only)  
       

Director: Sam Wood

Writers: Christopher Morley (novel) Donald Ogden Stewart (additional dialogue)

Cast: Ginger Rogers, Dennis Morgan and James Craig

Rating: Unrated - Subject matter not suitable for children

Classic Movie Guide Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

DVD Release Date: January 31, 2006

Run Time: 108

Studio: Warner Home Video

Format: Black & White - full screen

Photo Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures