Spidersecu
Don't Believe the Hype
Calum Hutton
It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...
Bob
This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.
Alex da Silva
It's 1783 and in the slums of London's Houndsditch, Sara Allgood (Meg) runs a house for wayward/poor girls who are expected to steal and prostitute themselves in order to earn their keep. Her current crop includes Paulette Goddard (Kitty) and Mae Clarke (Molly). We follow Goddard's path to wealth as she encounters first painter Cecil Kellaway (Gainsborough) and then aristocrat Ray Milland (Hugh). Milland takes in Goddard and introduces her to his alcoholic aunt Constance Collier (Susan). These three embark upon a plan to get wealthy but Goddard needs to be schooled in social skills and has to drop her cockney accent. She's then free to marry into wealth but can this give her happiness? After all, she does like a scamAn entertaining film with funny moments and special mention must be given to Constance Collier on this front. Hilarious. We know that Goddard and Milland are destined for each other but what are the circumstances that are going to bring this about? We get humour, drama and even a body count! The cast are all on form – probably the worst thing is Goddard's cockney accent but she does not keep it up for the duration of the film. It's a "My Fair Lady" type of story but much better than that film. None of those talking songs, either.Things haven't changed much in London – it's still a slum, the aristocracy is still broke and can't afford the upkeep of their mansions and who knows, they're probably passing other people's babies off as their own. We've all heard the rumours about Prince Harry. Anyway, I'm off to buy a fan now that I am schooled in fan etiquette.
edwagreen
You will certainly be reminded of "My Fair Lady" when you see this film. Paulette Goddard has an authentic cockney-ed accent for the main role. She gets wonderful support by Reginald Owen, Ray Milland, Patric Knowles and Sara Allgood.This is another rags to riches story with Kitty starting out as a street urchin,kept by Allgood until she literally stumbles into the orbit of painter Cecil Kellaway and rises through two marriages to a ladyship. It is almost comic the way that Kitty goes through those marriages and is widowed accordingly each time.Milland is excellent in the role of the man who works with Kitty to make her a lady, while never realizing that she loves him until she almost ready to take husband #3 in the form of the Knowles character.This basic story of social class in 1783 England is unique and quite memorable.
st-shot
This Pygmalion/Grifters hybrid set in 18th Century England does Paramount proud with its sumptuously designed and photographed story of romance greed and deceit. It is the romance (one sided as that might be for most of the film) however that predominates with the opulent costumes, set design and the charm of its stars Paulette Goddard and Ray Milland as bawdy and immoral partners in crime that gives Kitty a ribald charm.Sir (sic)Hugh Marcy (Milland), a penniless Henry Higgins with character of even less worth browbeats Cockney Kitty into being a lady which later will get him out of debtors prison and allowing herself to be wife and widow to two wealthy husbands in under a year. All the while she loves the execrable Marcy who remains condescending, yearning for a life of pimpdom ("If I had twelve like you I'd be rich").Goddard leads the cast with a convincing transition in both nuance and voice even if at first the Eliza Dolittle takes a little getting use to. Milland is an excellent cad with his selfish disdain also beautifully inflected and postured.There's a half dozen supporting performances worth noting with special mention to Reginald Owen and Cecil Kellaway as the artist Thomas Gainsborugh who aides and abets the scam artists. Who would have thought. Everyone does their job well on Kitty and it shows in the sum of its parts that are all all excellently honed by this excellently assembled team.
twinning
Amusing and witty story of a street girl (Paulette Goddard) in 18th century London, who rises to become a duchess.Of particular note is Constance Collier, showing off a brilliant flare for comedy as Lady Susan Dowitt, an aging courtesan who instructs Goddard in matters of gentility. Constance had a long career on stage and screen going back to the silent era, and this film displays her talents as a fine comedienne.
