Kitty (1945) in Color — Starring Paulette Goddard & Ray Milland

Kitty (1945) — Buy This Classic in Color

Step into the elegant world of Georgian England with Kitty (1945), now available to buy as a professionally colorized version. Starring Paulette Goddard in the title role alongside Ray Milland, Patric Knowles, and Cecil Kellaway as the painter Thomas Gainsborough, this classic film tells the captivating story of a London street urchin who is transformed into a duchess through the scheming of ambitious aristocrats. Originally released in black and white, this restored period drama has been carefully enhanced through frame-by-frame HD colorization. Download your instant, DRM-free copy today for just €15.00 and watch this lavish costume drama in color.

Plot Summary

In 18th-century London, Kitty is a rough, uneducated girl surviving on the streets — quick-witted but utterly untamed. Her life changes when the celebrated painter Thomas Gainsborough spots her and recognizes an extraordinary, paintable beauty beneath the grime. He brings her into his studio and creates a stunning portrait that catches the attention of Sir Hugh Marcy, a charming but impoverished aristocrat with expensive tastes and mounting debts.

Sir Hugh sees an opportunity. If Kitty can be cleaned up, educated, and passed off as a woman of breeding, she could be married off to a wealthy nobleman — and Sir Hugh can profit from the arrangement. He enlists the help of his friend Brett, the Earl of Carstairs, and together they set about transforming Kitty from a Cockney guttersnipe into a polished lady of quality.

Kitty proves to be a remarkably fast learner. She absorbs the manners, speech, and bearing of high society with astonishing speed, and the aging Duke of Malmunster falls under her spell. But as Kitty rises through the ranks of society, her feelings become complicated. She develops a genuine attachment to the scheming Sir Hugh, while he views her primarily as a means to an end. The question becomes whether Kitty — having conquered the aristocracy through deception — can also find something real and honest in a world built on appearances. This classic movie weaves romance, ambition, and social satire into a richly entertaining period piece.

Cast & Crew

• Starring: Paulette Goddard, Ray Milland, Patric Knowles, Reginald Owen, Cecil Kellaway, Constance Collier
• Director: Mitchell Leisen
• Runtime: 103 minutes
• Year: 1945
• Rated: Approved
• Genre: Drama, History, Romance
• Country: USA

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

This professionally colorized and restored version transforms this sumptuous costume drama into a visual banquet. The colorization process brings the silk gowns, powdered wigs, gilded ballrooms, and candlelit interiors of Georgian England into glorious, period-accurate life. Paulette Goddard’s transformation from street urchin to elegant duchess is made even more striking in color as her costumes evolve from drab rags to magnificent finery. The contrast between the muddy London streets and the opulent aristocratic mansions gains powerful visual clarity, while Cecil Kellaway’s scenes as Gainsborough at his easel become a celebration of artistic color itself. Now also available in colour.

Buy now for an instant, secure digital download with no DRM restrictions. Compatible with all devices that play MP4 files.

Historical Significance

Kitty was directed by Mitchell Leisen, one of Hollywood’s most visually sophisticated filmmakers, who began his career as an art director and costume designer before moving behind the camera. His background made him the ideal director for this lavish period piece set in the world of 18th-century art and fashion. Paulette Goddard, who had risen to fame as Charlie Chaplin’s leading lady and wife, delivered one of her finest performances as the street girl who conquers society. Ray Milland, fresh from his Academy Award–winning turn in The Lost Weekend the same year, brought subtle complexity to the morally ambiguous Sir Hugh. The film draws on the real tradition of 18th-century English portraiture — Thomas Gainsborough was one of the era’s greatest painters — and explores the way art, beauty, and social status were intertwined in Georgian society. The production design and costume work were among the most elaborate Paramount produced during the 1940s.

Technical Details

• Original Format: Black and White (1945)
• Colorized: Frame-by-frame HD colorization
• Resolution: HD 720p
• File Format: MP4 / MKV
• Running Time: 103 minutes
• Delivery: Instant download link on-screen and sent to your email upon purchase.
• Price: €15.00
• License: Personal, non-commercial use

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: What is Kitty about?
A London street urchin with extraordinary beauty is transformed into a refined lady by ambitious aristocrats who plan to marry her off to a wealthy duke — but she proves to have a mind and heart of her own.

Q: Is this based on a true story?
The film is based on the 1929 novel by Rosamond Marshall. While the character of Thomas Gainsborough is drawn from the real 18th-century portrait painter, the story of Kitty herself is fictional.

Q: Who plays Thomas Gainsborough?
Cecil Kellaway plays the celebrated painter whose portrait of Kitty sets the entire story in motion.

Digital Download Questions

Q: Is this the original film with added color?
Yes, this is the original black and white film professionally colorized frame-by-frame for authentic, vibrant visuals.

Q: What devices can I watch this on?
Any device that supports MP4 playback, including Smart TVs, Windows/macOS computers, and iOS/Android devices.

Q: Is the download DRM-free?
Yes, this digital download is DRM-free for your personal use.

Q: How and when will I receive my download?
You will receive a secure download link on the confirmation page immediately after purchase. A copy of the link will also be sent to your email address.

Related Colorized Classics

• Their Own Desire (1929)
• The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946)
• I Walk Alone (1947)
• Dark Journey (1937)
• Once a Thief (1965)