Kitty

In 1783 London, a poor thief named Kitty is caught pickpocketing the celebrated painter Gainsborough. Amused, he pays her to sit for a portrait, and as she poses, she catches the eye of Sir Hugh Marcy, who offers her a job as a scullery maid and, later, becomes his aunt’s ward. Kitty learns that he is impoverished, having lost his post in the Foreign Office.

Gainsborough’s portrait, The Anonymous Lady, creates a stir, as people try to guess the subject. The Duke of Malmunster(/actor/reginald-owen), who buys the painting, asks Gainsborough about the model, and Hugh interjects that she is his aunt’s ward. So in exchange for an introduction to Kitty, the Duke offers to have Hugh reinstated in the Foreign Office. But the relationship goes no further than the promised introduction. Meanwhile, Kitty develops an attraction for Hugh—so much so, that when he is sent to debtors’ prison, Kitty charms wealthy industrialist Jonathan Selby into marriage, using her dowry to free Hugh. But he and his aunt once again go broke. Kitty breaks into her husband’s strongbox to bail them out, but Selby beats her. He dies at the hands of Kitty’s loyal maid.

As a result, Kitty inherits a large fortune. She desires happiness with Hugh, but he is determined that she marry the Duke of Malmunster(/actor/reginald-owen) so that Hugh can reclaim his career. Kitty gives in. After the honeymoon, the duke announces that Kitty is pregnant (though the father was the late Selby). After the birth of the boy, the old duke dies, leaving Kitty extremely wealthy.

After she has a respectable mourning period, Hugh attempts to arrange a third marriage for Kitty, this time to the Prince of Wales(/actor/michael-dyne). But Kitty says that she has already married twice out of love for him. Unimpressed, Hugh replies that he considers their relationship a business arrangement, nothing more.

Meanwhile, Kitty becomes engaged to Hugh’s close friend, the Earl of Carstairs(/actor/patric-knowles). Seeing them together, Hugh realizes he actually is in love with Kitty. The Earl, ever the gentleman, chooses not to stand in the way of Hugh’s happiness. So in the end, Hugh and Kitty are free to affirm their mutual devotion.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 12:30