Katie Did It

Katie Did It is a 1951 American romantic comedy film directed by Fred de Cordova and starring Ann Blyth, Mark Stevens and Cecil Kellaway. The plot concerns a small-town girl who falls in love with a big-city artist but mistakenly believes that he has a wife and children.

Cast

Ann Blyth as Katherine Standish
Mark Stevens as Peter Van Arden
Cecil Kellaway as Nathaniel B. Wakeley VI
Jesse White as Jim Dilloway
Harold Vermilyea as Merill T. Grumby
Craig Stevens as Stuart Grumby
William H. Lynn as Clarence Spivvens
Elizabeth Patterson as Aunt Priscilla Wakely
Jimmy Hunt as Steven Goodrich
Irving Bacon as Conductor
Raymond Largay as Rev. Turner
Peter Leeds as "Odds" Burton
Ethyl May Halls as Abigail

Production

The film's working title was Katie Did, presumably a pun on the word katydid.
The film's star Mark Stevens had been a commercial artist before his acting career, and his own artwork is shown in the film. Stevens painted the portrait of Katherine Standish that his character is shown painting, which required Ann Blyth to spend two days in a bathtub. When the crew complained that the bath water was too murky, chlorine was added, but it still appeared dull, so two quarts of champagne were added.

Release

The film was released in England in October 1950, long before its American debut.

Reception

In a contemporary review, the Los Angeles Times wrote: "It is, in fact, a beguilingly amusing tale, this, with some very funny John Gardensass types, especially William Lynn as a drawling Yank and Cecil Kellaway as the uncle. Ann Blyth and Mark Stevens as the principals. and Elizabeth Patterson as the aunt, are delightful.