Adventures of Ma and Pa Kettle, The

aka: The Egg and I, Further Adventures, Go to Town, On the Farm
USA 1947-1951,
Dir. Chester Erskine, Charles Lamont, Edward Sedgwick
Rating: [G]
Genres: Classics, Comedy

Feat. Claudette Colbert, Fred MacMurray, Marjorie Main, Percy Kilbride

Aroview: The first four movies about the homespun, cornpoke hillbilly couple, drawn from Betty MacDonald's bestselling book 'The Egg and I'. Cheaply made, but with an enduring appeal, the hillbilly concept was later copied by THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES series.

The Egg and I (1947) - Dir. Chester Erskine. In their first incarnation played by Colbert and MacMurray, the couple meet, romance, marry, raise chickens and develop their characteristic traits.

Further Adventures of Ma and Pa Kettle (1949) - Dir. Charles Lamont. The couple (now, and hereafter, played by Main and Kilbride) and their fifteen children move from the chicken farm into a futuristic new home.

Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Town (1950) - Dir. Charles Lamont. Chaos and comedy ensues when the Kettles visit New York City.

Ma and Pa Kettle Back on the Farm (1951) - Dir. Edward Sedgwick. The Kettle's settle back into country life, but must contend with new neighbours and pesky uranium-hunters.