The Ma & Pa Kettle Collection: The Egg and I

The film has many hilarious moments, Betty and Bob meeting the unstoppable Ma and Pa Kettle (Marjorie Main in an Oscar nominated role...she should have won!!) for the first time, Betty's visit for lunch with the Kettles and their hordes of children (even Ma can't remember all their names!!), complete with chickens in the pantry, Ma's highly original methods of cleaning off the table in one swish of her arm, the absolutely priceless country dance where Betty gets landed with all the local "odd balls" as dance partners and accuses Bob of being a "cannibal" for enjoying a pork sandwich made from there own pig "Cleopatra", to Pa's "borrowing" of all the farm equipment. A hearty time is guaranteed by all.

I strongly recommend this film and I have a soft spot for it as my own mother was a sophisticted city girl who married and moved to the country and encountered many funny people and situations as her "introduction" to country life. Enjoy!!!


CLASSIC FUN IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST   December 23, 1999
11 out of 11 found this review helpful

"The Egg and I" is a humorous autobiographical look at Betty McDonald's experiences on an egg ranch in Washington State in the late 20's. The book was immensely popular with the public and a huge million-plus seller when it first came out in 1945. Although the movie version is a watered -down rewrite which fails to completely capture the earthy tang of the book, it's still a highly amusing diversion to watch on a rainy afternoon. Claudette Colbert exudes charm and warmth in her playing of Betty and she gives an excellent potrayal. Fred MacMurray is boyishly bland as Bob and the two have a genuine chemistry playing the "young" married couple. As in the book, the most memorable characters in the film are Ma and Pa Kettle -Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride simply steal the show as these lovable country bumpkins. Richard Long (Jarrod Barkley in "The Big Valley") plays the Kettle's bright oldest son Tom who's encouraged by Betty to go to college and make something of himself. Esther Dale is hilarious as the no-nonsense Birdie Hicks, a sour old beldame with the face of curds. Harmless old-fashioned fun!


A Fish Out Of Water Story   November 5, 2000
James L. (Toronto, Canada)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

The Egg and I is an amusing look at a city girl's adjustment to living life on a chicken farm. Claudette Colbert stars as Betty, whose new husband Bob, played by Fred MacMurray, gives up his corporate career to pursue his lifelong dream of raising chickens. Their "new" house is a disaster area, and they quickly discover that starting a farm isn't that easy. Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride star as their neighbours Ma and Pa Kettle, parents of more kids than they can remember the names of. Louise Allbritton plays another neighbour who has a mechanized farm and an eye for MacMurray. The performers are all good, with Colbert delivering another solid comedic performance and Main stealing every scene as the tired, down-to-earth wife of the lazy husband. This isn't one of those movies that will have you laughing till you cry. It's a good natured look at a typical "fish out of water" story. I did laugh out loud during the dance and a few other scenes, and with great comedy performers such as these, you're guaranteed to be entertained.