The Egg and I (1947)

Director:

Chester Erskine

Writers:

Betty MacDonald (novel)
Chester Erskine (writer) ...

Release Date:

May 1947 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Plot:

On their wedding night Bob informs his new bride Betty that he has bought a chicken farm. An abandoned chicken farm...

Plot Keywords:

Chicken | Farm | Rural | Mattress | Poultry

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Claudette Colbert	...	Betty MacDonald
Fred MacMurray	...	Bob MacDonald
Marjorie Main	...	Ma Kettle
Louise Allbritton	...	Harriet Putnam
Percy Kilbride	...	Pa Kettle
Richard Long	...	Tom Kettle
Billy House	...	Billy Reed
Ida Moore	...	Emily (the old lady)
Donald MacBride	...	Mr. Henty
Samuel S. Hinds	...	Sheriff
Esther Dale	...	Birdie Hicks
Elisabeth Risdon	...	Betty's Mother
John Berkes	...	Geoduck
Victor Potel	...	Crowbar (as Vic Potel)
Fuzzy Knight	...	Cab Driver

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

West Germany:16 (nf) | Australia:G | Finland:S | USA:Approved (PCA #12222, General Audience)

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

First of eight films in which Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride portrayed Ma and Pa Kettle.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Murphy Brown: The Egg & I (#5.23)" (1993)

City life is not for me

If you loved the TV series Green Acres then you will love this film which served as the incubator for the TV series. Betty & Bob MacDonald played wonderfully by Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray live in the city but Bob desires the laid back country life. They move into a house which looks like a shack that must be fixed up. Neighbors like Ma & Pa Kettle and their many children and Billy Reed the Mr. Haney lookalike. Betty hates the country, pigs and chickens. A good comedy and display of just what could happen to city folk that what to become country folk.