The Egg and I (1947)

Highly Overrated But Still Good

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Copyright 1 April 1947 by Universal Pictures Co. In. New York release at the Radio City Music Hall: 24 April 1947. U.S. release: May 1947. U.K. release: 18 August 1947. Sydney release at the State: 6 June 1947. Australian release: 19 June 1947. Australian length: 9,950 feet (110½ minutes). U.S. length: 108 minutes.SYNOPSIS: Husband buys sophisticated bride a run-down chicken farm in the wops.NOTES: As just about everybody knows, this was the film that introduced Ma and Pa Kettle — characters that were to prove so popular at the box-office, Universal brought them back for a long- running series on which authoress Betty MacDonald was able to retire. Basically her book, "The Egg and I", is a very humorous, very racy autobiography, in which much of the satire is leveled at her own expense. If she'd a mind, she could well have successfully sued herself for libel. Mr. Erskine has cleaned up the film version in some respects, substituting good honest dirt and slapstick for the pointed sexual and social barbs of the original.Nevertheless, the script is still amusing — even witty. Erskine's direction is equally adept and has some hilarious moments — ably assisted by the expert film editing of Russell Schoengarth who has the admirable habit of cutting away from a scene before the joke wears out or the sentiment gets too sticky.The performers are in first-class form. Sophisticated Colbert makes a delightful stooge and MacMurray is right in his no-nonsense element as the "she'll be all right" farmer. Photography and art direction are likewise A-1, while Frank Skinner's ding-dong breezy music score, superbly orchestrated with a rib-tickling cock crow, contributes greatly to the fun. A pity the "Ma and Pa Kettle" solo films come nowhere near the wit and expertise of this first appearance.COMMENT: Claudette Colbert's last really big box office hit. Perfectly cast and playing with an appropriately brisk competence, she is nevertheless out-shined by Marjorie Main who is an absolute delight. Some of the luster and novelty has rubbed off now because of the inferior Kettle series, but it's still a marvelous role. She was even nominated for the annual award for Best Supporting Actress (losing to Celeste Holm in "Gentleman's Agreement") — the only nomination she ever received from The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences! Miss Main receives most amusing support from Percy Kilbride, Esther Dale, Isabel O'Madigan and a host of other well-chosen bit players who come into their own at the dance; while Billy House impersonates Billy Reed far more engagingly than Emory Parnell who replaced him in the series. (Incidentally, the present print is the re-issued one with the credit titles rewritten so that Main and Kilbride are now billed as co-stars).Although it's a considerably watered-down version of the book with a new and conventional sub-plot involving Louise Allbritton's glamorous femme fatale, it's all played and directed in such a breezy, pacey, lively style, we don't really mind. Erskine keeps things moving along briskly, expertly juggling a host of amusing subsidiary characters.Filmed on a lavish budget (though obviously entirely within the studio except for a brief location sequence), beautifully photographed and rollickingly scored, "The Egg and I" fully deserved its box-office success.

When I was a child(I am now 38) I read the Mrs Piggle wiggle books which were for children...but I always did see that the author was best known for the Egg and I. A few years ago I chanced on a copy of the book in my hometown of Astoria, Oregon. I was really taken by the book, especially since I could relate to the region. I found that while the books had moments of comedy, it also had lots of dead seriousness...as this was the author's actual life experiences. While cinematography was not what it is now or would be later than 1947, I missed shots of the imposing and indifferent Olympic mountains looming over the fragile farm. I quite disagree that the actress who portrays Betty is well cast...the real Betty was more stoic and less stereotypically helpless as was common in the portrayal of women in the 40s.

Married couple Betty and Bob (Colbert & MacMurray) move from the city to the backwoods to take on an abandoned chicken ranch. Hilarity follows.What a chuckled-filled scene when wife Betty plops into the hog wallow following a failed attempt to outwit the pig. Then, along comes spic-&-span, husband-stealing Harriet (Albritten) to walk off with hubby Bob, leaving poor Betty wondering why she's corralling a pig instead of a city bus. It's a delightful film that really holds up despite the passing decades. Mac Murray and Colbert are near perfect in their comedy roles. Note how Bob never becomes dislikable despite his often airy unconcern, or how Betty never becomes maudlin despite the frequent frustrations. Then there are the colorful hayseeds—Ma Kettle (Main) who apparently took housekeeping lessons from Atilla the Hun and needs name tags around that wild pack of kids. And, of course, there's Pa Kettle, the slyest guy around, that is, when he's not begetting little Kettles. But what I really like is the barn dance. That corny band sort of chugs along while the dancers make up their own steps. But pity poor Betty, caught up with a collection of Arthur Murray dropouts who appear to confuse dancing with a mix-master.There were a number of these "back to the sticks" comedies during the period, including Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948) and George Washington Slept Here (1942). The laughs are built into the premise of inept city folk trying to master country ways, but none are funnier or more delightful than this one.

The book on which this film was based upon was a phenomenal best-seller in the mid-forties: readers loved the earthy tang and hilariously funny situations of Betty Smith's novel of the same name. Although this film version is rather a tame adaptation of the wonderful book, it definitely provides enough warmth, charm & chuckles to please viewers who aren't too discriminating. Claudette Colbert - in her last great film role - plays Betty with her particular warmth & charm: she and Fred MacMurray have an undeniable chemistry. Although they weren't youngsters here, they make you believe them youthful (Claudette was 44 & Fred was 39 here). For reasons which are unclear, Colbert never cared for this film, but the movie-going public just loved it! The film is perhaps most notable in introducing the characters of Ma & Pa Kettle as played by Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride respectively. The public howled at the personalities and antics of this loveable country bumpkins, and they were on the road to a hugely popular series of their own which spanned from 1949-1957. It is really Main's AA-nominated performance of Ma which lingers in the memory: she was born to play the no-nonsense, down-to-earth but loveable Ms Kettle! Note that the Kettle's oldest son, Tom is played by none other than Richard Long, who would star as Jarrod Barkley in the beloved TV western series THE BIG VALLEY eighteen years later. Birdie Hicks is played to hilarious perfection by the acid- tongued Esther Dale.