The Egg and I
Directed by Chester Erskine
Written by Chester Erskine and Fred F. Finklehoffe from the novel by Betty MacDonald
1947/USA
Universal International Pictures
Repeat viewing/Netflix rental
[box] “Sunday! In the country Sunday is the day on which you do exactly as much work as you do on other days but feel guilty all of the time you are doing it because Sunday is a day of rest” ― Betty MacDonald, The Egg and I[/box]
Betty (Claudette Colbert) and Bob MadDonald (Fred McMurray) are newlyweds. Bob has just returned from the war and surprises his bride on their wedding night by telling her he has quit his desk job and bought a chicken farm. Seems he spent his time in the trenches dreaming of fresh air and farm animals. Instead of walking out, as I might have done, Betty takes this news with some grace. Her fortitude is tested when she discovers that the farm has long been abandoned and only a mountain of work will make things right. To say the least, Betty has a steep learning curve, particularly with her cantankerous wood-powered stove.
These trials are eased some what by laughter at the antics of the odd-ball town folks. The Kettles in particular are a hoot. Pa (Percy Kilbride) has never worked a day in his life and feels free to borrow any of the MacDonalds’ property he can get his hands on. Ma (Marjorie Main) has the patience of Job in managing both Pa and her brood of about twelve kids, although she never can quite remember the names of the children.
The story is principally a light-hearted look at the challenges overcome by the couple and the idiosyncrasies of country life. It is marred somewhat by an extraneous subplot dealing with Betty’s jealousy of Bob’s interest in their gentlewoman neighbor’s fancy modern farm. The main reason I keep coming back to this one is Ma and Pa Kettle. Every scene they are in is pure gold. No wonder their characters launched a series of popular B films.
Marjorie Main was nominated for an Oscar as Best Supporting Actress for her performance in The Egg and I.
Trailer
