The Kettles on Old MacDonald's Farm

"America's fun famed family in a rural riot of laughs"

1957 1h 21m EN

😐

6.4

MID

★6.4TMDB · 9

Comedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Ma and Pa do their bit to hook lumberman Brad Johnson up with spoiled socialite Sally Flemming. Ma teaches Sally how to behave like a hick so she'll be compatible with Brad.

“America's fun famed family in a rural riot of laughs”

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Where to watch · US

Cast

Marjorie Main
Ma Kettle
Parker Fennelly
Pa Kettle
Gloria Talbott
Sally Flemming
John Smith
Brad Johnson
Patricia Morrow
Bertha
George Dunn
George
Claude Akins
Pete Logan
Roy Barcroft
J.P. Flemming

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Virgil W. Vogel
Writers: William Raynor, Herbert H. Margolis
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

81 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

69 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "Ma and Pa Kettle Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Virgil W. Vogel, shot by Arthur E. Arling. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Edward Curtiss shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Marjorie Main and Parker Fennelly and Gloria Talbott carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "America's fun famed family in a rural riot of laughs".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Virgil W. Vogel directs. Arthur E. Arling behind the camera. Edward Curtiss cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

181 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
269 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Part of the "Ma and Pa Kettle Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
4Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
5Directed by Virgil W. Vogel, shot by Arthur E. Arling. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Editor Edward Curtiss shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Marjorie Main and Parker Fennelly and Gloria Talbott carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "America's fun famed family in a rural riot of laughs".
9IMDB entry: tt0050590 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Only 9 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Arthur E. Arling
Editing: Edward Curtiss
Costume design: Marilyn Sotto
Runtime: 81 min · 1h 21m
Status: Released
Original language: EN
IMDB: The Kettles on Old MacDonald's Farm (1957)

Part of

Ma and Pa Kettle Collection

Ma and Pa Kettle have their hands full with a ramshackle farm and a brood of ramshackle children. When the future comes a-callin' in the form of modern houses, exotic locales and newfangled ideas, Ma and Pa must learn how to make the best of it with luck, pluck and a little country charm.