The Egg and I

"A best seller becomes a best picture !"

1947 1h 48m EN

👍

7.0

SOLID

★7.0TMDB · 50

ComedyRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

World War II veteran Bob MacDonald surprises his new wife, Betty, by quitting his city job and moving them to a dilapidated farm in the country. While Betty gamely struggles with managing the crumbling house and holding off nosy neighbors and a recalcitrant pig, Bob makes plans for crops and livestock. The couple's bliss is shaken by a visit from a beautiful farm owner, who seems to want more from Bob than just managing her property.

“A best seller becomes a best picture !”

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Cast

Claudette Colbert
Betty MacDonald
Fred MacMurray
Bob MacDonald
Marjorie Main
Phoebe 'Ma' Kettle
Louise Allbritton
Harriet Putnam
Percy Kilbride
Frank 'Pa' Kettle
Richard Long
Tom Kettle
Billy House
Billy Reed
Ida Moore
Emily

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Chester Erskine
Writers: Fred F. Finklehoffe, Chester Erskine
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

ERA

Did you know

79 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Chester Erskine, shot by Milton Krasner. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Frank Skinner. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray and Marjorie Main carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "A best seller becomes a best picture !".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0039349 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Chester Erskine directs. Milton Krasner behind the camera. Frank Skinner scores. Russell F. Schoengarth cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

179 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Part of the "Ma and Pa Kettle Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
3Directed by Chester Erskine, shot by Milton Krasner. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Frank Skinner. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Russell F. Schoengarth shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray and Marjorie Main carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "A best seller becomes a best picture !".
8IMDB entry: tt0039349 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 50 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Milton Krasner
Original score: Frank Skinner
Editing: Russell F. Schoengarth
Production design: Bernard Herzbrun
Costume design: Vera West
Makeup / hair: Carmen Dirigo
Runtime: 108 min · 1h 48m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): NR
IMDB: The Egg and I (1947)

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.