Main Cast: Marjorie Main, Percy Kilbride, Richard Long, Meg Randall, Patricia Alphin
Release Year: 1949
Country: US
Run Time: 75 minutes
Plot
The title couple and their enormous brood of bumpkins made their movie debut in the film version of Betty McDonald's humorous book The Egg and I (1947) where they appeared as supporting characters. Audiences found them funny and so the characters got their own long-running series of B movies. Ma and Pa Kettle is the first in that series and centers on the exploits of the impoverished hayseed family after Pa wins a contest by writing a jim-dandy slogan for a tobacco company. The Kettle's prize is a brand new, ultra modern, fully automated home. It's a good thing too, for Ma, Pa and their 15 kids were about to get booted out of their previous wreck of a home. Of course the film is at its funniest when the Kettles are trying to figure out how to operate their fancy new digs. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Esther Dale - Mrs. Birdie Hicks; Barry Kelley - Mr. Tomkins; Harry Antrim - Mayor Swiggins; Isabel O'Madigan - Mrs. Hicks' Mother; Ida Moore - Emily; Emory Parnell - Billy Reed; Boyd Davis - Mr. Simpson; O.Z. Whitehead - Mr. Billings; Ray Bennett - Sam Rogers; Alvin Hammer - Alvin; Lester Allen - Geoduck; Dale Belding - Danny Kettle; Harry V. Cheshire - Fletcher; Paul Dunn - Donny Kettle; Diane Florentine - Sara Kettle; Teddy Infur - George Kettle; Rex Lease - Sheriff; Sam McDaniel - Waiter; George McDonald - Henry Kettle; Gene Persson - Ted Kettle; Melinda Plowman - Susie Kettle; Dewey Robinson - Giant Man; Ted Stanhope - Steward; Harry Tyler - Ticket Agent; Eddy Waller - Mr. Green; Audrey Young - Secretary; Chief Yowlachie - Crowbar; George Arglen - Willie Kettle; Margaret Brown - Ruthie Kettle; Donna Leary - Sally Kettle; Beverly Mook - Eve Kettle; Gloria Moore - Rosie Kettle; Elana Schreiner - Nancy Kettle; Robin Winans - Billy Kettle; John Wald - Dick Palmer
Credit
Charles Lamont - Director, Russell Schoengarth - Editor, Milton Schwarzwald - Composer (Music Score), Bernard Herzbrun - Production Designer, Emrich H. Nicholson - Production Designer, Maury Gertsman - Cinematographer, Leonard Goldstein - Producer, Lou Morheim - Screenwriter, Herbert Margolis - Screenwriter, Al Lewis - Screenwriter, Betty MacDonald - Book Author
