Ma and Pa Kettle Back on the Farm

Each of these movies, an endless amount of them, all border on the ridiculous without a bit of sublime involved. Such an old couple with a tribe of young 'uns is a bit beyond the pale. The 2 of them are so amusing and good at what they do, it seems as if there was no acting required, just naturally inclined in that direction. Of course, they were acting and they did their jobs well. One wonders what they might have done without these caracitures they dwelled in. More palatable the movies might have been had there been some more sensible story line rather than these absurdities. For what's it worth, they were great comedians with lousy scripts.

The film version of the best selling novel The Egg and I with Fred MacMurray and Claudette Colbert introduced America to the Kettle family. Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride and their brood of 15. They were the rural answer to Clifton Webb and Gene Tierney's Cheaper by the Dozen. Who says country folk can't do it better.

In this film we have the arrival of the Kettles first grandchild who Percy mistakes as another blessed event of his own creation. A natural mistake given his track record. The baby however is Meg Randall's who married their oldest son Richard Long in a previous film. The Kettles also have to contend with Meg's parents, Ray Collins and Barbara Brown. Ms. Brown is one snooty old dowager, but I think you can gather that if anyone could adjust her attitude, Marjorie Main could.

Due to a pair of radioactive overalls, the Kettles also think they've got uranium on the old homestead. So do a pair of crooks who try to steal the place from them.

The Kettles were a really popular item in what would now be called red state America back in the day. The pictures made money consistently for Universal and if Percy Kilbride hadn't decided to retire, I'm sure more would have been made. There was one more made with Arthur Hunnicutt as an in-law, but it wasn't the same without Mr. Kilbride. Marjorie Main retired not long after that last film also.

If you are any kind of fan of those CBS rural shows of the sixties like Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction, and Green Acres, the Kettles are your cup of tea.

Ma and Pa Kettle are back on the farm. In this film in the series, they are expecting their first grandchild. After fifteen children, Pa Kettle actually believed that he was going to be a father again when he looks for Mrs. Kettle at the hospital. They're are funny moments especially when we got Kim's parents coming to town. They're prim and proper and snobby. The film is my favorite so far in the series. Just love it when Kim's mother yells "Come and Get It."

"Ma and Pa Kettle Back on the Farm" has lucky hillbillies Marjorie Main (she's Ma) and Percy Kilbride (he's Pa) digging for uranium on the old homestead, which doesn't turn out to be as rich in laughter as were their previous two films. Funnier is the fact that eldest son Richard Long (as Tom) and pretty wife Meg Randall (as Kim) deliver the first Kettle grandbaby. Seeing the Kettles in their first delivery room, after fifteen births, is a highlight. Too bad this was the last appearance of Mr. Long and family. Also amusing are clashes with more uppity in-laws Barbara Brown and Ray Collins (as Elizabeth and Jonathan Parker). And, erstwhile Emory Parnell (as Billy Reed) does well in his semi-regular role.

****** Ma and Pa Kettle Back on the Farm (5/10/51) Edward Sedgwick ~ Marjorie Main, Percy Kilbride, Richard Long, Emory Parnell

Before Kim Parker met Tom Kettle, she had written about the importance of hygiene in raising a child. In Ma and Pa Kettle Back on the Farm we see where she got that idea!

The first Kettle grandchild is born, so Kim's parents travel to see their grandchild. After worrying about making a good impression upon meeting Kim's parents, Ma finds herself a new nemesis. Kim's mother is a nut who takes over the Kettles' house with her views on hygiene. She hires a nurse for the baby and makes everyone, including Ma, where a mask around the baby. It is abundantly clear that Ma knows how to take care of children. That absurdity makes the situation all the more funny.

Kim's father befriends the Kettles and helps them when uranium is "discovered" on their old farm. With the newfound wealth is newfound trouble good for a few laughs.

Familiar faces and settings returned once again in Ma and Pa Kettle Back on the Farm . Rather than recycle all the old jokes, only a couple made it into the movie. The modern house is only used for one gag, and the radio in the old house is used again. Pa still casually uses dynamite with all the danger it brings. There was enough continuity to respect the prior films while creating a new adventure and introducing more characters.

With each movie in the series the sophistication of Ma Kettle becomes more and more apparent. Not only was she a vehicle for comedy, but for real human emotion. The balance was clearly a collaboration of everyone involved. Marjorie Main was given great scenes to work with. Despite being known for comedy, the Ma and Pa Kettle series had a subtle serious side as well.