“Ma and Pa Kettle” is a 1949 American comedy film directed by Charles Lamont and starring Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride as the title characters, Ma and Pa Kettle. The film is the first installment in the “Ma and Pa Kettle” film series.
The film follows Ma and Pa Kettle, a rural couple who live on a dilapidated farm with their fifteen children. Despite their chaotic and hardscrabble existence, the Kettles are a close-knit family who stick together through thick and thin.
When a city slicker named Mr. Parker (Richard Long) comes to town and offers to buy the Kettle’s land for a rock-bottom price, Ma and Pa Kettle initially jump at the opportunity to make some quick cash. However, they soon realize that Parker’s true intentions are not entirely honorable, and that their land is worth much more than he is offering.
Throughout the film, Ma and Pa Kettle use their wits and their down-home charm to outsmart Parker and his scheming associates. Along the way, they rely on the help of their neighbors and friends, including their son Tom (Russell Johnson), to foil Parker’s plans and protect their beloved homestead.
In the end, Ma and Pa Kettle emerge victorious, having saved their farm and their family from the clutches of unscrupulous land speculators. The film ends on a heartwarming note, with the Kettles gathered together around the dinner table, grateful for the love and support of their tight-knit community.
Directors:
Charles Lamont
Writer:
Al Lewis, Betty Mac, Donald, Herb Margolis
Stars:
Marjorie Main, Percy Kilbride, Richard Long
