THE EGG AND I

US, 1947, 108 minutes, Black and white.
Fred Mac Murray, Claudette Colbert, Marjorie Main, Percy Kilbride, Louise Albritton, Richard Long.
Directed by Chester Erskine.

The Egg and I is a very entertaining film. It portrays a couple who after the war decide to have a chicken farm – and find that it is more than dilapidated. Fred Mac Murray is the husband who is enthusiastic. Claudette Colbert is Betty Mac Donald (the author of the book on which the film is based). She is less than enthusiastic about the farm – and is a bit jealous of one of the glamorous neighbours played by Louise Allbritton. There are a lot of farm jokes, slapstick, especially at the expense of the city slickers.

However, the film is historically important insofar as the supporting cast included Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride as Ma and Pa Kettle. For the next eight years they starred in a series of small-budget comedies which were extremely popular.

1. How funny a comedy was this? The significance of the title? The tone of the film?

2. How interesting a film is this now in view of the contrast of comedy in the forties and now? the difference?

3. How enjoyable was the folksy atmosphere of the film? The rather nice hillbilly background? The general wholesomeness of the film? Do they make films like this now? The Ma and Pa Kettle series? Why do they appeal to American audiences? World audiences?

4. How satisfying is the optimism of such comedies as this? Is the optimism borne out? Are such stories real?

5. How enjoyable was the style of the film? the initial personal story with Claudette Colbert? The long survey of the farm? The work on the farm and the picture of country life? The charm of the stars? The impact of Ma and Pa Kettle?

6. How genial a couple were Betty and Bob? Sufficient explanation of their background? Their wanting to get out of the city? Their dedication to farm work? Bob's idealism? Getting back to nature? Betty's love for Bob and going along with the plan? How comical were the sequences of running the farm? How real?

7. What attitude did the film take towards hard work, healthy work, the ups and downs of farm life, farmers helping themselves and building themselves up? How moralising were the implications of the comedy?

8. Was Harriet Puttenham a conventional character for this film? Her taking Bob's attention from Betty? Betty's jealous news? Bruce precipitating the crisis at the and? Was Harriet Puttenham's farm a believable place?

9. Social satire in the Hick's family?

10. The humour of the Kettles? Did they seem real? Pa and his borrowing and laziness? His friendliness? Ma and the brood of children? her homespun philosophy? Her kindliness? The winning of the prize with the quilt? Tom's ambitions to go to college?

11. How generous were the people in this part of America? Mutual help? Was this a kind of picture or are country people like this?

12. The dramatics of the film? the farm? The importance of work for ambitions?

13. How credible was the crisis? Betty's running off? How childish was she? Did Bob do the right thing?

14. How happy was the reconciliation? Was it the right thing for this film?

12. Is progress relentless? How can old world values stand against it?

13. The humour of the happy ending, the daughter with the American (and the previous international upset about his name of Nixon)? Rondin going downstairs to share music with Gaspard and the eccentrics?

14. How gentle a film was this? Humorous, thoughtful, moralizing?