Ma and Pa Kettle(1949)

Name: Ma and Pa Kettle
Director: Charles Lamont
Genre: Comedy
Released: Apr 1, 1949
Cast: Marjorie Main, Percy Kilbride, Richard Long, Meg Randall

Universal Pictures

1h 16m
- Comedy

Release Date: Apr 1, 1949

On the verge of being evicted from their run-down farmhouse, the large Kettle family is given a new, modern home after Pa wins a contest, but a jealous local woman accuses him of having plagiarized his winning slogan.

Release Details

Original Release | Apr 1, 1949

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Director & Top Cast

Charles Lamont
Director

Marjorie Main
Ma Kettle

Percy Kilbride
Pa Kettle

Richard Long
Tom Kettle

Meg Randall
Kim Parker

Technical Specifications

Aspect Ratio: 1.37 : 1

Other Details

Country of Origin: United States

Language: English

Summaries

Storyline

The Kettles and their 15 children are about to be evicted from their rundown rustic home when Pa wins the grand prize by coming up with a new tobacco slogan. Birdie Hicks is jealous of the family's new wealth, which includes a completely-automated modern house, and accuses Pa of stealing the slogan. Reporter Kim Parker proves Birdie wrong and marries Tom Kettle. — Ed Stephan Hard-working but slightly unaware Ma Kettle and idle-minded and sloppy Pa Kettle, and by association their 15 children, are in trouble with the Cape Flattery, Washington town council for the messy condition in which they keep their house. The council believes that it's both an eyesore and a health hazard, and they plan to condemn it. The mayor thinks it's a win-win situation for both the town and the Kettles when he learns that Pa has just won a completely furnished modern house in the King Henry Tobacco Company's slogan contest. Beyond getting the Kettles out of their current rat trap, Pa's contest win has put Cape Flattery "on the map". The Kettles, especially Pa who entered the contest solely to get a new tobacco pouch, may not see this situation as being a win as they try to adapt to their new house and all its newfangled gadgets. Local busybody Birdie Hicks also doesn't see it as a win; she never liked Pa, she's jealous of all the attention the Kettles are receiving, and she will do anything to ruin the Kettles' new life. The contest win also brings to town the Kettles' oldest son Tom, who just graduated from college in animal husbandry, and reporter Kim Parker, who is doing a story on the Kettles. Tom is initially worried that Kim's story will make the Kettles a national laughingstock, but in the end, Tom and Kim fall for each other, and Kim goes all out to help the Kettles. — Huggo