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The Egg and I
The Egg and I
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Chester Erskine
Screenplay by	Chester Erskine; Fred F. Finklehoffe
Based on	The Egg and I; 1945 novel; by Betty MacDonald
Produced by	Chester Erskine; Fred F. Finklehoffe; Leonard Goldstein (associate producer)
Starring	Claudette Colbert ; Fred MacMurray ; Marjorie Main
Cinematography	Milton R. Krasner
Edited by	Russell F. Schoengarth
Music by	Frank Skinner
Production; company	Universal Pictures
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release dates	March 21, 1947 (Los Angeles, premiere);
Running time	108 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$1,900,000
Box office	$5.5 million (U.S. and Canada rentals)

The Egg and I is a 1947 American romantic comedy film directed by Chester Erskine, who co-wrote the screenplay with Fred F. Finklehoffe, based on the book of the same name by Betty MacDonald and starring Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray, with Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride as Ma and Pa Kettle.

The box office success of The Egg and I influenced the production of Universal-International's Ma and Pa Kettle series, which consists of nine feature films most of which star Main and Kilbride together.

At the 20th Academy Awards, Main was nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

Plot

The film tells the story of a young married couple who become chicken farmers. Betty follows her husband Bob to the countryside where his dream is to be a successful chicken farmer. The problem is, their home is old and needs to be repaired and the baby chicks need constant care. When a rich single woman with a new house and new farm equipment flirts with Bob, Betty questions their decision to move to the farm in the first place. In the end, she finds out that Bob was trying to buy the new house for Betty as a surprise.

Cast

Claudette Colbert as Betty MacDonald
Fred MacMurray as Bob MacDonald
Marjorie Main as Ma Kettle
Louise Allbritton as Harriet Putnam
Percy Kilbride as Pa Kettle
Richard Long as Tom Kettle
Billy House as Billy Reed
Ida Moore as Emily (the old lady)
Donald MacBride as Mr. Henty
Samuel S. Hinds as Sheriff
Esther Dale as Birdie Hicks
Elisabeth Risdon as Betty's Mother
John Berkes as Geoduck
Victor Potel as Crowbar
Fuzzy Knight as Cab Driver

Production crew

Production Design .... Bernard Herzbrun
Set Decoration .... Oliver Emert / Russell A. Gausman
Hair Stylist .... Carmen Dirigo
Makeup Artist .... Jack P. Pierce
Assistant Director .... Frank Shaw
Second Unit Director .... Jack Hively (uncredited)
Sound Technician .... Glenn E. Anderson
Sound .... Charles Felstead
Orchestrator .... David Tamkin
Composer: Stock Music .... Sam Perry (uncredited)

Reception

The Egg and I was a box office success, earning $5.5 million in domestic theatrical rentals^[2] against its budget of $1.9 million.^[1]

Radio adaptations

The Egg and I was presented on This Is Hollywood on January 4, 1947, with Colbert and MacMurray reprising their movie roles. The adaptation was unusual in that it preceded the film's release.^[3]
The Egg and I was presented on Hallmark Playhouse January 5, 1950, with Colbert again starring in her movie role.^[4]
The Egg and I was performed as a one-hour radio play on the May 5, 1947 broadcast of Lux Radio Theatre, with both Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray reprising their movie roles.^[5]

References

^ ^a ^b GLADWIN HILL (Dec 10, 1950). "BUSIEST FILM PRODUCER IN HOLLYWOOD: Four on the Way Success Key What Corn Belt? Yard Boy". New York Times. p. X10.
^ ^a ^b "All-Time Top Grosses". Variety. January 4, 1961. p. 49. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
^ "Radio "Scoop"". Harrisburg Telegraph. December 28, 1946. p. 17. Retrieved September 4, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Those Were The Days". Nostalgia Digest. 39 (2): 32–39. Spring 2013.
^ "Radio Programs - Monday". Lewiston Evening Journal (Maine). 1947-05-05. p. 12. Retrieved 2022-03-08.