Ma and Pa Kettle at Home is the ninth entry in the popular Ma and Pa Kettle comedy film series. In this installment, Ma and Pa are trying to help their son win a scholarship by convincing the selection committee that their home is a proper, cultured environment for study—despite their chaotic lifestyle and the constant distractions of their eccentric brood. The film delivers more of the Kettles’ signature slapstick humor and rural charm, poking fun at the clash between simple country living and modern expectations.
Genre: Comedy, Family
Director: Charles Lamont
Charles Lamont was an American film director best known for his extensive work in comedy. Over his long career, he directed more than 100 films, including several Abbott and Costello movies and many installments in the Ma and Pa Kettle series. Lamont had a knack for visual gags and timing, and he was considered a reliable director for lighthearted, crowd-pleasing fare during the 1940s and 1950s.
Star Cast:
- Marjorie Main as Ma Kettle
- Percy Kilbride as Pa Kettle
- Alan Mowbray as Dr. Parker
- Alice Kelley as Lois
- Oliver Blake as Geoduck
- Rex Lease in a supporting role
Audiences of the time welcomed Ma and Pa Kettle at Home as another fun and familiar visit with the beloved rural couple. The film continued the success of the series with its homespun humor and fish-out-of-water antics. While critics rarely praised the Kettle films for depth or originality, they acknowledged the dependable comedy and strong audience appeal. The film maintained the Kettles’ popularity among fans of wholesome, low-key entertainment.
Fun Facts:
- This was the penultimate film in the series featuring Percy Kilbride as Pa Kettle. He retired from acting shortly after.
- The Ma and Pa Kettle series was spun off from the 1947 film The Egg and I, in which the Kettles were originally supporting characters.
- Marjorie Main received considerable acclaim for her portrayal of Ma, even earning an Academy Award nomination for her role in The Egg and I.
- The film was produced by Universal-International and shot in black-and-white, consistent with earlier entries in the series.
- The Kettle family’s exaggerated country life, with dozens of children and outlandish contraptions, became a cultural icon of mid-century American comedy.
Subscribe to our Rumble Channel for daily updates. Click here to register if you don't have a Rumble account.
