Das Ei und ich (1947)

Das Ei und ich: Directed by Chester Erskine. With Claudette Colbert, Fred MacMurray, Marjorie Main, Louise Allbritton. On their wedding night, Bob reveals to Betty that he has purchased an abandoned chicken farm. Betty struggles to adapt to their new rural lifestyle, especially when a glamorous neighbor seems to set her eyes on Bob.

“The book on which this film was based upon was a phenomenal best-seller in the mid-forties: readers loved the earthy tang and hilariously funny situations of Betty Smithu0026#39;s novel of the same name. Although this film version is rather a tame adaptation of the wonderful book, it definitely provides enough warmth, charm u0026amp; chuckles to please viewers who arenu0026#39;t too discriminating. Claudette Colbert – in her last great film role – plays Betty with her particular warmth u0026amp; charm: she and Fred MacMurray have an undeniable chemistry. Although they werenu0026#39;t youngsters here, they make you believe them youthful (Claudette was 44 u0026amp; Fred was 39 here). For reasons which are unclear, Colbert never cared for this film, but the movie-going public just loved it! The film is perhaps most notable in introducing the characters of Ma u0026amp; Pa Kettle as played by Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride respectively. The public howled at the personalities and antics of this loveable country bumpkins, and they were on the road to a hugely popular series of their own which spanned from 1949-1957. It is really Mainu0026#39;s AA-nominated performance of Ma which lingers in the memory: she was born to play the no-nonsense, down-to-earth but loveable Ms Kettle! Note that the Kettleu0026#39;s oldest son, Tom is played by none other than Richard Long, who would star as Jarrod Barkley in the beloved TV western series THE BIG VALLEY eighteen years later. Birdie Hicks is played to hilarious perfection by the acid- tongued Esther Dale.”