The Egg and I (film)

The Egg and I

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Chester Erskine
Produced by Chester Erskine
Fred F. Finklehoffe
Leonard Goldstein (associate producer)
Written by Betty MacDonald (novel)
Chester Erskine
Fred F. Finklehoffe
Starring Claudette Colbert
Fred MacMurray
Marjorie Main
Music by Frank Skinner
Cinematography Milton R. Krasner
Edited by Russell F. Schoengarth
Production
company
Distributed by Universal-International
Release dates
  • March 21, 1947 (1947-03-21) (Los Angeles, premiere)
  • April 24, 1947 (1947-04-24) (New York City)
  • May 1947 (1947-05) (U.S.)
  • July 3, 1954 (1954-07-03) (re-release)
Running time
 108 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $1,900,000[1]
Box office $5,750,000 (est. US/ Canada rentals)[2][3]

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 franchise, which consists of nine feature films most of which star Main and Kilbride together. On May 5, 1947, Colbert and MacMurray reprised their roles in a radio version of the film that was broadcast on the Lux Radio Theatre.

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

Plot

It 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

Production crew

Reception

The film was a big hit earning $6 million at the box office.[1]

Radio adaptations

The Egg and I was presented on Hallmark Playhouse January 5, 1950, with Colbert starring in her movie role.[4] She also starred when The Egg and I was presented on This Is Hollywood on January 4, 1947. The adaptation was unusual in that it preceded the film's release.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 BUSIEST FILM PRODUCER IN HOLLYWOOD: Four on the Way Success Key What Corn Belt? Yard Boy By GLADWIN HILL. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 10 Dec 1950: X10.
  2. ↑ "All Time Domestic Champs", Variety, 6 January 1960 p 34
  3. ↑ "Top Grossers of 1947", Variety, 7 January 1948 p 63
  4. ↑ "Those Were The Days". Nostalgia Digest. 39 (2): 32–39. Spring 2013.
  5. ↑ "Radio "Scoop"". Harrisburg Telegraph. December 28, 1946. p. 17. Retrieved September 4, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/28/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.