The last Kettle movie sees them replace the theme music with ‘Old MacDonald Had a Farm’ and replace Arthur Hunnicutt with Parker Fennelly. Fennelly actually plays Pa, but although he tries it doesn’t work. It is good to see Ma romancing, but it’s like she’s cheating on Pa. They should have just killed off Pa and have Ma get a new boyfriend. Ma being wooed – now that’s a great idea for a Kettle film.
There’s some romance, between poor John Smith (who acts with the awkwardness of a body builder) and boss’s daughter Gloria Talbott. Why didn’t they make the poor kid one of the Kettles? They want to get married so they hide out at the Kettles old farm. The girl’s father tracks them down. He actually likes the poor kid but is worried that his spoilt daughter won’t be able to last as his wife. So Ma suggests she rough it on the farm for a few weeks so she learns how to be a good little housewife.
Now that’s not a bad fish out of water type concept, a little sexist, but solid – a princess roughs it on the farm. Only they totally mess up the execution. The concept only works if the girl is a real princess, but Talbot can’t act, and they don’t give her character any princess factor. They should have made her a fashion model or a movie star or something. And her rationale for living on the farm is a bit weak – to pass a test so she can get married. She should have been a pampered movie star researching a role or a city journalist doing it for a bet or something.
This drags on and on with far too much time on the dull lead couple. The biggest strength of this was Marjorie Main – why not make it a Ma Kettle story? Have her inherit a city store or run for Congress or something? Or have her wooed? Why not make one of the kids a Kettle? This film shows a total lack of understanding of comedy construction. There aren’t even any Indians – just a dopey mate of Pa’s called George. (Why not have him as a Kettle kid?) The only decent bit is when Ma stares down a bear.
A sign of the times – one of Ma’s little kids is called Elvis who plays on a banjo.
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