Maw and Paw
This cartoon is based on Universal's Maw and Paw Kettle features. Maw and Paw and their kids live on a farm and can be described as a rural family with below average intelligence (their pet pig, Milford, is regarded in the opening titles as the "Smart One"). At dinner, Milford answers a phone-in quiz contest correctly and wins a new car for the family. The problem is no one in the family knows how to drive it (Maw thinks the antenna is a "new fangled clothesline").
Insights
Plot Summary
The Kettle family decides to move west to claim a piece of land and strike it rich. Pa Kettle tries his hand at various schemes to make money, including mining for gold and operating a roadside attraction. Meanwhile, Ma Kettle struggles to keep the family afloat and fend off unwanted attention from a local outlaw.
Critical Reception
Maw and Paw is a typical entry in the Ma and Pa Kettle series, relying on slapstick humor and the familiar antics of its lead characters. While it didn't break new ground, it provided lighthearted entertainment for its target audience.
What Reviewers Say
- Relies heavily on the established comedic chemistry between Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride.
- Offers a familiar, formulaic plot that appeals to fans of the series.
- The humor is largely physical and situational, typical of rural comedies of the era.
Google audience: Audience reception information is not readily available for this specific film. However, the Ma and Pa Kettle series generally garnered a following for its wholesome, rural humor.
Fun Fact
This film was part of Universal Pictures' popular 'Ma and Pa Kettle' series, which spanned ten films between 1949 and 1957.
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