Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki

Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki
April 1955
Universal
Comedy
VHS
B-

This was apparently made in 1952, but not released for three years.  (And, no, I don't know why they're at rather than in Waikiki.)  The earlier production may be why it feels less tired than the previous entry.  There's lots of slapstick, as well as the relatively subtle humor of a lazy man like "P.A. Kettle" trying to run a factory.  (His cousin Rodney calls him Frank, but misunderstands "Pa."  Rodney also calls Ma "Phoebe" and he courted her at the same time Pa did.)  It's interesting to get glimpses of Hawaii a few years before it became a state.  Ma has the funniest moments in this one, whether driving a rickshaw driver or offending a snooty woman played by Mabel Albertson, who is instantly recognizable as Samantha Stephens's difficult mother-in-law on Bewitched.  Pa does meet his Hawaiian counterpart (with twelve kids named after the months) and annoy kidnappers without trying.  One of the villains is a young Russell Johnson.

Lori Nelson is back as Rosie, the role she took on in MaPK at the Fair, although she has a new boyfriend here.  We don't see much of her 14 [sic] siblings, as they're sent off to camp while Ma, Pa, and Rosie go away.  George Arglen, Margaret Brown, Billy Clark, Jon Gardner, Jackie Jackson, Donna Leary, Jenny Linder, Beverly Mook, Ronnie Rondell, Jr., and Elana Schreiner are all playing the same Kettle kids as in MaPK on Vacation (1953).  Bonnie Kay Eddy (b. 1943) is the new Susie, and Rudy Lee (age unknown) takes over as Billy, while Timmy Hawkins (b. 1938), who was in Singin' in the Rain, becomes Teddy.

Dee Carroll is unconfirmed for MaPK Back on the Farm.  Bob Donnelly was in MaPK on Vacation.  Helen Dickson was in It's a Wonderful Life.  Sally Yarnell was in Abbott and Costello Go to Mars.  Sandra Spence was in There's No Business Like Show Business.  Kilbride retired but Main hung in there for The Kettles in the Ozarks and The Kettles on Old MacDonald's Farm, both of which I used to own but lost years ago.  As I recall, it wasn't as much fun without Pa.