Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysHispanic & Latino VoicesSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Mother Carey's Chickens

  • 19381938
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 22m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
275
YOUR RATING
Fay Bainter, James Ellison, Ruby Keeler, and Anne Shirley in Mother Carey's Chickens (1938)
DramaRomance
An 1890s widow has two daughters and two sons. The daughters fall in love with the same gentleman.An 1890s widow has two daughters and two sons. The daughters fall in love with the same gentleman.An 1890s widow has two daughters and two sons. The daughters fall in love with the same gentleman.
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
275
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Rowland V. Lee
  • Writers
    • Kate Douglas Wiggin(novel)
    • Rachel Crothers(play)
    • S.K. Lauren(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Anne Shirley
    • Ruby Keeler
    • James Ellison
  • Director
    • Rowland V. Lee
  • Writers
    • Kate Douglas Wiggin(novel)
    • Rachel Crothers(play)
    • S.K. Lauren(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Anne Shirley
    • Ruby Keeler
    • James Ellison
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 13User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Photos16

    Frank Albertson, James Ellison, and Anne Shirley in Mother Carey's Chickens (1938)
    James Ellison, Ruby Keeler, and Anne Shirley in Mother Carey's Chickens (1938)
    James Ellison, Ruby Keeler, and Anne Shirley in Mother Carey's Chickens (1938)
    James Ellison and Anne Shirley in Mother Carey's Chickens (1938)
    Walter Brennan, James Ellison, and Anne Shirley in Mother Carey's Chickens (1938)
    Ruby Keeler, Jackie Moran, and Anne Shirley in Mother Carey's Chickens (1938)
    Walter Brennan and Anne Shirley in Mother Carey's Chickens (1938)
    James Ellison and Ruby Keeler in Mother Carey's Chickens (1938)
    Ruby Keeler and Anne Shirley in Mother Carey's Chickens (1938)
    James Ellison, Ruby Keeler, and Anne Shirley in Mother Carey's Chickens (1938)
    James Ellison, Ruby Keeler, and Anne Shirley in Mother Carey's Chickens (1938)
    Mother Carey's Chickens (1938)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Anne Shirley
    Anne Shirley
    • Nancy Carey
    Ruby Keeler
    Ruby Keeler
    • Katherine 'Kitty' Carey
    James Ellison
    James Ellison
    • Ralph Thurston
    Fay Bainter
    Fay Bainter
    • Mrs. Margaret Carey
    Walter Brennan
    Walter Brennan
    • Mr. Ossian Popham
    Donnie Dunagan
    Donnie Dunagan
    • Peter Carey
    Frank Albertson
    Frank Albertson
    • Tom Hamilton Jr.
    Alma Kruger
    Alma Kruger
    • Aunt Bertha
    Jackie Moran
    Jackie Moran
    • Gilbert Carey
    Margaret Hamilton
    Margaret Hamilton
    • Mrs. Pauline Fuller
    Virginia Weidler
    Virginia Weidler
    • Lally Joy Popham
    Ralph Morgan
    Ralph Morgan
    • Captain John Carey
    Phyllis Kennedy
    Phyllis Kennedy
    • Annabelle, the Careys' maid
    Harvey Clark
    Harvey Clark
    • Mr. Clarence Fuller
    Lucille Ward
    Lucille Ward
    • Mrs. Martha Popham
    George Irving
    George Irving
    • Mr. Thomas Hamilton Sr.
    Marie L. Day
    • Old woman in Popham's store
    • (uncredited)
    Lew Kelly
    • Paperhanger
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Rowland V. Lee
    • Writers
      • Kate Douglas Wiggin(novel) (play)
      • Rachel Crothers(play)
      • S.K. Lauren(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Toward the end of the movie, Margaret Hamilton and Harvey Clark spend significant screen time together in the same bed, despite the Hays Code's specific prohibition against such behavior.
    • Goofs
      As Mr. Popham is hanging a picture, a studio light is reflected in the glass over the painting.
    • Connections
      Referenced in The John Garfield Story (2003)
    • Soundtracks
      Sailing, Sailing (Over the Bounding Main)
      (1880) (uncredited)

      Written by Godfrey Marks

      Sung a cappella by the Carey family on the way to their picnic

    User reviews13

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    No wonder Kate put money on the table to get out of this
    Not bad but strictly B movie shenanigans that lays the syrup on pretty thick.

    Originally assigned to Katharine Hepburn at the tail end of the first phase of her screen career when she had been branded box office poison. She realized that if this was the best RKO was going to offer her that her career was doomed and wisely bought out the remainder of her contract and fled back east to regroup returning in triumph a few years later with The Philadelphia Story.

    The film does have a few things going for it, mainly the supporting cast. Fay Bainter is gentle and warm as Mother Carey but she is sidelined after the first quarter of the picture to make room for a few sappy love stories and some minor drama and a smidgen of comedy. Old reliables Walter Brennan and Margaret Hamilton both add a bit of flavor to the film but it's strictly a second string affair.
    helpful•5
    2
    • jjnxn-1
    • Dec 9, 2013

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 29, 1938 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Deca majke Karej
    • Filming locations
      • RKO Studios - 780 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • RKO Radio Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $358,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 22 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Fay Bainter, James Ellison, Ruby Keeler, and Anne Shirley in Mother Carey's Chickens (1938)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Mother Carey's Chickens (1938) officially released in Canada in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View image
    Photos
    Trending: Stars to Watch
    See the gallery
    View image
    Photos
    Double Duty: Musicians-Turned-Actors
    See the full gallery
    View image
    Photos
    We Love These Hollywood Power Couples
    See the gallery

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more access
    Sign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.