Summaries

The Peppers - widowed Mrs. Pepper and her five children Polly, Ben, Joey, Davie and Phronsie - and the Kings - mining businessman J.H. King and his grandson Jasper King - are still living in the Pepper's small house in Gusty Corners with their faithful butler Martin, despite they now being financially well off with the discovery of copper in their mine. But the Peppers will soon have to move as Mrs. Pepper has been diagnosed with a serious health issue that requires her to recuperate for at least a year in a location at altitude. While J.H., Jasper and Martin remain in Gusty Corners, the Peppers move out west to stay with Mrs. Pepper's sister, Alice Anderson, and her husband, Jim Anderson, who own a boarding house in Oregon logging country. The Peppers, however, are not totally welcomed as Jim does not want them to stay, despite the Peppers paying their own room and board. What the children are unaware of is that Jim is a drunk and the boarding house is the only way the Andersons can survive financially since Jim cannot hold a steady job. Indeed, the Pepper children, especially the younger Joey, Davie and Phronsie, clash with their uncle by marriage as they get into one misadventure after another in their new and unfamiliar environment. It isn't until Jim sees that there are more important things in life than being a drunk that the Andersons and the Peppers can live together under one roof in harmony.—Huggo

Details

Keywords
  • family relationships
  • uncle nephew relationship
  • uncle niece relationship
  • logging camp
  • five little peppers
Genres
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Western
Release date Jun 29, 1940
Motion Picture Rating (MPA) Approved
Countries of origin United States
Language English
Production companies Columbia Pictures

Box office

Tech specs

Runtime 1h 2m
Color Black and White
Aspect ratio 1.37 : 1

Synopsis

Pleasing time-fillers at best, Columbia's "Five Little Peppers" films were otherwise undistinguished spinoffs of the best-selling literary series by Margaret Sidney. In the case of Out West With the Peppers, the title and plotline are virtually interchangeable. Once again in dire financial straits, the Pepper family is forced to pull up stakes and head westward. Upon arrival in the Wide Frontiers, the Pepper kids get into mischief in a lumber camp. As usual, the plot is resolved by Edith Fellows as eldest Pepper child Polly, who manages to stumble upon a financial windfall which proves benefical not only to her family but practically everyone else in the film. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

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