The Farmer's Daughter (1947 film)
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| The Farmer's Daughter | |
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| Directed by | H. C. Potter |
| Produced by | Dore Schary |
| Written by | Hella Wuolijoki (play) Allen Rivkin Laura Kerr |
| Starring | Loretta Young Joseph Cotten Ethel Barrymore Charles Bickford |
| Music by | Leigh Harline |
| Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures Inc. |
| Release date(s) | March 25, 1947 (U.S. release) |
| Running time | 97 min. |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
The Farmer's Daughter is a 1947 movie that tells the story of a farmgirl who ends up working as a maid for a Congressman and his politically-powerful mother. It stars Loretta Young, Joseph Cotten, Ethel Barrymore, Charles Bickford, Rose Hobart, Lex Barker, Keith Andes and James Arness.
The movie was adapted by Allen Rivkin and Laura Kerr from the play Juurakon Hulda by Hella Wuolijoki (using the pen name Juhani Tervapää). It was directed by H.C. Potter.
It won the Academy Award for Best Actress (Loretta Young) and was nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Charles Bickford).
In 1963, a television version was produced, starring Inger Stevens, Cathleen Nesbitt and William Windom.
[edit] Plot
Katie Holstrom (Loretta Young), a Swedish-American, leaves the family farm to go to nursing school in Capitol City (seemingly St. Paul, Minnesota). Barn painter Adolph Petree (Rhys Williams), who had completed a job for Katie's father, offers her a ride to Capitol City but robs her of her money. Katie, refusing to ask her family for help, goes to work as a maid in the home of Agatha Morley (Ethel Barrymore) and her son, U.S. Representative Glenn Morley (Joseph Cotten). Soon, she impresses Agatha and her loyal majordomo Joseph Clancey (Charles Bickford) with her refreshing, down-to-earth common sense and Glenn with her other charms.
Unexpected problems arise when the Morleys and the other leaders of their political party select a replacement for a deceased congressman; they pick the unscrupulous Anders J. Finley (Art Baker). Knowing of the man, Katie strongly disapproves of their choice. She attends a public meeting arranged to introduce Finley and begins asking pointed, embarrassing questions. The leaders of the opposition party are impressed and offer her their backing in the coming election. As she is running for the opposition, Katie reluctantly quits her job with the Morleys, much to Glenn's annoyance.
When Katie's campaign picks up support (with the help of some coaching from Glenn), Finley resorts to smearing her reputation. He pays Petree to claim Katie spent the night with him when he gave her a ride to the capital. As a result, Katie becomes so distraught, she runs home. Glenn learns of the chicanery, follows her back to her family's farm, and proposes to her.
After hearing the news of her son's engagement, Agatha lulls Finley into revealing that he bribed Petree and that he has him safely hidden away at his lodge. With the help of Katie's three big, strapping brothers (James Arness, Lex Barker, Keith Andes), Glenn takes Petree away from the goons Finley assigned to watch him, and makes him confess over the radio. Agatha withdraws her party's support from Finley and endorses Katie, ensuring her election. In the final scene, Glenn carries Katie across the threshold of the United States House of Representatives.
