This film is set along the Erie Canal in New York in the mid-19th century. Henry Fonda (in his first film) plays a gentle man who is spending time on the river but who is only doing this until he can buy a farm and settle down. Janet Gaynor plays a lady who was raised on the canal and cannot imagine living anywhere else. So, in a coincidence that only Hollywood could love, they naturally fall in love. However, a bully of a man (Charles Bickford) loves Gaynor and has vowed to whip any man who takes her. When Fonda seems unwilling to fight Bickford, the shallow Gaynor is upset--she wants a man who loves a good scrap. Eventually, it's inevitable and Fonda proves he's neither a wimp nor is he about to become another one of Bickford's victories. Then, and only then, Gaynor is willing to marry Fonda and move to the farm.
If you think about it, this plot is an awful lot like a Popeye Cartoon--with Gaynor playing the Olive Oyl role and Bickford as Bluto! However, an even closer parallel is if you've ever seen "The Quiet Man". In fact, although the films occur in different countries and at different times, the main plot points are just about identical and must have inspired this John Ford classic. Unfortunately, while this seems true, THE FARMER TAKES A WIFE is far from a classic. It is very watchable and worth seeing (especially so that you can see Fonda in his first role), but the film just doesn't have the wonderful supporting characters and feel like "The Quiet Man". Good--especially for Fonda who carries the film almost single-handedly.
If you think about it, this plot is an awful lot like a Popeye Cartoon--with Gaynor playing the Olive Oyl role and Bickford as Bluto! However, an even closer parallel is if you've ever seen "The Quiet Man". In fact, although the films occur in different countries and at different times, the main plot points are just about identical and must have inspired this John Ford classic. Unfortunately, while this seems true, THE FARMER TAKES A WIFE is far from a classic. It is very watchable and worth seeing (especially so that you can see Fonda in his first role), but the film just doesn't have the wonderful supporting characters and feel like "The Quiet Man". Good--especially for Fonda who carries the film almost single-handedly.