Before I say all the positives I plan on saying about THE FARMER'S DAUGHTER, I feel I must point out that the Oscar that Loretta Young received for her performance was a gift. While her competition was relatively weak that year, there were better ones. One reviewer pointed out that Rosalind Russell was the presumed favorite, but relative newcomer Susan Hayward's performance in SMASH UP was exceptional and truly deserved the Oscar (watch this film--you'll see what I mean). As for Young, she was amusing to watch but also a bit embarrassing with her silly Swedish accent (which, at times, she forgot to employ). Plus, her role was so slight and light-weight that I just can't understand the committee's decision to award her the statuette for such an ordinary performance. There I said it...now on to the film itself.
THE FARMER'S DAUGHTER was a cute little comedy about a nice lady (Young) from the country that moves to the city and becomes the maid to a US congressman (Joseph Cotton) and his mother (Ethel Barrymore). Because she is such a nice, bright and hard-working lady, Young is almost instantly accepted into the family. Cotton, in particular, seems very taken with her and considering how sweet she is, it didn't seem all that surprising.
Quite unexpectedly, in the middle of the film it is announced that another congressman has died and they need to have a special election to fill the post. Cotton and Barrymore are THE party machine for the state and they decide to put up a man who Young dislikes. At the rally to introduce this candidate, Young is so annoyed at the nominee that she gets up and voices her concerns for his fitness. As a result, she receives a lot of media attention and is soon tapped to be the candidate for the opposition party--creating quite a dilemma for Cotton and his party! There's a lot more to the film, but the overall effort seems a lot like a comedic version of MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON. Cute and entertaining throughout and written very cleverly--it's well worth a look and is sure to provide a few laughs.
By the way, look at Young's three brothers in the film. NONE of them has a Swedish accent and one of them is a young James Arness.
THE FARMER'S DAUGHTER was a cute little comedy about a nice lady (Young) from the country that moves to the city and becomes the maid to a US congressman (Joseph Cotton) and his mother (Ethel Barrymore). Because she is such a nice, bright and hard-working lady, Young is almost instantly accepted into the family. Cotton, in particular, seems very taken with her and considering how sweet she is, it didn't seem all that surprising.
Quite unexpectedly, in the middle of the film it is announced that another congressman has died and they need to have a special election to fill the post. Cotton and Barrymore are THE party machine for the state and they decide to put up a man who Young dislikes. At the rally to introduce this candidate, Young is so annoyed at the nominee that she gets up and voices her concerns for his fitness. As a result, she receives a lot of media attention and is soon tapped to be the candidate for the opposition party--creating quite a dilemma for Cotton and his party! There's a lot more to the film, but the overall effort seems a lot like a comedic version of MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON. Cute and entertaining throughout and written very cleverly--it's well worth a look and is sure to provide a few laughs.
By the way, look at Young's three brothers in the film. NONE of them has a Swedish accent and one of them is a young James Arness.