The Farmer Takes a Wife (1953 film)
The Farmer Takes a Wife is a 1953 Technicolor musical comedy film starring Betty Grable and Dale Robertson. The picture is a remake of the 1935 film of the same name which starred Janet Gaynor and Henry Fonda. Grable and Dale Robertson first appeared together in the movie Call Me Mister (1951).
| The Farmer Takes a Wife | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Henry Levin |
| Produced by | Frank P. Rosenberg |
| Written by | Marc Connelly (play) Walter Bullock Sally Benson Joseph Fields |
| Based on | The Farmer Takes a Wife 1934 play by Frank B. Elser Rome Haul 1929 novel by Walter D. Edmonds |
| Starring | Betty Grable Dale Robertson Thelma Ritter |
| Music by | Harold Arlen Dorothy Fields Orch./Arr. Cyril J. Mockridge |
| Cinematography | Arthur E. Arling |
| Edited by | Louis R. Loeffler |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
Release date |
|
Running time | 81 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $1,150,000 (US)[1] |
Plot
During the 19th century, where Molly Larkins (Betty Grable), the girlfriend of rough-and-tumble canal-boat captain Jotham Klore (John Carroll) she hires mild-mannered farmer Daniel Harrow (Dale Robertson) to work on the boat. Molly and Dan fall in love and marry.[2]
Cast
- Betty Grable as Molly Larkins
- Dale Robertson as Dan Harrow
- Thelma Ritter as Lucy Cashdollar
- John Carroll as Jotham Klore
- Eddie Foy, Jr. as Fortune Friendly
- Charlotte Austin as Pearl Dowd
- Kathleen Crowley as Susanna
- Merry Anders as Hannah
- May Wynn as Eva Gooch
- George 'Gabby' Hayes as Uncle Ben
- Nancy Abbate as Little Girl (uncredited)
- Doreen Tracey as Little Girl (uncredited)
Songs
Harold Arlen & Dorothy Fields composed the following songs for the movie:
- "Can You Spell Schenectady?"
- "The Erie Canal"
- "I Could Cook"
- "I Was Wearin' Horse Shoes"
- "Look Who's Been Dreaming"
- "On The Erie Canal"
- "Somethin' Real Special"
- "Today I Love Everybody"
- "We're Doin' It For The Natives In Jamaica"
- "We're In Business"
- "When I Close My Door"
- "With The Sun Warm Upon Me"
- "Yes!"
Radio adaptation
The Farmer Takes a Wife was presented on Best Plays June 28, 1953. The one-hour adaptation starred John Forsythe and Joan Lorring.[3]
References
- 'The Top Box Office Hits of 1953', Variety, January 13, 1954
- http://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-farmer-takes-a-wife-v16816
- Kirby, Walter (June 28, 1953). "Better Radio Programs for the Week". The Decatur Daily Review. p. 44. Retrieved July 1, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
