The Farmer's Daughter

When Loretta Young beat out Rosalind Russell in the Academy Award sweepstakes of 1947 it was considered one of the great upsets in the history of Oscar. Russell had gotten a lot of acclaim for her dramatic breakthrough performance in Mourning Becomes Electra which was RKO's prestige picture of the year. The O'Neill drama flopped at the box office. Young was nominated almost as an afterthought to round out the field in 1947. Of course RKO didn't care because The Farmer's Daughter was also one of their films.

Young worked hard to get her proper Swedish accent for the film and the results would have made Greta Garbo proud. I can't see Garbo appearing in a film like The Farmer's Daughter though.

Young plays Katie Holstrum who leaves the family farm to study nursing and in an almost Forrest Gump like set of circumstances winds up working as a maid in Congressman Joseph Cotten's home. She's not working for just Cotten. Presiding over the home and the state of Minnesota itself is Cotten's mother Ethel Barrymore. Ethel's not only queen of her own roost, but she's a Senator's widow and still one formidable power in her state of Minnesota. And there's Charles Bickford the family butler who got an Oscar nomination himself in this film for Best Supporting Actor as Young's gruff, but kindly mentor.

Although at the time this film was made Young was 34 years old she does manage to convey youth here. It worked in this case because in 1947 a lot of people were starting their careers late. It's pointed out in the story that she stayed on the family farm while her beefcake brothers, James Arness, Keith Andes, and Lex Barker were all in the service during World War II.

A long running television series was adapted from this film with the tragic Inger Stevens in the lead and William Windom in Cotten's role. Cathleen Nesbitt was the grande political dame. The butler's role was dropped and Windom was made a widower with two boys. Even with a genuine Swede like Stevens playing Katie, Young still comes out the better.

Too bad Rosalind Russell never got an Oscar, but Loretta Young was one of the great survivors of Hollywood and her award was as much an award for a lifetime as for the still fresh and funny, The Farmer's Daughter.

Brilliantly written social comedy drama about a farmer's daughter who ends up in the employ of a congressman, and then ends up running for office herself. Loretta Young was at the height of her powers as the country girl and Joseph Cotten is the congressman. As I have never cottoned to Cotten, I will say nothing about his performance other than I wish someone else -- anyone else -- had been given the role. I never bought Cotton as an actor, especially as a leading man. Ethel Barrymore is Cotten's politically savvy mother, and the supporting cast is first-rate. The film could just as easily have been made in the 1930s, as it has that era's feel. While it takes a simplistic view of Ame4rican politics, it is still delightful to watch. The subsequent TV series with Inger Stevens was not nearly as interesting.

Loretta Young and Joseph Cotten star in The Farmer's Daughter, a 1947 film also starring Ethel Barrymore and Charles Bickford.

Young, in a role originally intended for Ingrid Bergman, won an Oscar for her portrayal of Katie Holstrom, a young woman who lives on a farm with her family. She saves her money and goes off to the big city to become a nurse. Unfortunately, thanks to taking a ride from someone who once worked for her family, she ends up loaning him her money and he won't pay her back. So she takes a temporary job as a second maid in the house of a Congressman (Cotten) until she can save enough for school.

It turns out that Katie is pretty outspoken when it comes to politics and, not only that, knows her stuff. When a congressman dies, Katie goes to a rally for the replacement that the party has put forward and embarrasses him with her questions. Political leaders from the other side are impressed and want her to run against him.

It's always fascinating to me, and a little sad, that films with political themes, no matter how old they are, always seem timely. I guess that's where the term "politics as usual" comes from, though no one adds "for the last hundred years." In this film, 100$ American is described by Finley, the party's candidate, as "white, not foreign born, of the right religion." Now tell me that couldn't be a scene today. The search for dirt is in this film, as is all the back office manuevering.

Loretta Young as a blond is every bit as beautiful as she was as a brunette, and she is a delight as the efficient, intelligent Katie. One can easily see how Joseph Cotten could fall for her. Ethel Barrymore, as Cotten's mother and the widow of a political great, does a wonderful job, strong-willed, clever, and no-nonsense. Charles Bickford, as the family's butler and friend is excellent as tough taskmaster who is nevertheless very impressed with his new charge.

This is a very warm film with a terrific cast that will give you some chuckles and make you realize that the more things change, the more they remain the same - in politics. In movies - well, that's another matter.

Loretta Young with blonde hairdo and Swedish accent is a congressman's housekeeper with lots of common sense ideas herself of how things ought to be. Soon she herself is running for office--but not before romantic developments occur between Young and Joseph Cotten (as Congressman Morley). This is the sort of fresh comedy with warm appeal that made the most of Young's abilities--as did her roles in other such warmhearted comedies as "The Bishop's Wife" and "Come to the Stable". She surprised everyone (including herself) by winning an Oscar against stiff competition--Rosalind Russell, Susan Hayward, Joan Crawford among the nominees. It was quite a year for Loretta. Her other film, "The Bishop's Wife", was nominated in the Best Picture category.

Ethel Barrymore and Charles Bickford lend solid support (Bickford won a Supporting Actor nomination) and a young actor by the name of Lex Barker had a small role as one of Loretta's hunky brothers. Still a fresh and charming comedy.

Not having seen the movie before, it was a complete surprise to watch it on cable the other night. This film shows that little, if nothing, ever changes in the world of politics. In fact, it could well be compared to this year's presidential contest. The only thing that has changed from the time where this film was done is that in order to win an election in this country, the candidate must be independently wealthy, or have benefactors that are willing to put up the money in exchange of favors down the line, or not be able to run at all.

H. C. Potter's film shows us a slice of what on the surface was an ideal time in America during the 40s, but deep down, this film speaks a lot of what was wrong then, in a subtle way.

Young Katrin Holstrom arrives in Capital City wanting to be a nurse. She has to change plans because when she arrives in the city, she has no money because an unscrupulous man had swindled her out of it. She begins working as a maid at the Morley's mansion. They are the local big name in politics. Mrs. Morley makes candidates, or destroys them. Her own son, Glenn is a Congressman.

All this atmosphere contributes to the growth of Katrin, or Katie, as she is called. She takes an interest in politics and she shows that she can speak and ask the right questions the candidates don't want to answer. The movie shows the dirty side of campaigns, in general, as is the case of with what's happening in 2004 in America.

Loretta Young was perfect as Katrin Halstrom. In this film she out charms everyone that she comes in contact with. Joseph Cotten is as effective as she always was in whatever he appeared in. Ethel Barrymore is Agatha, the rich woman behind the political machine. Charles Bickford is also excellent as Joseph, the butler.

Most movies from that period are sadly dated, but this one keeps the ideals of democracy in check. Bravo to Dory Schary for bringing this movie to the screen.