The Farmer Takes a Wife (1953 film) explained

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).

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]

Notes and References

1. 'The Top Box Office Hits of 1953', Variety, January 13, 1954
2. Web site: The Farmer Takes a Wife (1953) - Henry Levin | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie.
3. News: Kirby. Walter. Better Radio Programs for the Week. The Decatur Daily Review . The Decatur Daily Review. June 28, 1953. 44. Newspapers.com. July 1, 2015.