Die Farmerstochter

When a senator dies in office, Congressman Morley and his fellow party leaders have to come up with a candidate to run in the election to replace him. Everyone is agreement, accept for Morley's second maid. A Swedish-American farm girl who came to the city to become a nurse, she had to take temporary jobs when she was conned out of her tuition money. Not nearly as naive or helpless as she appeared, she was quickly given a permanent position at the Morley household. She isn't one to hold back on expressing her own political views, and by the end of the movie she's running against the Morley political machine even as she is finding romance with Congressman Morley.

The movie is a bit dated, but because of the excellent script and acting it still manages to be a fresh and amusing comedy. The political satire is much more restrained then what modern audiences are used to, but the topics haven't aged at all. You've got two parties with no obvious ideological differences engaged in partisan bickering and mudslinging while a small group of wealthy and powerful men decide who is going to run for office. Integrity takes a back seat to party politics and favors. Even an unnamed white supremacy group rears its ugly head. When asked what type of politician she would be, the farmer's daughter tells us exactly what she would not be - a typical politician who only represents the wealthy people who financed their campaign and the powerful elite who backed them. Has anything actually changed in the last 50 years?

Perhaps this is Loretta Young's best film ever, and best performance ever. This attractive B/W classic satire stars Joseph Cotten as her handsome politico boss, Ethel Barrymore as his understanding mother, and an outstanding cast who support their political and romantic involvements. But Katie Holstrom does not begin this film as a candidate nor anyone's fiancée; she begins it on a farm with her large family with a plan to go to school as a nurse in the big city.What happens next is she leaves, and within one day has been bilked of her savings. The need for a job drives her to seek employment as housemaid to a Congressman, Glenn Morley, played by Cotten, and his mother. Ethel Barrymore. Under the house major-domo Charles Bickford, she proves herself to be possessed of charm, common sense, lively intelligence and honesty--qualities which please well when they are not exasperating her employers, unused to such qualities in a world of politicians. Katrin and Glenn find themselves attracted, despite his having a fiancée (Rose Hobart). But when the party's candidate for Congress has to be dumped, it is Katie who somehow gets chosen to run, and wins. The film's climax is Katie's victory, the ending is the romantic pair's arrival in Washington. The values of this award- winning films are not hidden ones. Milton S. Krasner, cinematography, sets by Darrell Silvers and Harley Miller , Edith Head's costumes and many more contribute to the overall effect. The lighting throughout is like a sunny outdoors; and the actors are outstanding. Along with the leads, the director, H.C. Potter, featured Harry Shannon and Anna Q. Nilsson as Katie's parents, Lex Barker, James Arness and Keith Andes as her brawny brothers, Art Baker, Rhys Williams, William Harrigan, Tom Powers, Thurston Hall and many others. The script by Allen Rivin and Laura Kerr adapts Juhani Tervapää's delightful play seamlessly to the screen. The film's pace is interestingly steady and unhurried, its dialogue good or better at all points. The theme of the plot it to be true to oneself; and the story develops this in terms of a time when an individual could be offered as a candidate on the basis of his/her attributes, not of inherited millions. As refreshing as a summer breeze, and often as delightful. This is a classic of anti- Establishment thinking that is only occasionally political at all. Dservedly popular achievement.

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.

This one's a winner all the way, not a silly comedy but a wry comment on American politics then, before, and since with some humor sprinkled in every now and then. Too bad there aren't more like Katrin Holstrom and Glenn Morley on Capitol Hill. Strange this movie based on a play and directed by a man noted more for stage direction than for film direction should play like a movie should play and not be just another stage play on celluloid. Also the romantic attraction between Katrin and Glenn seems natural with no saccharine added.

Talk about a cynical approach to mass political rallies to introduce new candidates for popular vote: Joseph Clancy (Charles Bickford) seeing that Katrin Holstrom (Loretta Young) is confused about what is happening before her eyes remarks that the crowd will approve thunderously of anything said aloud. He proceeds to stand up and yell "Fish for Sale" and the entire auditorium roars with unequivocal approval.

And what acting down to the minutest part. Loretta Young deservedly won best actress. Charles Bickford was nominated and should have won best supporting actor. He stands tall above them all and competition is heavy in this flick. You have to be on your toes to out act the likes of Ethel Barrymore and Joseph Cotten, two of the finest acting talents ever, but Loretta Young and Charles Bickford succeed in doing just that.

This is one of those pictures that Hollywood used to make that is fun from start to finish with surprising twists and turns from time to time. Though all comes out well in the finish, getting there is worth the journey. Plus this happy ending fits and is not just tacked on for custom and tradition. This little film actually speaks more appropriately for what is good in America than movies with more ballyhoo such as "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington."

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.