''The Farmer's Wife'' is a 1941 British

comedy drama film Comedy drama (also known by the portmanteau In linguistics, a blend—also known as a blend word, lexical blend, or portmanteau—is a word formed by combining the meanings, and parts of the sounds, of two or more words together.

directed by

Norman Lee Norman Lee (10 October 1898 – 2 June 1964) was a British screenwriter and film director. Selected filmography * '' The Lure of the Atlantic'' (1929) * '' The Streets of London'' (1929) * '' Night Patrol'' (1930, documentary) * '' Doctor J ...

and

Leslie Arliss Leslie Arliss (6 October 1901 – 30 December 1987) was an English screenwriter and film director, director. He is best known for his work on the Gainsborough melodramas directing films such as ''The Man in Grey'' and ''The Wicked Lady'' during ...

and starring

Basil Sydney Basil Sydney (23 April 1894 – 10 January 1968) was an English stage and screen actor. Career Sydney made his name in 1915 in the London stage hit ''Romance (Sheldon play), Romance'' by Edward Sheldon, with Broadway star Doris Keane, and he c ...

, Wilfrid Lawson and

Nora Swinburne Leonora Mary Johnson (24 July 1902 – 1 May 2000), known professionally as Nora Swinburne, was an English actress who appeared in many British films. Early years Swinburne was born in Bath, Somerset, the daughter of Henry Swinburne Johnson ...

. It was written by Arliss, J. E. Hunter and Lee based on the 1916 play '' The Farmer's Wife'' by

Eden Phillpotts Eden Phillpotts (4 November 1862 – 29 December 1960) was an English author, poet and dramatist. He was born in Mount Abu, India, was educated in Plymouth, Devon, and worked as an insurance officer for ten years before studying for the stage ...

which had previously been adapted by

Alfred Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English film director. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featu ...

for a 1928 film of the same name. It was produced by ABPC at

Welwyn Studios Welwyn Studios was a British film studio located at Broadwater Road, Welwyn Garden City, in Hertfordshire. The facility operated between 1928 and 1950. The studios were first constructed by British Instructional Films, and converted to make so ...

, at a time when the company's main

Elstree Studios Elstree Studios is a generic term which can refer to several current and demolished British film studios and television studios based in or around the town of Borehamwood and village of Elstree in Hertfordshire, England. Production studios ha ...

had been requisitioned for wartime use. The film is not widely known.

Synopsis

Farmer Samuel Sweetland, a widower with two daughters, buys a large neighbouring farm that he has coveted all his life. Now convinced that he needs to remarry, he draws up a list of three possible candidates with the assistance of his housekeeper Araminta Grey. They are Louisa Windeatt, a wealthy and spirited fox-hunting widow; Thirza Tapper, a prim unmarried lady who owns a nearby cottage; and Mary Hearne, an attractive barmaid from London. Meanwhile, Sweetland's daughters, the forceful, coquettish Petronell and the shyer Sibley, have their own romantic entanglements with the young men of the area. Petronell tips her hat at Richard Coaker, only to discover that he is in love with her younger sister, and she finds eventual comfort in the arms of another suitor, George. Sweetland's own courtships go badly as each of the women reject his offer of marriage. Dejected, it is only then that he realises it his faithful housekeeper Araminta whom he really loves.

Cast

as Samuel Sweetland * Wilfrid Lawson as Churdles Ash *

as Araminta Grey * Patricia Roc as Sibley * Michael Wilding as Richard Coaker * Bunty Payne as Petronell * Enid Stamp-Taylor as Mary Hearne *

Betty Warren Babette Hilda Hogan (31 October 1907 – 15 December 1990), known professionally as Betty Warren, was a British people, British actress active from the 1930s to the 1950s. She was best known for her comedy roles in ''Champagne Charlie (1944 film ...

as Louisa Windeatt * Viola Lyel as Thirza Tapper *

Edward Rigby Edward Coke MC (5 February 1879 – 5 April 1951), known professionally as Edward Rigby, was a British character actor. Early life Rigby was born at Ashford, Kent, England, the second son of Dr William Harriott Coke and his wife, Mary Elizabe ...

as Tom Gurney *

Kenneth Griffith Kenneth Griffith (born Kenneth Reginald Griffiths, 12 October 1921 – 25 June 2006) was a Welsh actor and documentary filmmaker. His outspoken views made him a controversial figure, especially when presenting documentaries which have been ca ...

as George Smerdon * A. Bromley Davenport as Henry Coaker * Jimmy Godden as sergeant * Gilbert Gunn as pianist * James Harcourt as Valiant Dunnybrigg * Mark Daly as P. C. Chave * Davina Craig as Susie * Hilda Bayley as Mrs. Rundle * David Keir as auctioneer * Patrick Ludlow as curate *

John Salew John Rylett Salew (28 February 1902 (some sources state 1 January 1897)14 September 1961) was an English stage film and TV actor. Salew made the transition from stage to films in 1939, and according to Allmovie, "the manpower shortage during W ...

as Mr. Rundle * Olga Slade as minor role

Reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin The ''Monthly Film Bulletin'' was a periodical of the British Film Institute published monthly from February 1934 until April 1991, when it merged with '' Sight & Sound''. It reviewed all films on release in the United Kingdom, including those wi ...

'' wrote: "For those who have seen both, the film suffers by comparison with the play, but the directors have been at pains to make the plot move as best they might, and in doing so have got some lovely exteriors of the English countryside and have made an excellent job of the local Show. Basil Sydney makes Sam Sweetland a very boorish figure, always behaving like a bull in a china shop, Wilfrid Lawson gives an impression of the cunning, poaching old farm hand, and there is one notable scene where he is dressed up as a coachman butler at a garden party. Nora Swinburne makes a pretty mouse of Araminta and Betty Warren is a breezy Widow Windeatt." ''

Kine Weekly ''Kinematograph Weekly'', popularly known as ''Kine Weekly'', was a trade paper catering to the British film industry between 1889 and 1971. Etymology The word Kinematograph was derived from the Greek ' Kinumai ', (to move, to be in motion, to ...

'' wrote: "The humour in this British comedy rests securely on its neat bucolic wit and the accuracy of its female psychology. Exaggeration is, of course, evident in the characterisation, but caricature is skilfully avoided. Friendly and versatile detail – the stormy love affairs of Sam's daughters are, for instance, amiably imposed on the central theme – is yet another happy factor. Natural, spicy dialogue and authentic and pictorially effective background give the final touch to a picture that is every bit as entertaining and diverting as its successful stage progenitor." ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' wrote: "Lightweight fare, this modestly budgeted feature from Pathe is unlikely to make much stir at the boxoffice. Eden Philpotts' comedy has retained too much of its stage attire, receiving little decisive action to give it screen momentum and is held down throughout by an ultra talky script."

References

External links

* 1941 films 1941 drama films 1940s English-language films Films directed by Norman Lee Films directed by Leslie Arliss British drama films Films set in England Films shot at Welwyn Studios British films based on plays Remakes of British films British black-and-white films 1940s British films Sound film remakes of silent films English-language drama films {{1940s-UK-film-stub