''The Farmer Takes a Wife'' is a 1934 play by
Frank B. Elser and
Marc Connelly
Marcus Cook Connelly (December 13, 1890 – December 21, 1980) was an American playwright, director, producer, performer, and lyricist. He was a key member of the Algonquin Round Table, and received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1930.
Biogra ...
based on the 1929 novel ''
Rome Haul'' by
Walter D. Edmonds. It was well-received upon its opening night on Broadway on October 30, 1934, at the
46th Street Theatre
The Richard Rodgers Theatre (formerly Chanin's 46th Street Theatre and the 46th Street Theatre) is a Broadway theater at 226 West 46th Street in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Opened in 1925, it was designed by He ...
. The production was directed by
Marc Connelly
Marcus Cook Connelly (December 13, 1890 – December 21, 1980) was an American playwright, director, producer, performer, and lyricist. He was a key member of the Algonquin Round Table, and received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1930.
Biogra ...
, used set designs by
Donald Oenslager Donald Oenslager (March 7, 1902 – June 11, 1975) was an American scenic designer who won the Tony Award for Best Scenic Design.
Biography
Oenslager was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and attended Harvard University, graduating in 1923. He beca ...
, and starred
Henry Fonda
Henry Jaynes Fonda (May 16, 1905 – August 12, 1982) was an American actor. He had a career that spanned five decades on Broadway and in Hollywood. He cultivated an everyman screen image in several films considered to be classics.
Born and ra ...
as Dan Harrow and
June Walker
: ''For the American activist and former Hadassah leader, see June Walker (Hadassah)''
June Walker (June 14, 1900 – February 3, 1966) was an American stage and film actress.
Early years
Walker was born in New York City on June 14, 1900, an ...
as Molly Larkins.
Film adaptations
The play spawned two film adaptations. The first, a
1935 comedy film, was directed by
Victor Fleming, starred
Janet Gaynor, and marked the
Hollywood debut of
Henry Fonda
Henry Jaynes Fonda (May 16, 1905 – August 12, 1982) was an American actor. He had a career that spanned five decades on Broadway and in Hollywood. He cultivated an everyman screen image in several films considered to be classics.
Born and ra ...
. Dan Harrow (Henry Fonda) works along the
Erie Canal
The Erie Canal is a historic canal in upstate New York that runs east-west between the Hudson River and Lake Erie. Completed in 1825, the canal was the first navigable waterway connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes, vastly reducing t ...
during the mid-19th century to raise money to buy a farm. While working, he meets Molly Larkins, a beautiful canal boat cook (Janet Gaynor). Although Harrow wants to marry Larkins, she's apprehensive about leaving the exciting canal life for one of a farmer's wife.
A
1953 musical remake used a score by
Harold Arlen and
Cyril J. Mockridge
Cyril John Mockridge (August 6, 1896 – January 18, 1979) was an English film and television composer who scored such films as ''Cheaper by the Dozen'', ''River of No Return'' and ''The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance''. He was nominated for an Ac ...
. The picture was directed by
Henry Levin and starred
Betty Grable
Elizabeth Ruth Grable (December 18, 1916 – July 2, 1973) was an American actress, pin-up girl, dancer, model, and singer.
Her 42 films during the 1930s and 1940s grossed more than $100 million; for 10 consecutive years (1942–1951) she reign ...
,
Dale Robertson
Dayle Lymoine Robertson (July 14, 1923February 27, 2013) was an American actor best known for his starring roles on television. He played the roving investigator Jim Hardie in the television series ''Tales of Wells Fargo'' and railroad owner Ben ...
,
Eddie Foy, Jr., and
Thelma Ritter
Thelma Ritter (February 14, 1902 – February 5, 1969) was an American actress, best known for her comedic roles as working-class characters and her strong New York accent. She won the 1958 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, and received ...
.
External links
1953 ''Best Plays'' radio adaptation of original playat
Internet Archive
The Internet Archive is an American digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It provides free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, software applications/games, music, ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Farmer Takes A Wife, The
1934 plays
Broadway plays
American plays adapted into films
Plays based on novels
Plays set in New York (state)