The Farmer Takes a Wife

Poster from the Federal Theatre Project, Work Projects Administration, production 1938

Henry Fonda and Janet Gaynor

The Farmer Takes a Wife is a 1934 play by Frank B. Elser and Marc Connelly based on the 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 production was directed by Marc Connelly and used set designs by Donald Oenslager. It starred Henry Fonda as Dan Harrow and June Walker 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. Dan Harrow (Henry Fonda) works along the Erie Canal 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. It was directed by Henry Levin and starring Betty Grable, Dale Robertson, Eddie Foy Jr., and Thelma Ritter.

Cast

Film		Play
Actor	Role	Actor
Janet Gaynor	Molly Larkins	June Walker
Henry Fonda	Dan Harrow	Henry Fonda
Charles Bickford	Jotham Klore	Gibbs Penrose
Slim Summerville	Fortune Friendly	Herb Williams
Jane Withers	Della	Mary McQuade
Andy Devine	Elmer Otway	Charles F. O'Connor
Roger Imhof	Sam Weaver	Ralph Riggs
Margaret Hamilton	Lucy Gurget	Margaret Hamilton
John Qualen	Sol Tinker	Francis Pierlot
	Mrs Howard	Ruth Gillmore
Kitty Kelly	Ivy	Mabel Kroman

See also

• List of United States comedy films

External links

• The Farmer Takes a Wife at IMDb
• The Farmer Takes a Wife at AllMovie