The Farmer's Wife

source: The Farmer's Wife

Moviecut—The Farmer's Wife

The Farmer's Wife

One of Hitchcock's only straight-ahead comedies, he shows such skill in that arena, giving us a charming & sweet little romantic comedy, & a clear predecessor of the modern genre. Thomas as the farmer is a wonderfully endearing yet out-of-touch lead, sifting through a hilarious variety of women sutiors. The misunderstandings, the high-concept silliness, the broad performances, the sharp dialogue, the foolishness of the main characters to recognize their own fate.

I'm not sure why this film's reputation is so slight. Perhaps it's because it's a Hitchcock film that isn't a "Hitchcock" film. However, if you can deal with watching a silent movie, it's well worth a look. The performances are uniformly excellent, there is a good deal of effective humor, and the technical artistry is impeccable. One note: find the 129-minute version, as opposed to the shorter one (which is a good half hour shorter).

If you loved Sir Alfred Hitchcock and his contributions and services to the film industry, you should see all of his films for study and preservation. This is one of his early silent films. If you have the patience to watch a two hour silent film, it's not that easy. We're so used to speeches and conversations that we forget to watch and see their facial reactions in the early age of cinema. This film is more comedic than dark and dramatic. While the story is more farcical, it is nice to see Hitchcock have a sense of humor since he became more known for the macabre in his films. It is not hard to believe that film audiences didn't laugh and enjoy this film in the cinema in 1928 long before the Great Depression. Still, I would watch it again if I had too. It's not a bad film. You wouldn't know Hitchcock directed it.

Very funny. I never realized Hitchcock could do slapstick. Surprised to find the story and characters easy to follow and identify with even with the near lack of title cards. The best silent Hitchcock film I have seen and maybe the funniest film he ever made.

The Farmer's Wife is the story of a farmer who is seeking a wife. It is a slapstick comedy that at times is very funny. The farmer, Mr. Sweetland has trouble finding a wife after the death of his first. He makes a list with the help of his maid, who is secretly in love with him. He has four eligible women on his list and they all turn him down in one way or another. All of these small stories are very funny, especially the Thirza Tapper story, with a hilarious performance by Maud Gill as Tapper. Gordon Harker as Ash, the handyman is also very funny. This is a different genre for Hitchcock and he succeeds. He tried comedy later with Mr. and Mrs. Smith and did not succeed but The Farmer's Wife shows that he was a genius and a true artist. This very charming and touching romantic comedy is one of the best of its time or anytime

Slight but enjoyable early Alfred Hitchcock movie about a widower (Jameson Thomas) who sets out to find a new wife with help from his loyal housekeeper (Lillian Hall-Davis). It's a charming and touching story. Not quite what you would expect from the eventual Master of Suspense. It's a good-looking film, as well. Thomas and Davis are both likable. Gordon Harker is fun as the farmer's handyman, Churdles Ash. Love that name. It's nothing to get worked up over but a pleasant enough film that's worth a look to more than just Hitchcock completists.

I have both versions, long and short, of "The Farmer's Wife", and they are identical except for the speed at which they were recorded onto tape/DVD. I strongly recommend against the 129-minute version, as it is slower than real-life speed and drags the humor from the film. The shorter version is much funnier and more like Hitchcock, whose films weren't known for their dragginess. Jameson Thomas, who plays Samuel Sweetland, was at the time of filming a huge star in England. In 1930 he and his wife left England for Hollywood, where he played a few leads in "B" pictures and then settled into a continuous second lead/character groove. He's the doctor at the end of "The Invisible Man" who tells Henry Travers of Claude Rains' demise: "I'm afraid the end will be rather terrible." He also played Mr. Semple, the twitchy false heir, in "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town."