Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

The Farmer Takes a Wife

  • 19351935
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
413
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Charles Bickford and Janet Gaynor in The Farmer Takes a Wife (1935)
  • Comedy
  • Romance
Charming love story set on the Erie Canal in the mid-19th Century. A farmer works on the canal to earn money to buy a farm. He meets a cook on a canal boat, but she can't even consider leavi... Read allCharming love story set on the Erie Canal in the mid-19th Century. A farmer works on the canal to earn money to buy a farm. He meets a cook on a canal boat, but she can't even consider leaving the exciting life on the canal for a banal one on a farm...Charming love story set on the Erie Canal in the mid-19th Century. A farmer works on the canal to earn money to buy a farm. He meets a cook on a canal boat, but she can't even consider leaving the exciting life on the canal for a banal one on a farm...
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
413
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Victor Fleming
  • Writers
    • Walter D. Edmonds(novel "Rome Haul")
    • Marc Connelly(play)
    • Frank B. Elser(play)
  • Stars
    • Janet Gaynor
    • Henry Fonda
    • Charles Bickford
Top credits
  • Director
    • Victor Fleming
  • Writers
    • Walter D. Edmonds(novel "Rome Haul")
    • Marc Connelly(play)
    • Frank B. Elser(play)
  • Stars
    • Janet Gaynor
    • Henry Fonda
    • Charles Bickford
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 13User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos10

    Henry Fonda, Charles Bickford, Andy Devine, Janet Gaynor, Slim Summerville, and Jane Withers in The Farmer Takes a Wife (1935)
    Henry Fonda and Janet Gaynor in The Farmer Takes a Wife (1935)
    Henry Fonda and Janet Gaynor in The Farmer Takes a Wife (1935)
    Janet Gaynor and Slim Summerville in The Farmer Takes a Wife (1935)
    Henry Fonda and Janet Gaynor in The Farmer Takes a Wife (1935)
    Henry Fonda and Janet Gaynor in The Farmer Takes a Wife (1935)
    Henry Fonda and Janet Gaynor in The Farmer Takes a Wife (1935)
    Henry Fonda and Janet Gaynor in The Farmer Takes a Wife (1935)
    Janet Gaynor in The Farmer Takes a Wife (1935)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Janet Gaynor
    Janet Gaynor
    • Molly Larkinsas Molly Larkins
    Henry Fonda
    Henry Fonda
    • Dan Harrowas Dan Harrow
    Charles Bickford
    Charles Bickford
    • Jotham Kloreas Jotham Klore
    Slim Summerville
    Slim Summerville
    • Fortune Friendlyas Fortune Friendly
    Andy Devine
    Andy Devine
    • Elmer Otwayas Elmer Otway
    Roger Imhof
    Roger Imhof
    • Samson 'Sam' Weaveras Samson 'Sam' Weaver
    Jane Withers
    Jane Withers
    • Dellaas Della
    Margaret Hamilton
    Margaret Hamilton
    • Lucy Gurgetas Lucy Gurget
    Sig Ruman
    Sig Ruman
    • Blacksmithas Blacksmith
    • (as Siegfried Rumann)
    John Qualen
    John Qualen
    • Sol Tinkeras Sol Tinker
    Kitty Kelly
    Kitty Kelly
    • Ivyas Ivy
    Robert Gleckler
    Robert Gleckler
    • Fisher - Freight Agentas Fisher - Freight Agent
    Robert Adair
    • Yorkshire Pioneeras Yorkshire Pioneer
    • (uncredited)
    Erville Alderson
    Erville Alderson
    • Pioneer Wagon Fatheras Pioneer Wagon Father
    • (uncredited)
    John Arledge
    John Arledge
    • Man Talking About Transcontinental Railroadas Man Talking About Transcontinental Railroad
    • (uncredited)
    Irving Bacon
    Irving Bacon
    • Mr. Vernoyas Mr. Vernoy
    • (uncredited)
    William 'Billy' Benedict
    William 'Billy' Benedict
    • Boy Announcing Dan's Arrival Before Fightas Boy Announcing Dan's Arrival Before Fight
    • (uncredited)
    Chief John Big Tree
    Chief John Big Tree
    • Indianas Indian
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Victor Fleming
    • Writers
      • Walter D. Edmonds(novel "Rome Haul")
      • Marc Connelly(play)
      • Frank B. Elser(play)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    More like this

    The Doctor Takes a Wife
    6.9
    The Doctor Takes a Wife
    Rings on Her Fingers
    6.6
    Rings on Her Fingers
    No Man of Her Own
    6.6
    No Man of Her Own
    Hangover Square
    7.4
    Hangover Square
    The Keys of the Kingdom
    7.2
    The Keys of the Kingdom
    Way Down East
    6.1
    Way Down East
    'Pimpernel' Smith
    7.2
    'Pimpernel' Smith
    The President's Lady
    6.8
    The President's Lady
    Small Town Girl
    6.6
    Small Town Girl
    China
    6.6
    China
    Theodora Goes Wild
    7.1
    Theodora Goes Wild
    Princess O'Rourke
    6.8
    Princess O'Rourke

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Henry Fonda and Charles Bickford appear together in this, Fonda's first film. They would not appear together again until A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966) which turned out to be Bickford's last film.
    • Goofs
      The map shown at the beginning of the movie contains several errors for the 1850s, including showing West Virginia as a separate state. The second map shows an arrangement of European states that would not be valid until 1871.
    • Connections
      Featured in AFI Life Achievement Award: AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Henry Fonda (1978)

    User reviews13

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    A lovely, leisurely ride up the Erie
    Bucolic and slow-moving in the '30s Fox tradition, this comedy-drama from a mild Broadway hit preserves what was probably best about it--Henry Fonda, in his film debut--and adds some beautiful photography that may be back-lot but sure looks like the real Erie Canal in the 1850s, complete with morning haze, small-town unpaved streets, and modest canal skiffs. Not a lot happens as would-be farmer Fonda romances a proud Canal gal (Janet Gaynor, feistier and less goody-goody than usual), but it gets by on mood and a gallery of vivid supporting roles, ably handled by Charles Bickford, Slim Summerville, Andy Devine, Margaret Hamilton, and the appealingly un-cute child actress Jane Withers. Victor Fleming brought a lot of feeling to this, and Alfred Newman's scoring, for a change, isn't overemphatic. It's a lazy, outdoorsy movie that builds nicely to an unsurprising, satisfying conclusion.
    helpful•6
    2
    • marcslope
    • Aug 11, 2009

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 2, 1935 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Mot lyckans hamn
    • Filming locations
      • Sonora, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Fox Film Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 31 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Charles Bickford and Janet Gaynor in The Farmer Takes a Wife (1935)
    Top Gap
    What is the English language plot outline for The Farmer Takes a Wife (1935)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    See the full list
    Image caption not available
    2:14
    The Most Anticipated Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    Watch the video

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.