StyleSk8r At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Roy Hart If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.

Yash Wade Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

Cristal The movie really just wants to entertain people.

Martin Bradley Loretta Young was the surprise winner of the 1947 Best Actress Oscar for her performance in "The Farmer's Daughter". It's not much of a performance in dramatic terms but it's a very likeable one in a very likeable, if somewhat silly, film. It's a political fairytale with the good guys naturally coming out on top, (neither of the two parties is actually named), as well as a romantic comedy with the maid (Young) falling for the master of the house, (Jospeh Cotten), who happens to be a congressman. Twenty minutes in and you can see exactly where the film is going; the only real surprise is just how well it did. If the central theme is much too cloying there is at least a decent supporting cast headed by Ethel Barrymore, (Cotten's overly sweet mother), and Charles Bickford, (the gruff butler with a heart of gold). H C Potter was the director so you knew not to expect too much.

SimonJack "The Farmer's Daughter" is a wonderful drama and love story laced throughout with humor. The setting is a fictitious state somewhere in the United States. The plot revolves around politics and congressional elections. But, it is the story of a Swedish farm girl who comes to the city and by her natural charms, solid upbringing and intelligence, sweeps the people off their feet. Loretta Young was perfect for the part, and her superb performance as Katrin (Katie) Holstrom, won her the best actress Oscar in the 1947 Academy Awards. The entire cast performed superbly. Joseph Cotton plays the male lead, Glenn Morley, who is continuing a family tradition in politics. In the opening scenes, he is winning his third term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Another Oscar winner and Hollywood legend, Ethel Barrymore, plays Agatha Morley, Glenn's widow mother and wise matriarch of the family. Charles Bickford received the second of his three career Oscar nominations for his major supporting role as Joseph Clancy. He is a lifelong friend and companion of the deceased Senator Morley, and runs the household as a friend and confidant to Agatha and Glenn.A number of other supporting actors give very fine performances. James Arness makes his screen debut here as one of Katie's brothers, Peter. He is the future Marshal Matt Dillon of the longest running American TV series, "Gunsmoke," (1955-1975). This film was released in late March 1947. Harry Truman was filling out the presidential term of Franklin D. Roosevelt who had died April 12, 1945. There was more interest and participation in politics at the grassroots level. This film shows that, and it also takes a stab at politics. The satire is aimed at cronyism and nepotism, and the smear tactics sometimes used in dirty politics. But, overall, the film boasts of patriotism with some unashamed flag waving. RKO obviously wanted the film to be a hit. So, the screenplay doesn't name political parties. And, the setting is fictional, perhaps even idyllic in its time. Let's see how cleverly RKO kept partisan politics out of a movie that is a lot about politics. First, the locale. The outdoor scenes were shot near Petaluma, California. The rolling hills and open spaces of the countryside could be in any one of most of the states West of the Mississippi River. Yet there also was a mountain lodge at Lake Kaluma (a fictional name). It could be California, but for one thing – the distance from Capital City to New York. Glenn tells his mother that he will be leaving for Europe at noon the next day from New York. And, he has to be at the Capital City airport by 8 a.m. That would be about a three-hour flight to New York. In the mid-1940s, Douglas DC-4s and similar planes of the airlines cruised at 225 miles per hour. Flight times averaged much less than 200 mph. So, Capital City couldn't be more than 600 miles from New York. Sacramento is 2,500 miles away. Katie came from a Swedish farming community. Most of the Swedish immigration was in the upper Midwest (Illinois to Montana). But, the air distance from New York to Chicago is 715 miles. So, those states are out.Some other factors also help make the state fictitious. The district in which Katie runs for Congress is the 13th. In 1947, 10 states (of 48) had 13 or more congressional districts and seats in the U.S. House. That eliminates 38 states. Four more were too far from New York – California (23), Illinois (25), Missouri (13) and Texas (21). The others were too close and/or didn't have the Swedish population or the type of terrain in the movie -- Massachusetts (14), Michigan (18), New Jersey (15), New York (45), Ohio (22), and Pennsylvania (33). Second, the politics. There's no mention of chairmanships (the ruling party in the House) or ranking positions (the minority party). Joseph names senators who gave testimonials on the senate floor about Woodrow Wilson after he died in 1924. Of course, Sen. Morley was fictitious. But the others were real men – and a mix of Democrats and Republicans. Those included Robert M. La Follette (Republican, later Progressive) from Wisconsin, Carter Glass (Democrat) from Virginia, Oscar Underwood (Democrat) from Alabama, and Henry Cabot Lodge (Republican) from Massachusetts. Joseph also mentions "Porter," but there was no U.S. senator by that last name. It likely was Porter H. Dale, (Republican) from Vermont.One thing about this film puzzles me. The ending scenarios clearly put down the Ku Klux Klan, but the film never mentions it by name. Doubtless, many people in modern times won't know the direct reference. Still, this is a wonderful film for the plot and the acting. And, it can be educational for children (and adults) in its look at how politics should be and shouldn't be.My favorite scenario is Katrin's answer to Mrs. Morley (Agatha), who asked, "What do you do, Katrin?" Katie says, "Well, at home I do everything. Make six beds every morning. Do washing, ironing for mamma, papa, my three brothers, myself. Clean all seven rooms and do dishes of course. And I help mamma with the canning. I preserve meat, candle eggs, dill pickles, smoke ham and bacon. I wait on tables – 40 hands at harvest time. And I make glogg." Agatha, "You do?" Katie, "Yah, at Christmas time, with a hot poker. You want to know what I do outside?" Glenn, "I don't know about my mother, but I'd be fascinated." Katie, "Well, I plow with horse and tractor. I hoe potatoes, shock wheat, milk cows, bed horses, butcher pigs, kill and dress chickens, and I cut wood for mill and stove." Agatha, "You've got a job, Katrin."

Michael_Elliott Farmer's Daughter, The (1947) *** (out of 4) Loretta Young won an Oscar for her performance of a Swedish maid who goes to work for a Senator (Joseph Cotten) but then ends up running against his party for a seat in Congress. This film really is two separate movies with the first half being a romantic comedy and the second half being a political drama. The first half is decent but nothing special, although Cotten really steals this half with his comic timing. The second half belongs to Young who really goes powerhouse with her political speeches and hopes for the country. I think the film should have paid more attention to the political side of things because it made for some nice drama while the love story is very predictable. Cotten and Young have wonderful chemistry together but the supporting cast is just as good. Ethyl Barrymore and Charles Bickford nearly steal the film Rhys Williams, Harry Davenport and Tom Powers adding nice support. The film has Frank Capra written all over it and I'm sure he would have made more out of the overall film but for what's here there's plenty to enjoy.

jotix100 Not having seen the movie before, it was a complete surprise to watch it on cable the other night. This film shows that little, if nothing, ever changes in the world of politics. In fact, it could well be compared to this year's presidential contest. The only thing that has changed from the time where this film was done is that in order to win an election in this country, the candidate must be independently wealthy, or have benefactors that are willing to put up the money in exchange of favors down the line, or not be able to run at all.H. C. Potter's film shows us a slice of what on the surface was an ideal time in America during the 40s, but deep down, this film speaks a lot of what was wrong then, in a subtle way. Young Katrin Holstrom arrives in Capital City wanting to be a nurse. She has to change plans because when she arrives in the city, she has no money because an unscrupulous man had swindled her out of it. She begins working as a maid at the Morley's mansion. They are the local big name in politics. Mrs. Morley makes candidates, or destroys them. Her own son, Glenn is a Congressman.All this atmosphere contributes to the growth of Katrin, or Katie, as she is called. She takes an interest in politics and she shows that she can speak and ask the right questions the candidates don't want to answer. The movie shows the dirty side of campaigns, in general, as is the case of with what's happening in 2004 in America. Loretta Young was perfect as Katrin Halstrom. In this film she out charms everyone that she comes in contact with. Joseph Cotten is as effective as she always was in whatever he appeared in. Ethel Barrymore is Agatha, the rich woman behind the political machine. Charles Bickford is also excellent as Joseph, the butler.Most movies from that period are sadly dated, but this one keeps the ideals of democracy in check. Bravo to Dory Schary for bringing this movie to the screen.