The Farmer's Wife

1941 1h 21m EN

👍

7.0

SOLID

★7.0TMDB · 2

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Eden Philpotts' "provincial" comic novel and play The Farmer's Wife was first filmed in the silent era by Alfred Hitchcock. The 1940 talkie version was directed by Leslie Arliss, son of stage star George Arliss. The story remained the same: A middle-aged widower attempts to select a wife from his rural district's eligible females (Basil Sydney). Three unsuccessful dalliances later, the farmer settles for his housekeeper, whom the audience has been rooting for all along. The Farmer's Wife is a prime example of the sort of fare that struck a proper chord with British filmgoers, but whose appeal would be lost to any other nationality.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Basil Sydney
Samuel Sweetland
Wilfrid Lawson
Churdles Ash
Nora Swinburne
Araminta Grey
Patricia Roc
Sibley
Michael Wilding
Richard Coaker
Bunty Payne
Petronell
Enid Stamp-Taylor
Mary Hearne
Betty Warren
Louisa Windeatt

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Leslie Arliss
Writers: Norman Lee, Leslie Arliss, J.E. Hunter

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

81 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

85 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Leslie Arliss, shot by Claude Friese-Greene. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Flora Newton shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Basil Sydney and Wilfrid Lawson and Nora Swinburne carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0033590 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 2 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Leslie Arliss directs. Claude Friese-Greene behind the camera. Flora Newton cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

181 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
285 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Leslie Arliss, shot by Claude Friese-Greene. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Editor Flora Newton shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Basil Sydney and Wilfrid Lawson and Nora Swinburne carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0033590 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 2 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.