THE FARMER'S DAUGHTER (1947) B/W 97m. dir: H.C. Potter

w/Loretta Young, Joseph Cotten, Ethel Barrymore, Charles Bickford, Rose Hobart, Rhys Williams, Harry Davenport, Tom Powers, William Harrigan, Lex Barker

From Variety's contemporary review of the film: "The Farmer's Daughter [suggested by a Finnish play by Juhni Tervataa] rolls irresistibly along in a light romantic comedy groove. One of the pic's chief assets is the political tilt given to the story line which, with its rapidly glossed over liberal democratic shibboleths, will give patrons a right-minded feeling in their hearts without disturbing their brain too much.

"Loretta Young plays a Swedish country girl, complete with accent and rural garb who, upon coming to the big city, lands a second maid's job in the mansion of Joseph Cotten and his mother, Ethel Barrymore. Latter pair are well-intentioned leaders of the local political machine that is embroiled in a hot fight with the opposition over the election of a congressman.

"The country lass, being naive and frank as well as an eyeful for Cotten, openly voices her disapproval of the compromise candidate chosen by her employers and heckles him at the nomination rally.

"Although politicking is used only as a once-lightly-over excuse for the romantic bickerings and final clinch, director H.C. Potter slips in a few satirical barbs against the sacrosanct political practice of blarney and buncombe.

"Difficulty with the Swedish accent, which occasionally collapses into straight Americanese, is the only flaw in Young's performance."

Young won a Best Actress Oscar for her role as Katrin Holstrom; she was said to be in a state of shock after triumphing over the highly-favored Rosalind Russell, who was nominated for her very dramatic turn in MOURNING BECOMES ELECTRA. The film was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor (Bickford).