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| A Farmer Takes a Wife | |
|---|---|
 Poster from the Federal Theatre Project, Work Projects Administration, production 1938 | |
| Based on | Rome Haul byWalter D. Edmonds |
| Directed by | Marc Connelly |
| Characters |
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| Date premiered | October 30, 1934 (1934-10-30) |
| Place premiered | 46th Street Theatre |
| Original language | English |
| Setting | Erie Canal |
The Farmer Takes a Wife is a 1934 play byFrank B. Elser andMarc Connelly based on the 1929 novelRome Haul byWalter D. Edmonds. It was well-received upon its opening night on Broadway on October 30, 1934, at the46th Street Theatre. The production was directed byMarc Connelly, used set designs byDonald Oenslager, and starredHenry Fonda as Dan Harrow andJune Walker as Molly Larkins.[1] It ran for 104 performances, closing on January 16, 1935.[2]
The play spawned two film adaptations. The first, a1935 comedy film, was directed byVictor Fleming, starredJanet Gaynor, and marked theHollywood debut ofHenry Fonda. Dan Harrow (Henry Fonda) works along theErie Canal during the mid-19th century to raise money to buy a farm. While working, he meets Molly Larkins, a beautiful canal boat cook (Janet Gaynor). Although Harrow wants to marry Larkins, she's apprehensive about leaving the exciting canal life for one of a farmer's wife.
A1953 musical remake used a score byHarold Arlen andCyril J. Mockridge. The picture was directed byHenry Levin and starredBetty Grable,Dale Robertson,Eddie Foy, Jr., andThelma Ritter.
The Farmer Takes a Wife was presented as the season premiere ofRadio Reader's Digest on CBS on September 12, 1946.Olivia de Havilland starred in the episode, with the adaptation by Robert Cenedella.[3]